In a Texas prison, an inmate's eyes scan a chalkboard in a classroom as a teacher gives a lecture on the Iliad. As the inmate takes notes, the teacher smiles because the switch has been flipped.

"We're working with people who are supposedly unable to be educated,” says Dr. Judi Benestante, Interim Superintendent of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's Windham School District. “But we see this little light bulb go off in their heads, and the switch is flipped. They get so excited. Education becomes a mission and a passion for them.”

And that passion for education is spreading throughout the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). Thanks to the teaming up of the Windham School District and Lamar State College Port Arthur, inmates now have dozes of options when it comes to education. By offering inmates a number of chances to receive an education in whichever field they choose, the TDCJ hopes to show inmates that they matter.

But the story isn't just in the education – it's also in the recidivism rates.

”A 2003 KEMP Study from the Earl Karl Institute found that offenders who had a two year degree had a recidivism rate that dropped to 10%. That was compared to a recidivism rate of 60% for offenders who did not receive an education,” says Bob Evans, Director of Continuing Education for Windham School District. “If that doesn't indicate a need for this programming, I don't know what does.”

Beyond the rates of recidivism, there is also a change in inmate behavior and self-esteem.

“These inmates have been told their entire lives that they are failures,” says Evans. “On the street, they probably wouldn't have dreamed of getting an education. To see them receive their degrees is amazing.”

Choices and College Credits

The TDCJ is also providing flexible curriculum choices for inmates. The TDCJ currently contracts with community colleges and universities across the state to ensure that education is available no matter where an inmate is located.

Inmates under 25 receive the bulk of their education from the Windham School District, while older inmates take advantage of a rider program at Lamar Community College. But no matter what their age, every inmate has the chance to choose.

“They have the chance to pick from a number of education tracks,” says Evans. “We have some inmates who are working towards a certification in auto mechanics while others study Computer Aided Design (CAD). Meanwhile, other inmates are taking Mythology classes and working towards Associate degrees.”

Typically, inmates who choose an academic focus will go to night classes once a week. Meanwhile, inmates who are on the vocational track will spend six hours a day in class, for about six months, and they end up with 2500 to 6000 hours of instruction in preparation for their certification.

Meeting the Standard

Although inmates have the chance to receive an education at the TDCJ, they also have an obligation to stay out of trouble.

“If inmates get into trouble, they are banned from the program for a year,” says Evans. “The majority of inmates behave themselves though, because they want this opportunity.”

By enforcing a strict behavior code for inmates enrolled in any educational program, the TDCJ is changing the way their facilities work. Inmates become passionate about their education and behave themselves to stay in the programs they love.

“These inmates are proud to be in college, to work towards a degree or a certification,” says Huval. “This is an entire change in their self-esteem. We do require them to keep a clean record for at least six months before they enter the program, but they know they have to stay free of disciplinary measures.”

As the TDCJ reflects on educational programming, instructors continue to look ahead at the next step for inmates. And for most, that step is employment.

”We're looking ahead to expand our focus in order to help these offenders find jobs,” says Huval. “That's our next step. We know one of the largest deterrents to recidivism is gainful employment. We're giving them the tools – and now we also want to help them use those tools to find work.”

Returning to Prison the Right Way

Beyond the ability to choose their area of study, inmates also have the option to return to the TDCJ and become teachers themselves. In the TDCJ's Substance Abuse Classes, which inmates take for college credit, offenders learn about substance abuse and often return to speak about their own experiences.

“We know that our inmates can turn their lives around and become the best substance abuse counselors,” says Evans. “They can look at someone with the same issues, someone that is in the same position they were in, and say ‘I know what you're going through.'”