Education inside a correctional facility is one of the most powerful tools available for both sentence reduction and successful reentry. Federal inmates who complete approved programs earn time credits under the First Step Act. State inmates who complete educational programming often earn good time credits. And inmates who leave with a GED, college degree, or vocational certification have dramatically better employment prospects than those who do not. This section covers GED and high school equivalency programs available inside, college correspondence courses and in-person programs, vocational training options across different facility types, how the Pell Grant restoration in 2023 changed the financial picture for incarcerated students, and how to enroll in programs from inside. The questions answered here come from families trying to help their loved ones use their time productively and from inmates looking to build credentials that will serve them after release. See also our sections on Sentence Reduction and Re-entry and Rehabilitation.
Related InmateAid Services
Subject: Education & vocational training
When the parole board approves release with a stipulation to complete a vocational training certificate before going home, the timeline depends on two things working together. How far along he is in the program and how long the specific votech certificate requires to complete from that point.
Vocational training programs in state correctional systems typically run anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on the trade and the curriculum. Common programs like welding, carpentry, electrical, culinary arts, and computer...
Read moreSubject: Education & vocational training
Yes, they can speak with their counselor or case manager
Subject: Education & vocational training
yes you can reinvent yourself if you put your mind to it
Subject: Education & vocational training
The options at the county jail level are significantly more limited than what you find in state or federal prison, and Meade County is no exception.
County jails are designed for short-term housing. The programming infrastructure that exists in longer-term facilities, vocational training, substance abuse treatment, college courses, and similar offerings, simply does not exist at most county jails because the population turns over too quickly to justify building it out. The GED program is typically the most substantive educational offering...
Read moreSubject: Education & vocational training
Yes they do. As you can imagine, the best classes are the ones that you show willingness and openmindedness to learn from them. The challenge is getting your loved one to accept that they need to have feedback. Once they agree that it's goiong to benefit them, they will gain a lot of knowledge and it will make them better parents when they get out. It is important to try and let them come to the conclusion that they need...
Read moreSubject: Education & vocational training
We do not have access to internal programming schedules. We have found the ASPC counselors to be very helpful, we recommend calling there and asking nicely what the current schedules are (and is my inmate eligible?). It makes your request more personal.
Subject: Education & vocational training
Here are some links to documents for the Missouri Department of Corrections-Cremer Therapeutic Community Center.
Cremer Therapeutic Community Center - Offender Rulebook
Cremer Therapeutic Community Center - Family Orientation
Subject: Education & vocational training
This depends on where they are being held. Most long term facilities have many options for vocational and educational improvement. It could always be better, our advise is to get your inmate involved in all the programming the facility offers and if able, enroll them in college courses offered by legitimate universities under the "distance learning" programs.
Subject: Education & vocational training
Inmate education is an area that needs improvement and it appears there are many efforts underway to upgrade it across all incarceration systems. They all offer and most require that all inmates have at least a GED. There are limited secondary educational programs offered. Regardless of what is offered, there are many distance learning programs but they require some form of payment. Courses like the Prison College Program and others are ambitious tasks worthy of your consideration. InmateAid is exploring ways to...
Read moreSubject: Education & vocational training
No, it is not free. The "distance learning courses" are prepaid to the offering university or college and then mailed into the facility's education department. The education staff oversees the testing and compliance.
Inmate Education
Subject: Education & vocational training
Inmates can and do get their college education during their incarceration. For inmates in a county jail, your inmate would have to speak with a counselor and ask what they will approve first. Depending on the length of the sentence, the staff will likely assist in proxying the exams and certifying the test results. If they get the blessing of the facility (usually they LOVE the fact that an inmate would take the initiative to improve themselves) there would have to...
Read moreSubject: Education & vocational training
This is a great question. We have been working on devoting an entire section to the website specifically for this subject. For you, we would advise you to get into a real communication about the types of things in life he likes to be around. There are jobs everywhere, but first find a field that is exciting and motivating. If it's a love or passion for something, he will pursue it until he gets there. If there is no concretely...
Read moreSubject: Education & vocational training
Not on the Internet, but there are programs that are coming in through the electronic tablets that are available through commissary. This is not wide-spread but it is very clever and we would like to see it available in more facilities. Inmates may download courses on their tablet that they purchase from an accredited university. The course is overseen by the education department who forwards the results back to the college for credits earned towards a degree.
Subject: Education & vocational training
Inmates who have not completed high school are required to study for and pass their GED. This is a service provided at no cost. If an inmate would like to take college courses and pursue a degree, they are encouraged to do so but the courses are offered by various accredited university like LSU and others through their "distance learning" programs. These courses are just like regular college with a price on each hour of credit. The courses are proxied...
Read moreSubject: Education & vocational training
Yes, in fact it is a requirement for ALL inmates without a high school diploma to take courses that will lead to them getting their GED before they are released.
