Executive Summary

Nearly two million adults are incarcerated in the U.S. every day. Women's incarceration rates have received little attention from the media, policymakers, and philanthropists, despite rising over 800% since 1980. Research consistently demonstrates that prison education is associated with increases in labor market outcomes and reductions in recidivism rates. However, there is a large gender gap in prison education offerings. While incarcerated men in Texas, for example, can become certified in 21 occupations and earn an associate, bachelor's, or master's degree, women's facilities offer just two occupational certificate programs and no degrees above an associate level. Our Texas Prison Education Initiative will expand educational offerings for incarcerated women and create a prison-to-college-to-career pipeline. This intervention will redress inequities in educational access; break down barriers to economic independence; close the wage gap; and improve employment outcomes for structurally disadvantaged women.

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