The Link Between Literacy and Recidivism Essay -- Literacy Essays

The website, literacy.kent.edu describes literacy as â€Å" being able to read and write at a level to be successful in today's world and also being proficient at math, knowing how to use technology, and knowing how to solve problems and make decisions.†(par. 1). So how do prisoners acquire these skills while they are incarnated away from the world? This is where literacy programs such as Literature-N-Living in Florida and Storybook Project come into play. Although these literacy programs seem minor to the world they are important to prison inmates, juvenile offenders and their community because studies show it can lead to reduced recidivism, positive attitude changes, and even enhance the prisoners own children's’ literacy. According to â€Å"Teaching Literacy in Order to Turn the Page on Recidivism† Emily Music stated, recidivism is â€Å"the tendency of a convicted criminal to relapse into a habit of criminal activity or behavior†(p. 723). What this means is that recidivism is the rate a criminal goes back to prison for committing a crime. Music also expressed that the key to reducing recidivism rates in the United States is decreasing illiteracy rates among juvenile delinquents(p. 724) Many studies since the 1990s state that the rate of recidivism goes down if there are options made available for inmates.Along with William Drakeford explaining in his study that the â€Å"Reading skills of the youth in corrections could improve given the opportunity to learn in a structure environment† ( p.143). A study in found inmates who did take this opportunity had a â€Å"59% lower recidivism rate than those who did not† (Walker par. 3).As long as prisons provide these literacy progr ams and if prisoners participate they have more than 59% less of a chance o... ...ybook Project.† Aid to Inmate Mothers. Web. 20 Feb. 2014 Music, Emily. "Teaching Literacy In Order To Turn The Page On Recidivism." Journal Of Law & Education 41.4 (2012): 723-730.OmniFile Full Text Mega (H.W. Wilson). Web. 4 Feb. 2014. TURVEY, Sarah, and Jenny HARTLEY. "What Books Can Do Behind Bars." Adults Learning 25.1 (2013): 30-31. Readers' Guide Full Text Mega (H.W. Wilson). Web. 3 Mar. 2014. Vacca, James S. "Educated Prisoners Are Less Likely To Return To Prison." Journal Of Correctional Education 55.4 (2004): 297-305. Education Full Text (H.W. Wilson). Web. 3 Feb. 2014 Walker, Karen, and Inc. (EPI) Education Partnerships. "High School Education In Correctional Facilities. Research Brief." Education Partnerships, Inc (2006): ERIC. Web. 1 Mar. 2014. Willoughby, Mariano. â€Å"Books behind Bars.† Los Angeles Times 30 Jan 2000: B2. ProQuest. Web. 5 Feb. 2014.