Prison Education as a Tool for Socialization (Part 2)
By Christopher Zoukis
A cost-effective method of providing this anticipatory socialization is through correctional education. Almost any learned person will agree that the pursuit of an education is a means of healthy, pro-social growth. The same is true not only outside of the prison environment, but inside it, too. By allowing offenders to grow through education they will be able to not only compete in the job market upon release, but be afforded the opportunity to change their criminal mentality and motivations.
Through the act of reading about sociology the offender can come to a better understanding of the social class that they came from; hence, come to a better understanding of their own role inside their class and perhaps even an understanding of why they do the things they do. Likewise, an English course can afford the offender with the skills needed to convey their thoughts and feelings in an appropriate manner.
