by Sarah Jackson

Created on: August 16, 2008

Is it fair that criminals get free education, whilst the rest of us hard-working citizens have to take out student loans or struggle to pay for course expenses? I first came across this question when trying to get funding for a college course i wanted to attend last year. There was no way i would have been able to afford it on minimum wage and was thinking of alternative ways to fund it myself. I realized that if i was in prison, i would have the right to free education. So basically, if I went and committed a crime I would get everything payed for me? At first glance this statement seems extremely unfair. But lets look at it from another point of view.

First of all, when you are in prison you can't earn money like you can on the outside. Prison jobs usually pay between 7 - 10 a week which is spent in the canteen. Hardly enough for a college or university course is it? So they are already at a disadvantage.

We also have to consider the age of the prisoner. If the person is 17-18 years old and has been convicted of a non-violent crime (perhaps a one-off mistake or wrongly imprisoned,) then i do believe that these people should receive free education.

Many young people in prison have grown up in difficult situations and haven't had good upbringings. Dealing with such problems so early in life can consequently lead them to commit crime. Giving these young people a good education, gives them a second chance. It builds their confidence in knowing that they are good at things, and motivates them to gain qualifications whilst in prison, so they can go out and get a good job, and earn a decent living.

Although it can seem that people who have to pay for their education are somehow being punished, we have to remember that some people aren't as fortunate as others, and some people are incapable of earning the amount of money needed for education, but this may not always be their fault.

Prison-overcrowding is a big problem in the UK at present. There has been many unsuccessful attempts to lower the numbers of people sent to prison, such as sentencing people to more community orders and giving out early release schemes. These attempts haven't worked as it is not facing the issue head on. There are a high number of re-offenders in this country and just by giving them smaller sentences, or a curfew on release isn't going to motivate them to change their ways. This is where education in prison comes along.Being able to gain qualifications and a better understanding of work related subjects, will give these offenders something to work towards and personal goals to achieve.

Education is a huge part of the rehabilitation of prisoners, and not just for gaining qualifications or jobs on release, it can be hugely beneficial in other areas. Female prisons hold a large number of single parents, or women who are sole carer's of disabled family members. Courses such as First Aid training, Parenting, Drugs and Alcohol and Anger Management could prove to be life saving for some people. Courses like theses are mainly free or funded, so by getting them free in prison isn't any luxury.

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