i think it would be an okay idea... as long as its an inmate that is willing to actually put the effort forth to better themselves....

Of course, why not? Something as common and misplaced as money certainly has a use here. All people do is bad mouth people in there and how they're bringing the system down, and how they'll go right back in there after they come out and do some more damage. Well at least give them a chance! Trying to get a job with a criminal record is tough as it is, imagine not having a GED or HSED on top of that. There's countless ways to throw money away, at least I see this as money well wasted if nothing else.

Why don't I just give my whole paycheck away? tax this tax that...pay for this, pay for that..you have to make a CONCIOUS decision to drop out of school or not attend. Why do we have to "enable" everyone in this country, rely on the working folks who struggle financially and keep out of trouble. Prove you want to be a "reformed good citizen" show some initiative and get your GED yourself...then you will get a chance.

I will support funding their GEDs, if WI passes a death penalty.
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In truth, prison inmates should never be allowed to simply serve their sentence and be released - no release until at least a GED and a trade is achieved while serving their time.

I'm not sure where some of you folks are coming from. You do realize that most of the people will be released someday, into your neighborhoods. I would rather see education and rehabilitation play a larger roll. Recidivism rates are astronomical.

Ms. Kari,
I am thinking we CAN and MUST do both!!!

Some of the writers are off base in their reasoning. I'm a fairly conservative person. I just don't happen to hold a unquestionable loyalty to any political party or politician. If I agree with something I support it - I don't care who came up with the idea. The taxpayer pays for prison costs. Frankly, I'd rather see these convicts studying and working towards their GED than pumping
iron and getting meaner and nastier and more dificult to over-see. The other side of this equation is to get employers that are willing to hire former convicts.

Yes, you have to do more than just warehouse them if you expect them to stay out of prison after they are released.

This is further proof that conservatives don't care about money, but rather pushing their seriously flawed beliefs on the rest of us. IT IS A PROVEN FACT that prisoners who get training and an education will cost us less in the long run. So when they whine about money, don't listen to them. If it were money they were concerned about, they would be more than happy to pay for an inmate's GED. It is the same problem with handing out condoms at school. It would save them money in the long run, but they don't really care. It is the social agenda that matters most.

MsKari, there are already programs in place, both public and private to ensure the safety of children; it is their "caregivers" who choose not to take advantage of them.

We owe these inmates nothing but enough food to keep them alive and to keep them from freezing to death. There are people, yes children, that don't get enough to eat each day and a warm safe place to sleep each night and somebody is worried about giving these inmates an education. In communities we need to see that each child, if the need is there, has enough to eat and a warm coat and appropriate clothing and shoes for the weather before we even consider paying for education for inmates. What are some of you thinking?

What's interesting is now the jail will be furnishing clothing to the inmates. I thought that we were in a financial bind?
Usually the relatives of inmates bring clean clothes (not the jail outfit) but socks and underwear and t-shirts. The family does the laundry and changes the items out. Now the county is furnishing the inmates all their clothes.

Hello, the article stated "jail" not prison; two very different places and situations. Don't believe me? Check for yourself.

crime rates would go down.
it would give them something to look forward to and help them get back on track.

There are a lot of peaple that did not finish school that do not turn to crime & work for every thing they have & not ask other's to give them any thing

Guarantees? Nope. But, look at the study associated with this question--certainly seems to decrease the chance of recidivism. I'm not trying to be disrespectful here, but it doesn't matter WHY they didn't take advantage of school as teenagers--what matters is that they didn't. And that puts them at GREATER risk to eventually turn to crime. Not saying it will happen, just a greater chance. So, we can all be ticked about how unfair it is, but we cut off our own noses to spite our faces when we collectively say, "you made the wrong choice as a kid, so now you can piss off."

House

China would hose them cheaper

That is real. And, I'll say it again, no one has to like it. The 'reality' is, the guy that breaks into your house WILL get out of prison (if ever sent there). Do you want him the same (or worse) than when he went in? He'll at least have a better CHANCE of succeeding with the g.e.d. than without it.

Let me get this straight. You want the victims to pay for their GED? That's pretty much what is happening. Someone breaks into my house, steals my things, finally gets caught and sent to jail, and you want me to pay for his GED? Get real.

Ythink--Thank you. I'd given up. Half of my students--every year--have about the same attitude as most of the responses here. Until, that is, they spend 6 hours on a tour of Statesville, in IL, and get to experience the sounds, the smells, and the sights. Then, NO-ONE talks about the 'luxuries' in prison, or the '3 meals and a warm place', or all the other crap. I appreciate your comment.

chelleandlou
Dec 14, 2009 at 7:58 a.m.
Suggest removal Taxpayers already pay for prisoner's education while in prison. If they don't who does?

If the taxpayer doesn't pay for their healthcare, clothing, food, housing, etc. who does?

What do the prisoners pay for living in prison?
Why don't they pay for incarceration?

Go to jail, live for free.

Do prisoners receive Social Security Benefits or SSI?

What other 'benefits' do prisoners receive?
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I worked for 2 years in a Medium Security Prison and let me tell you...those guys aren't living for "free."
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Sure, they might not have all the bills that we do but most of them have restitution. They are paying for their crime by living in that environment.
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Most of you would stop complaining about the cost (relatively cheap) of a HSED if you realized what their life had been like and is like in prison.
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Remember, if we do nothing any of us could be the next victim but if we do something, even if it costs $$ there is a chance there won't be another victim.
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poor education = More Crime... DUH !

Spudbeach, I too, respect your opinion, and optimism; however, I think it is more of an unrealistic thought process. You are looking at this from an ideal approach to finding a solution for repeat offenders. You keep ignoring the fact that for many of those incarcerated, it's not a first trip through the system and the free education would merely be the "get out of Jail" a little earlier than I should be program to them. If you disagree, take a walk through the rock county jail, talk to some of the inmates. If you can't do that, sit through a few county court cases. All these people care about, is getting out so they can return to their lives of crime. VERY few are looking to better themselves. And it is not that they were never given the chance to do so....we were all given the chance, it's mandatory to attend school until you reach a certain age. It's just that they didn't want to because it required hard work and for some people, they just aren't capable of doing it. I've read some comments about taking away their TV's and air conditioning, etc., and that could work; however, I have a better idea. Why not use the money we'll be taxed for something more beneficial that would help the community and not the criminals? Why not use one of the vacant buildings for some sort of teen prevention center and catch them before they start committing the crimes in the first place. Janesville has nothing like that, a safe place where teens can hang out with some direction, some projects and teach them to give back to the community rather than be a burden on the community? Does that mean turn your back on those that are already incarcerated? No, my opinion stands on the GED. If they want it, give them the option, but let it come at their expense. They have no problem putting money on their cards for phone calls and cigarettes and other luxuries while they are incarcerated, let them pay for their education as well if they choose to better themselves. Criminals have already cost society enough, people are tired of footing the bill. I now have security cameras in and outside my home because of criminals, some things are not replaceable...I'm done paying for them!

Taxpayers already pay for prisoner's education while in prison. If they don't who does?

If the taxpayer doesn't pay for their healthcare, clothing, food, housing, etc. who does?

What do the prisoners pay for living in prison?
Why don't they pay for incarceration?

Go to jail, live for free.

Do prisoners receive Social Security Benefits or SSI?

What other 'benefits' do prisoners receive?

Comments about prisons being country clubs are ignorant to say the least. Critics don't like offering prisoners an education because then prisoners may become what the critics are not - educated.

Interesting, billnewbie believes in god but not redemption or salvation.

I don't believe that anyone said we were talking about kids. If that's the case, even I would support that. I'm under the impression we are talking about those 18 and over. Through my volunteer service, I am fully aware that inmates take these classes to reduce their time and look good to those they need to impress just like billnewbie said.
Go ahead and give them the opportunity to get their GED. Pay for it by taking away what is not a neccesity~like television and air conditioning. With all the perks that some jails are offering, their stay is more like being at the Hilton. Make it more like, I don't know, maybe a jail, and they won't repeat offend.

Bellagio_Bound:
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Wow -- so it's one strike and you're out now?
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I stand by my comment -- for many people, this is a moral issue, not a practical issue. As a moral issue, people see that a person has done wrong, and they wish to punish that person. Fine, I agree with that.
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But shall we punish them so much that we wind up punishing ourself?
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Unless we give the death penalty or life without parole, these offenders _will_ re-join our community. Shall we give them a chance, or shall we doom them to hurt us again?
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For a take on what this means, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/27/us/27j... on the Missouri juvenile justice system that actually treats kids, rather than just locking them up.

This is a tough question. Would it be better to invest tax money in the education of convicts in the hope that they won't re-offend? It seems reasonable to say yes, but is it? After all, every person in this state is entitled to a free education and required to attend school until they are 18. Yet most convicts either were expelled from school or dropped out, turning their backs on their educational opportunities, thinking that they had no value. Is it reasonable to expect them to value yet another free educational opportunity? Somehow, I doubt it. I suspect that most of those who would enroll in GED classes would do so just for the credit they may get towards early release or to escape a dreary prison job for a while. However, such programs should be available just the same, with the cost born by the students since we value more highly that which we pay for than that which is given us. So even if courses were taken to escape prison work and to impress correctional officials, since the students would also be investing in their classes, they may actually want to get their money's worth out of the opportunity as well.

Too much of my tax money is wasted already. If they couldn't finish school the first time, what makes you think they'd finish the GED program?

I'd love to go to college to better my life and get a new start and some career advantages but you don't see me begging for tax dollars to do it. Hell. Maybe I should go to prison so I can get my Masters? LOL.

Just for the record, we already pay for their GED. Why are they even asking us this? It's been the policy for as long as I know that inmates can get their GED while they are incarcerated.
My answer has always been NO!

Spudbeach, I respect your opinion, however; when you state that we should pay for their education because it is cheaper than putting them in jail again, you are making the assumption that these thugs will not re-offend if they are educated. These offenders have already had the opportunity for an education and the decided to take the easy way out instead.

I do believe inmates should receive some form of education while incarcerated, other than how to committ better crimes; however, I also believe it should come at their own expense, not that of the taxpayers. We didn't put them in the situation they are in, in fact, some of us are victims of their crimes. They should be forced to work for that education. Other states do it via chain gangs or making things in prison that benefit others in some way, why can't Janesville do that? Why do we refuse to look outside of the box and consider other options. These are people who are use to getting what they want or taking it if it is not handed to them...are we so foolish as to hand them something else? The first lesson in life is to work for what you want. If they want the education, they will get it. Chances are though, that if it is not merely GIVEN to them, not many are going to be interested. Some people need to take off the rose colored glasses when looking at the ideal situation with some of these people. The majority of these people don't want to change and they are leading this life of crime because they didn't want to work hard or get their education in the first place.

Look--you can hate it all you want, but why do you think that after living in a 6 x 9 cell for years, with nothing offered to make them a 'better' citizen, that they will be released with a renewed American spirit, and desire to do better? And, even if they DID, who's gonna hire them? Or, put it this way: WHEN they get out, if they moved in next to you, would you rather they came out with more opportunities to succeed, or be just the same as they went in? I don't have the answer to what MAY work, just what has NOT worked for the last several decades. Peace.

By any rational argument, yes, we should pay for a GED for inmates. It costs less than putting them in jail again, it's cheap compared to guards, etc., etc., etc.
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But the argument here is _not_ a rational argument. Our human moral sense tells us that we must punish those who offend. To counter such a moral kneejerk with rational argument is like telling the tide to stop.
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We must counter the "let them rot" moral argument with one of our own. These offenders are not strangers. They are our neighbors, our friend's friend, the people that bag our groceries, fix our cars, and plow our streets. We are all in this together. If we have any hope of making our town better, it is education, especially for those that need it.
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As a moral position, we _must_ educate our prisoners.

Hey professor, why don't we pay for their college also then. And as long as we're at it, let's put them up in public housing and set them up.with a retirement plan.

Consider these facts: The cost of keeping a prisoner incarcerated ranges mostly from $40-60K/year for adults, and up to $100K/year for kids. The recidivism rate is between 60-85%. And, 95% of all inmates will get out at some point. You can argue all day long about 'letting them rot', or 'they are in jail for a reason'. But, we've been doing the same thing for almost 30 years now (criminalize everything; throw everyone in jail), to the point that we lead the world in incarceration rates--yes, us--the United States--the "free-est" nation in the world. In short, we've been doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result.

Let these idiots rot! They got themselves into their situation, let them pay for an education IF they really want it, like everyone else. These dolts are already a drain on our society. I am sick of paying for everybody else that don't want to be productive members of society

Bottom line, these people are in jail for a reason, they are entitled to absolutely NO programs or bonuses, this is punishment, not rehabilitation, the last thing we need is an influx of people comitting small crimes to get a free GED. Im all for providing programs for rehabilitation after release but ONLY at the inmates expense. Going to jail should not net you a Free GED.

Many of you are being very short sighted, let them rot in jail, let them learn nothing but how to be a better criminal. Any formal education is a plus. Just a few inmates who do succeed after being released would most likely pay for a good portion of the program by not being repeatedly arrested, prosecuted and us paying for their care once again.

why would they even ask us if we should pay for the ged for inmates?this is janesville,this is rock county,they dont care what you want,they just like to read your reactons before they ram it our pocket books again.do they need an education?yes

they do,but i dont think the ged program is going to fix alot their lives.what alot of them need is complete deprogramming,an im serious.the same ones are out there over and over for the same crap.we all have a chance for an education,so either way i dont want to pay for inmates or those who dont get into trouble,all of them should have went to school when they were given the oppurtunity,i was stupid and many years ago and quit school,had to go back at the age of 22 an beleive me,i paid every dime myself.so heres the bottom line,there are no victims here,if you dont have an education its your own damn fault.so now that i spoke my peace, tack on the taxes,were all wealthy an employed at good jobs in good ole janesville.lol

We need to refocus their thoughts while they are in a "time out" placement. When they are released, the finest possible scenario is them being able to enter into a new direction and keep them focused on a more possitve lifestyle.

Much cheaper than paying for another prosecution and incarceration.

It would be a waste of money. Most of these inmates that do not have a diploma do not have the mental capacity to get a GED let alone use it to further educate themselve. If they did they would have gotten their GEDs a long time ago. I have many of them work for me on the huber work release program and the only reason they showed up for work everyday was to get out of the jail for a few hours. Most of them worked through manpower and were undependable. GED or no GED they don't want to better themselves its all about the next party.

Seriously. Okay fine~I'll pay for their GED's but I want my money back for their 3 square meals, therapists, vocational re-training, medical care, and the t.v.'s they watch. Geez' the inmates have more than most upstanding, law-abiding citizens have these days. I'm sick and tired of being forced to give what little money I do make to people who chose not to earn any.

I say ask the tax payer these questions,on a ballot,if necessary,not just stuffed down our throats!! HERE WE GO AGAIN!!

Let's waste money this town is good at it. Give them a ged for free while some got to struggle to put our own kids through school and I got to pay for them too come on they'll come back out do the same thing they don't care if they did wouldn't be there in the first place

They already had the chance at a free education and didn't take advantage of it. Should we pay for it again because they have no where to go or nothing to do? Make them pay for it themselves.

They usually can't get a good job anyways after they are out so why waste money to give them a "Good Enough Diploma".

A GED is a start to a new life, renewed confidence and a chance to finish something possibly for the first time in their lives. It may even lead to further education when they get out. Heck cancel their cable tv and make it mandatory for the under educated to take some kind of classes while in jail to reduce their time instead of reducing almost everyone's time and letting them out to prey on the rest of us yet again. Earning their GED is also a good example to set for any children they may have.

We should we give them everything else. If they can get a GED maybe they can get on with a normal life and not have to return to jail where we the taxpayers will have to pay for them again. It's a small investment to maybe provide a stepping stone for the person to become a taxpayer themselves.

Education is the way out of poverty and helps to reduce recidivism. I believe the inmates should work to pay for anything they receive while in jail, including their education, and it should not solely fall on the shoulders of the taxpayer.

It does seem like a better value GED vs time in jail. Are crime rates higher now than they used to be or do I just read the paper more now vs then.

The cost of housing an inmate ranges from $50 to $90+ per day. If having an education which could lead to a better job, or any job for that matter, which would sustain an offender out of jail for even a year, taxpayers would save $18250 to $32850. Then the cost of a GED is pittance compared to the end cost of recidivism.

Why reward them for their bad behavior? Why not reward the people that dont commit crimes and would love to get a GED paid for. Maybe then this will prevent some of them from commiting crimes so that they can get their education paid for. Next they will be asking should we buy a car theif a car, or give a bank robber free money so they dont do it again. REWARD GOOD BEHAVIOR NOT BAD!!!

Education is the best way to help someone climb out of the criminal life. And, most GED programs come very cheap.

exactly,
Do you want to continue to read about the same people or give them a TRUE second chance to become a productive member of society?
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Perhaps by spending the $ for an education you/me won't become their next victim.

It all depends how you want these people re-entering your communities and neighborhoods......with the chance for employment, or not.

Is this a joke ? I sure hope so !