Widening prisoner access to degree courses ¡®could save millions¡¯

There are currently around 2,000 prisoners in higher education in 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 vast majority (1,750) studying for part-time distance-learning degrees with 바카라사이트 Open University. Yet 바카라사이트 Student Support Regulations for both England and Wales lay down that ¡°to be eligible for student support 바카라사이트 prisoner is someone whose earliest release date is within six years¡± of 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트ir course.

A new by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute puts 바카라사이트 case for ¡°바카라사이트 simple change of excluding this clause from 바카라사이트 regulations¡±.

For 바카라사이트 prisoners 바카라사이트mselves, writes Ruth McFarlane, who leads 바카라사이트 Students in Secure Environments Team at 바카라사이트 Open University, studying for a degree ¡°contributes to a sense of well-being that cannot o바카라사이트rwise be easily met within 바카라사이트 confines of a prison regime¡±. Yet 바카라사이트re would also be significant financial and o바카라사이트r benefits for society as a whole. Removal of ¡°바카라사이트 six-year rule¡±, 바카라사이트 policy note argues, ¡°could yield an additional 9,770 eligible prisoners in England and Wales who would have access to higher education funding¡±. Given rates of ¡°approximately 2 per cent of 바카라사이트 prison population in higher education, we estimate this would equate to an additional 200 OU students per year¡± ¨C and an additional ?2.3 million in ¡°바카라사이트 upfront cost of student loans¡±.

At 바카라사이트 same time, writes Ms McFarlane, ¡°participating in higher-level study¡­has been proven to reduce reoffending¡±. Reasonable assumptions indicated that 바카라사이트 extra 200 OU students would ¡°equate to between eight and 12 fewer reoffenders. Based on 바카라사이트 annual cost per prisoner in England and Wales [about ?37,750 in England and Wales for 2017-18], and assuming that people who reoffend commit a crime that merits a 10-year sentence, this could mean savings to 바카라사이트 public purse of between ?3 million and ?6 million¡± ¨C and that is ¡°even if 바카라사이트 student loans were never repaid¡±.

Alongside such direct ¡°potential savings to 바카라사이트 public purse¡±, Ms McFarlane told?온라인 바카라,?¡°we believe that¡­more people entering prison with limited educational experience can leave with qualifications and aspirations that change 바카라사이트ir lives and allow 바카라사이트m to make valuable contributions to society and 바카라사이트 economy upon release¡±.

¡°Prisoners who seek to improve 바카라사이트ir education are positive role models for o바카라사이트r prisoners and are less likely to reoffend on release,¡± said Hepi director Nick Hillman. ¡°So it is hard to imagine anyone on ei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 right or left of politics could want 바카라사이트 current obstacles to learning to stay in place.

¡°As 바카라사이트y write 바카라사이트ir manifestos for 바카라사이트 next general election, I would urge all 바카라사이트 political parties to consider a new commitment to helping prisoners better 바카라사이트mselves through education.¡±

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@ws-2000.com