Should inmates be "rewarded" with free education?

I don't look at that as a reward. Giving someone the chance to improve themselves in not a reward, that is something they have to work at themselves. Cable T.V. for inmates, now that is a reward. Giving inmates things such as: soda's, candy, cigarettes, mags., cable, and other material things are rewarding them.

Normally when a person seeks to improve themselves through education, they are doing so to provide a better way of life for themselves. We should be happy that any criminal would want to better themselves and try to make something out of their life, instead of wanting to continue the cycle. And that really is hard work, it is much easier for them to do nothing and restart their criminal activity upon release.

SIDE NOTE: 95% of inmates WILL be released back into society at some point, and because of that we need to consider what it will take to help them stay away from criminal activity. If we could keep offenders locked up for life, and I mean life, then, I would agree that providing them anything beyond shelter would be a 'reward', to include, electric, food, beds, pillows, etc. I would be all for them having to work to make it for themselves. But that isn't what happens in the real world.

while I don't think they should be rewarded with education, i also don't think they should sit around and watch free cable tv all day either, I think it would be better if they were to learn a trade and be encouraged to learn a skill that can earn them money when they are released. inmates that are serving life should have no access to education as the tax payer is picking up the tab for this. i think as much as possible we should have inmates earn their keep by producing goods that can be sold and are needed by the public

Not "rewarded". I believe that they should work for it and earn it on their own instead of sitting around in jail watching tv all day. I think this would be much more beneficial then sending them out after prison in the same condition which means they will probably do the same thing that sent them to prison in the first place.

My brother-in-law recieved his degree in prison and is now very successful. This is an interesting question though. I mean, we are supposed to be rehabilitating these individuals, right? I think it is a good thing. I believe it to be better than just sending them in and making them even harder and more violent criminals.

absolutely not. they put themselves where they are. There's many young people that hasn't the privilege to go to school, in foreign countries. Then these people maybe came into your or my house and killed our parents then we go and pay to have them educated? I DON'T THINK SO. I'm sorry, I have no compassion for people like that.

i dont see it as much of a reward... if we didnt give them books more of them would probablly spend more time making weapons and shanking prison guards and eachother...

no