However, a bill in the state legislature, sponsored by Rep. John Freeman (D-Madison Heights), takes the idea of education as part of rehabilitation and proposes to require it. Specifically, his bill would demand that most inmates earn a high school diploma or its equivalent to qualify for parole. While plans to expand education in correctional facilities are admirable, the proposed bill has many problems that need consideration.
Requiring a high school diploma or its equivalent (in the form of a General Education Development certificate) before granting parole infringes on inmates' personal and civil liberties. Through this legislation, the parole board would, in essence, grant or deny parole on the basis of educational achievement or academic ability. Even though the bill would allow the Department of Corrections to waive the requirement for inmates with learning disabilities or for those who are not proficient in English, all citizens should be protected from discrimination on the basis of education.
There is also the ever-present question of funding - or lack thereof. The proposed legislation requires inmates whose prison term is two or more years to achieve high school-level proficiency. According to the Department of Corrections, almost 90 percent of the state's 40,916 inmates are serving sentences of at least two years. The necessities to educate such a large number of inmates are overwhelming. A paid staff, textbooks and other materials would be essential. While expanding education in correctional facilities is a positive goal, taking on a project of this magnitude promises to present significant financial and organizational challenges.
Finally, with the proposed legislation as it stands, the state forces education upon those who are not free - but it is a choice for those who are. Every Michigan resident has the option of whether to receive a high school diploma. Regardless of the consequences, at the age of 16, any person can legally drop out of school. A high school diploma, or its equivalent, is not a requirement to the vast majority of this nation and therefore should not be to those citizens within the justice system.
While education can be an important part of inmates' rehabilitation, it should not be required. Prisoners deemed rehabilitated and safe to re-enter society should not be held back due to shortcomings in educational achievement or failure to earn a high school diploma. Education should be part of the solution, not part of the punishment.