Prison detainees work at desk in a prison classroom with a chalkboard.

Analysis: Former juvenile lifers cite strengths and weaknesses of reentry preparation

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Researchers found almost all of 112 Philadelphians who have been released from lifetime prison sentences said they participated in some form of prison programming, but 53 percent reported having been restricted from vocational programs such as barbering (Pennsylvania prioritizes people who have less than five years left on their sentences for vocational training). “A lot of these guys who did end up taking advantage of the college programming were able to enroll through their perseverance as opposed to these programs being allocated for them,” said study co-author Tarika Daftary-Kapur, professor of justice studies at Montclair State University in New Jersey, which conducted the survey.

Many Young Americans Lack Basic Job Skills Says New Study

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America’s high schools and colleges aren’t preparing students for adulthood, says a new study by the Pathways to Prosperity Project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The national education strategy has been too focused on academics and not real-world skills, according to the study, “Pathways to Prosperity: Meeting the Challenge of Preparing Young Americans for the 21st Century."  Many employers are finding today’s young job seekers lack the necessary skills to be successful in the workplace.  The report recommends shifting to a two-track approach with an emphasis on job skills along with college preparation. Georgia's General Assembly is apparently recognizing this need.