Senate committee advances bill to require intake and annual education assessments for inmates
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Summary
The Senate State and Local Government Committee advanced SB 1569 to require education assessments at intake and annually for inmates, adopting an amendment to allow electronic delivery of results; higher-education advocates told the committee the programs reduce recidivism and save taxpayer dollars.
The Senate State and Local Government Committee on Tuesday voted to advance SB 1569, a bill requiring the Tennessee Department of Corrections to conduct education assessments for every person serving a felony offense at intake and annually thereafter.
Supporters said the requirement would formalize a process that helps correctional education programs better identify needs and connect incarcerated students to postsecondary opportunities. "Ninety-five percent of incarcerated individuals are coming home," Laura Ferguson Mims, president and CEO of the Tennessee Higher Education Initiative, told the committee, arguing the state should prepare people while they are incarcerated and after release.
The bill also includes an amendment requested by the Department of Corrections allowing assessment results to be sent electronically to the inmate. "This bill would make educational programming part of the conversation of rehabilitation from day one," Barbie Brown, director of student services at THEI, said, citing a current recidivism rate the witness called "just over 29 percent" and RAND research showing postsecondary programs reduce recidivism.
Senators who spoke in favor emphasized that higher-education programs in Tennessee prisons have produced lower recidivism rates and yield long-term savings. The sponsor, Chairman White, said the amendment reflects a technical request from the Department of Corrections to permit electronic delivery of test results.
The committee adopted the amendment by voice vote and then voted on the bill as amended. The clerk and chair reported 9 ayes and SB 1569 passed out of committee and will advance to the Senate calendar.
Supporters identified several existing higher-education partners in prisons, including Nashville State Community College, Dyersburg State Community College, Northeast State Community College and bachelor-degree partners such as Belmont University, LeMoyne-Owen College and Trevecca Nazarene University. THEI witnesses pointed to evidence that each dollar invested in prison higher education returns multiple dollars in incarceration savings.
The committee did not hear opposition testimony; the next procedural step is placement on the Senate calendar, where the bill may be scheduled for floor consideration.