Studies from RAND show that individuals who participate in educational programs while incarcerated are 48% less likely to return to prison than those who did not have access to these opportunities.
That’s why, in 2016, the state of California partnered with California State University, Los Angeles to help incarcerated individuals earn a degree.
And in October 2025, the first graduating class of the California Institution for Women earned a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies.
This cohort of 20 women represents a major milestone in the program and contributes to the growing statistic of more than 13.5% of California’s entire incarcerated population enrolled in college courses…