There is a longstanding and wildly innaccurate U.S. correctional policy belief still plaguing correctional circles today: that rehabilitation efforts within jails are largely ineffective.
Thankfully, there is a program turning this belief completely on its head.
A recent study challenges this notion by examining the Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education (IGNITE) program implemented in Flint, Michigan’s Genessee County jail.
The model is cheap to implement and effective, saving counties thousands of dollars and reducing recidivism.
It is so effective, that it’s spreading across not just Michigan, but the United States.
The Key Findings
IGNITE, to lean into the analogy is spreading like fire because of its incredible outcomes:
- Reduction in Misconduct: Each additional month of participation in the IGNITE program is associated with a 25% decrease in weekly misconduct incidents within the jail.
- Lower Recidivism Rates: Participants showed a 24% reduction in the likelihood of re-arrest and re-incarceration within three months post-release.
- Sustained Impact: The positive effects on recidivism rates not only persist but also grow over time, indicating long-term benefits of the program.
Program Overview
Knowledge is power; power to grow, power to take back your life.
As a result, IGNITE offers a comprehensive educational curriculum to incarcerated individuals, including:
- Basic literacy and numeracy courses
- GED test preparation
- Vocational training in areas such as food handling, commercial driving, masonry, and welding
The program operates for two hours daily, five days a week, and is voluntary. To encourage participation, individuals are provided with tablets granting access to approved entertainment and games during free time.
Remarkably, about 90% of inmates choose to engage with the program.
Why it Works
The study suggests that the program’s success may be attributed to:
- Educational Advancement: Participants demonstrated significant improvements in literacy and numeracy, averaging a full grade level increase in both areas over a short period.
- Cultural Shift: Surveys indicated a positive change in perceptions among incarcerated individuals, staff, and the community regarding rehabilitation and law enforcement, fostering a more supportive environment for reintegration.
Case Studies
In counties where poverty has plagued residents and educational offerings are lacking, IGNITE offers participants a chance to learn and succeed.
In 2024, Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department implemented IGNITE. This is particularly exciting, as a year of data will soon be available, providing valuable insight for other sites, and measurable savings to taxpayers.
The National Sheriff’s Association also has a model based on Genessee County’s model, and offers assistance to jails looking to adopt the model here.
Multiple sites around the country are embracing it, changing the culture of their workforce and their communities for the better.
Wrapping it Up
The findings from the IGNITE program are proof positive that structured educational initiatives within jails can lead to meaningful reductions in misconduct and recidivism.
IGNITE not only challenges but disproves the harmful and outdated “nothing works” paradigm, instead highlighting the programs’ ability to ensure effective and humane correctional systems.
For too long, our justice system has relied solely on revenge and punishment; and it’s never worked.
If West Michigan communities don’t want to be known for their knack for destroying lives, the next step is clear: it’s time to build people up instead.
For a detailed exploration of the original study, refer to the full paper: “Something Works” in U.S. Jails: Misconduct and Recidivism Effects of the IGNITE Program.
