The PREP Act establishes a new Office of Prison Education within the federal Bureau of Prisons to improve educational programs for incarcerated individuals. The office will be led by an Assistant Director and will work to ensure all federal prisons provide quality education, including literacy programs, high school diplomas, vocational training, apprenticeships, and postsecondary education. The legislation is driven by research showing that education significantly reduces recidivism—by over 43 percent—and that each dollar spent on prison education saves four to five dollars in incarceration costs over three years. The bill authorizes $170 million annually from 2024 through 2030 to establish a Federal Prison Education Program that partners with colleges, nonprofits, and other education providers to offer quality programs in federal facilities, with the federal government covering up to 75 percent of costs. The Office will also provide training and technical assistance to state prisons and maintain a public database of research and best practices, while tracking outcomes for incarcerated individuals both during and after their release.
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