Bob Franks: “Under current law, Federal inmates are eligible to receive 54 days of credit toward early release for good behavior.…”

“Under current law, Federal inmates are eligible to receive 54 days of credit toward early release for good behavior. This practice is called good time. Under the present system, all inmates who do not have a high school diploma are required to enroll in a GED Program, which is available at every Federal prison in the Nation. The problem is that after 120 days, these individuals may withdraw from the program. My amendment would require Federal inmates to earn a General Educational Development [GED] certificate as a condition of receiving early release from prison. Under my amendment, inmates could continue to receive credit for good behavior during each year of incarceration. The credit, however, would not vest until completion of a GED Program. About 60 percent of Federal prisoners have a high school diploma. But that means over 32,000 inmates lack these basic educational skills. The Education Division at the Federal Bureau of Prisons has assured me that this amendment could be met with existing financial resources by rotating class schedules and more extensive use of inmate tutors. Let us face it. Given the highly competitive nature of our economy, individuals who do not possess basic educational skills find it increasingly difficult to earn an honest living.”