Illinois offers GED materials but not the exam to the men and women on Death Row.

I did not call Florida, Illinois, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

The other states, Delaware, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New York and North Carolina are states that did not return my phone calls.

I surveyed several states that have the death penalty to see what educational programs are offered to the inmates on death row. Most of the states that responded did provide educational programming, including GED courses and the GED exam, and the opportunity to take correspondence courses if the inmate could afford it. Many of those institutions that offered educational programming to the condemned unit inmates had actual school districts set up within the prison community, complete with teachers, a principal and superintendent. In all situations where education was offered, the inmates were not allowed to go to classes; the classes were all conducted via a/v equipment or books and other materials were provided. In many instances tutors teachers were permitted to instruct the inmates individually at their cells.

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wyoming.

* Thirty-eight states have the death penalty.
* Of the 38 states, I contacted 26 states, and received complete answers from 18 states.
* 78% offered GED programs and exams to their condemned unit inmates.
* 61% offered Correspondence Courses if the inmate could pay for it.
* 4 states allow tutors or teachers to come to the inmates' cells to assist in their education.
* 4 out of 37,or 11%, offer no educational programming at all.

The following states do not offer any educational programs to the Condemned Unit inmates: Alabama, Arizona, Maryland and Texas.

The following states do offer educational programming; where GED is offered, the exam is also always offered.
* Arkansas (39 on death row).
* California (600 on death row). Men housed at San Quentin have access to a literacy program offered via Closed Circuit TV, called We People Read in English and Spanish. Teachers come to the cells to distribute assignments and assist the inmates. Also have access to self study GED programs. Women housed at Central California have access to self study GED programs.
* Connecticut (7 on death row): GED and ABE (where deemed appropriate). Correspondence Courses offered if inmate can pay.
* Colorado (7 on death row): GED and ABE; teachers are allowed to come to the cell doors to assist. Correspondence Courses allowed if inmate can pay.
* Georgia (131 on death row): GED and ABE; Correspondence Course if inmate can pay.
* Idaho (21 on death row): Has an Educational Division HS diploma courses, College Course and Correspondence Courses if inmate can pay. One death row inmate has earned his HS Diploma. Death row inmates have the same educational opportunities as other inmates, except that they do not leave their cells to attend classes. Teachers can assist inmates at their cells.
* Kansas (4 on death row): Correspondence courses if inmate can pay.
* Kentucky (43 on death row): GED (with a tutor). Correspondence Courses if inmate can pay.
* Nebraska (9 on death row): GED and ABE. Correspondence or distance courses through University of Nebraska if inmate can pay. Work Programs on unit can earn up to $10/month.
* Nevada (89 on death row): Diploma – Correspondence Courses if inmate can pay.
* Ohio (202 on death row): GED and ABE.
* Oklahoma (123 on death row): Has a School District within DOC. Offers pre-test for GED to assess inmates' abilities. Teachers can assist inmates at cells. Correspondence Courses if inmate can pay.
* Oregon (29 on death row): GED and ABE. Correspondence Courses if inmate can pay.
* Pennsylvania (246 on death row): Offers pre-test for GED to assess inmates abilities. GED and ABE. Correspondence Courses if inmate can pay.

As the study indicates, most states with a condemned unit offer education programs to the inmates. Those states that offer GED materials, also offer the GED exam to the inmates. In Illinois, several condemned unit inmates have expressed an interest in obtaining a GED. Many social studies have reached the same now well-settled conclusion that educational programming decreases recidivism and increases rehabilitation.

You can contact us about our programs at:

Illinois Coalition to Abolish The Death Penalty
Executive Director Jane Bohman
332 S. Michigan Ave., Ste. 500
Chicago, IL 60604

Phone: 312-673-3816
Fax: 312-427-6130
email: info@icadp.org