H.R. 10543 — PREP Act

This section states findings on recidivism rates for individuals released from federal prisons (49.3 percent rearrested, 31.7 percent reconvicted, and 24.6 percent reincarcerated over 8 years) and state prisons (83 percent rearrested), along with the benefits of prison education programs, including a 43 percent reduction in recidivism, 13 to 28 percent higher employment rates, and $4 to $5 in incarceration cost savings per dollar spent. It sets the purpose of the Act to create a dedicated office within the Bureau of Prisons to improve federal prison education programs, ensure access across institutions, form partnerships with education providers, and maintain a repository of research and best practices for state and local correctional institutions.

This section defines the Assistant Director as the Assistant Director for Prison Education appointed under section 4142(b) of title 18, United States Code, as added by this Act, and the Director as the Director of the Bureau of Prisons.

This section establishes an Office of Prison Education within the Bureau of Prisons, headed by an Assistant Director appointed by the Director, to ensure quality educational programs in all federal penal and correctional institutions. The office implements the Federal Prison Education Program; coordinates adult literacy, high school diploma, postsecondary, workforce development, pre-apprenticeship, registered apprenticeship, career and technical education, and expanded services for individuals with disabilities (using the definition in 42 U.S.C. 12102); consults with the Department of Education and Veterans Affairs; conducts research and issues reports; provides training and technical assistance to state prison systems; and collects and reports data on enrollment, completion, employment barriers, and correlations with recidivism, job placement, and corrections spending.

This section directs the Assistant Director of the Bureau of Prisons to establish and maintain a clearinghouse for research, policies, and best practices on quality prison education programs, developed in collaboration with the Department of Education, state and local correctional agencies, civil rights and criminal justice organizations, and research entities. It also requires the Assistant Director to post related information and resources on the Bureau’s public website.

This section directs the Assistant Director of the Bureau of Prisons to use agency funds to provide State correctional institutions with training and technical assistance on developing and implementing policies for quality prison education programs. It authorizes federal institutions operating such programs to partner with State and local correctional institutions and education providers in the same State or region to deliver the training and assistance.

This section directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct outreach informing incarcerated veterans of eligibility for educational assistance under chapters 30 and 33 of title 38, ensure such assistance remains available, connect eligible veterans to approved prison education programs including the Federal Prison Education Program, provide post-release financial aid counseling, and distribute a resource guide on post-release education benefits and job services under chapters 41 and 42. It bars monthly housing stipends and subsistence payments for veterans with felony convictions while incarcerated and reduces other education assistance by amounts covered by other federal, state, or local programs.