Studies have shown that inmate participation in education, vocational and job training, prison work skills development, drug abuse, mental health and other treatment programs, all reduce recidivism, significantly.

The statement argues for an evidence-based approach to criminal justice: providing incarcerated people with education, vocational preparation, work-skills development, and treatment for substance use and mental health is presented as a demonstrably effective way to reduce reoffending. By listing multiple program types, the quote frames recidivism as driven by addressable deficits—skills, employability, and untreated disorders—rather than as an immutable trait. The emphasis on “studies have shown” and “significantly” signals an appeal to empirical research and cost-effective public policy, implying that rehabilitation-oriented programming can improve public safety outcomes more reliably than punitive measures alone.