Unfortunately, the elimination of incentives such as parole, good time credits and funding for college courses, means that fewer inmates participate in and excel in literacy, education, treatment and other development programs.

Scott argues that rehabilitation in prisons is not driven by programming alone but by the incentive structure surrounding it. By pointing to parole eligibility, good-time credits, and access to funded college courses, he frames these as practical levers that motivate incarcerated people to enroll in and persist with literacy, education, and treatment programs. The quote implies a policy critique: when lawmakers remove or restrict incentives in the name of being “tough on crime,” they may inadvertently reduce participation in the very programs associated with improved behavior, skill-building, and reentry readiness. The underlying significance is utilitarian and reformist—rehabilitation outcomes depend on aligning institutional rewards with pro-social effort.