Return On Investment

Writing Programs Create a Lasting Impact

Benefit-Cost Ratio:

Prison education programs yield returns of $5.65–$7.13 per dollar invested
due to reduced reincarceration costs, with vocational programs showing the highest returns. 7 9 Screenwriting’s structured, skill-based format aligns closely with
vocational training models.

Short-term ROI:

Behavioral improvements reduce operational costs within 6–12 months. 4 7

Long-term ROI:

A 5:1–7:1 return via recidivism reduction and employment gains over 3–5 years. 5 7 9

1. Reduced Recidivism = Long-Term Cost Savings

Arts program participants show 43% lower odds of reoffending compared to non-participants. 11 6

Writing programs specifically correlate with 12x lower recidivism rates than national averages. 6

In Canada, education program participants have lower conditional release failure rates, reducing reincarceration costs by addressing the root causes of criminal behavior. 8

2. Operational Cost Reductions Through Improved Behaviour

Disciplinary Incident Declines:
- Arts programs reduce behavioral infractions by 63–89% during participation, cutting costs associated with security responses and solitary confinement. 4 6
- California’s Arts-in-Corrections program saw 75% fewer disciplinary reports among participants. 4
Therapeutic Benefits:
- Art therapy decreases stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, reducing demand for mental health services. 3 6
- Collaborative writing projects improve inmate-staff relations, fostering safer prison environments. 4 6

3. Post Release Economic Benefits

Employment Gains:
- Prison education increases post-release employment likelihood by 6.9% and quarterly wages by $131. 1 7 Screenwriting builds transferable skills in communication, critical thinking, and teamwork. 4
- Canadian data shows medium/high-risk offenders with educational achievements have better employment outcomes, reducing reliance on social services. 8
Taxpayer Savings:
- Every dollar invested in prison education saves $4–$12 in avoided incarceration and social costs. 5 7
- Reduced recidivism from screenwriting programs could save $150,505 annually per inmate (the average cost of incarceration in Canada). 10

4. Ancillary Benefits with Economic Value

Family Reintegration: Collaborative writing projects improve family connections, a key factor in reducing post-release homelessness and unemployment. 2 4

Reduced Healthcare Burden: Arts participation lowers rates of depression and self-harm, decreasing long-term healthcare costs. 3 6

Sources

Education Programs in Prisons, Mackinac Center for Public Policy, February 2024
How Our Collaborative Writing Project Helped Prisoners Connect With Their Families, The Conversation, a publication of the Academic Journalism Society, July 2023
Benefits of Art Therapy in Prison Population with a Diagnosis of Mental Illness: A Systematic Review, National Library of Medicine, December 2024
The Impact of Prison Arts Programs on Inmate Attitudes and Behavior: A Quantitative Evaluation, Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, Justice Policy Journal, Fall 2014
Are Education Programs in Prisons Worth It?, Mackinac Center for Public Policy, January 2023
Investing in Futures: Economic and Fiscal Benefits of Postsecondary Education in Prisons, Vera Institute of Justice, January 2019
The Costs and Benefits of Programs to Reduce Crime, Washington State Institute for Public Policy, May 2012
Offender Education Programs and Services: Evaluation Report, Correctional Service of Canada, 2015
Benefits of Prison Education, Hope College, Holland, MI
Average Annual Inmate Expenditures for Federal Correctional Services in Canada from FY 2010 to 2021, Statista, March 2024
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Correctional Education, RAND Research, August 2013
Higher Education Programs in Prison, RAND Research, August 2019