Nearly 75% of states have more prisons and jails than degree-granting colleges, according to new research from Studee.
On the other end of the spectrum, New Jersey had 56% less jails and prisons than colleges, followed by New York with 51% less. Just 12 states had more colleges than jails and prisons.
“Still in the year 2021, there are far too many young people being sent to juvenile detention rather than given the opportunity to learn in a supportive, passionate and loving environment, which is what our young people need,” said Laura Rettie, vice president of global communications at Studee. “It’s clear to see that where there are very few colleges the cycle of poverty and incarceration continues like a blazing fire. More needs to be done to stamp the fire out – funding needs to be redirected from prisons to schools in this war against crime. It’s just not right that prisons are being built at such an alarming rate, when we know the more we educate our young minds, the less likely they are to commit crimes.”
