Prisons Turn to Virtual Reality to Cut Recidivism and Boost Job Skills
A growing number of correctional facilities across the United States are turning to virtual reality (VR) technology in an effort to address the country’s high recidivism rates and improve employment prospects for inmates upon their release. With joblessness among former inmates a major driver of reoffending, VR is being employed as a high-tech, scalable solution to equip incarcerated individuals with trade skills and educational credentials.
Statistics show that recidivism affects roughly 80% of the more than one million inmates in the U.S. prison system. A significant factor behind this trend is the lack of educational attainment and job training among prisoners, with approximately 60% of inmates reportedly functionally illiterate and the same percentage remaining unemployed a year after release. However, participation in prison-based educational programmes has been shown to reduce the likelihood of reoffending by nearly half.
Virtual reality offers several distinct advantages over conventional classroom instruction in correctional environments. Notably, VR-based education eliminates the need for dedicated classroom space and on-site instructors. Training can be conducted in compact spaces with only a VR headset, and lessons can be remotely monitored. Additionally, the immersive, interactive nature of VR makes it more engaging than traditional lectures, contributing to higher retention rates—up to 40% more than standard classroom methods.
Promising People, a company specialising in reducing recidivism through VR education and career training, has emerged as a pioneer in this field. Its programmes have been implemented in various correctional institutions, helping inmates prepare for careers in trades such as electrical work, carpentry, plumbing, agriculture, and even medical fields.
The company’s VR programme has gained notable traction. One former inmate in Cibola County, New Mexico, reportedly postponed his release by several weeks to complete the Electrical Helper certification provided through VR training. The programme’s flexibility, including the ability to operate with or without internet connectivity, has proven vital for correctional facilities with limited infrastructure.
The Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) has recently certified Promising People as a sole-source provider of VR training. The department is set to roll out a comprehensive training programme for electrical work, encompassing 65 first-person video lessons and 140 simulations. These sessions enable inmates to practise tasks in a virtual environment, earning industry-recognised credentials upon completion. The Electrical Helper course is also the first VR-based programme to be certified by the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI).
This forward-thinking approach has already been piloted outside the mainland U.S. In St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, the Bureau of Corrections reported considerable success using the VR training method with its young inmate population. Officials observed a strong response, particularly from inmates around the average age of 24, who found the video game-like experience familiar and engaging.
In addition to vocational training, VR is also opening pathways to formal education. American High School (AHS), a fully accredited K-12 institution, is partnering with Promising People to offer VR-based high school diploma programmes. The course allows incarcerated individuals to resume their education from where they left off and can be completed in approximately six months. With a reported 95% completion rate and significantly improved retention, students retain around 75% of the information learned in VR compared to just 10% with traditional methods—the programme is positioning inmates for greater employment prospects post-release.
Similar technological strides are being observed beyond the prison system. In the UK, students at Reddam House School in Berkshire are utilising VR headsets to enter a digital version of their school in the metaverse. This cutting-edge use of technology allows global student interaction within a shared virtual environment, showcasing the broader educational potential of VR.
As correctional systems increasingly integrate virtual reality into their rehabilitation strategies, the technology is proving to be a promising tool in reducing reoffending and helping former inmates reintegrate into society with employable skills and academic credentials.
