CoreCivic's La Palma Correctional Center in Eloy, Arizona, hosted a graduation ceremony this week for 28 residents who earned a GED and two residents who earned a college degree from Rio Salado Community College!

Education can be a gateway to success, especially for incarcerated individuals whose chances of recidivism are reduced significantly when they reenter society with education credentials. A study conducted by the Rand Corporation shows that justice-involved individuals who enroll in educational programming while incarcerated decrease their chances of returning to prison by 43 percent.

"We are extremely proud of these 30 graduates at La Palma," said Chris Howard, warden at La Palma. "Each graduate has demonstrated he is committed to building a brighter future outside of incarceration as evidenced by his dedication to his education journey here. We look forward to celebrating many more graduates at La Palma in the future!"

CoreCivic offers a variety of education programming to those in our care, including high school equivalency (HSE) or GED, industry-recognized certification (IRC) and college programming. And through the Pell Grant expansion initiative in 2023, incarcerated individuals can access far more college programming today. Residents who reenter society with a college degree are more likely to secure better career opportunities and face a lower risk of recidivism.

CoreCivic celebrates these recent graduates at La Palma!