House Bill 338, legislation intended to improve and reform prison security, was passed by the Ohio House in November. One of the most notable changes was that it requires the complete elimination of higher education at high security facilities.
This would result in around 10% of incarcerated students automatically losing access to higher education in high security facilities, and potentially more due to ambiguity regarding how different facilities are classified.
The bill was proposed in response to the death of Andy Lansing, a corrections officer, in December 2024 at the hands of an inmate. This event raised concerns about safety for those who work in correctional facilities, and proponents of HB 338 say that it will make the systems safer for employees and more conducive to inmate rehabilitation. Many of them said they hope “common sense prevails” and that the bill will pass the Senate now that it has been passed by the House.
However there are several provisions in the bill that have drawn criticism for being unrelated to making facilities safer, with some saying that these provisions will not help with inmate rehabilitation.
Some sources argue that as it is currently written, HB 338 is a “kitchen sink bill” that will be counterproductive to helping inmates reenter society. They also claim that there has been “zero data discussed” during the process of crafting the legislation, and if the bill is supported by emotion but not evidence then it will not achieve its stated goals.
Others say that inmates being able to access higher education is a “well-researched and proven predictor of recidivism reduction and successful reintegration.”
Earlier this year Jarrett Maier, the prison education pathway coordinator at Sinclair, stated that the biggest logistical obstacle to providing incarcerated students education is the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. The ODRC is a government-backed organization that focuses on security, and its influence would almost certainly increase if HB 338 was passed.
“Sinclair Community College is aware of House Bill 338 and its potential implications regarding educational opportunities in correctional facilities,” Maier said. “Sinclair has a long-standing commitment to providing high-quality education to all students, including those who are incarcerated. We recognize the value of these programs for rehabilitation, reducing recidivism, and preparing students for successful reentry into society. However, as a policy matter, Sinclair does not comment on pending legislation. We remain dedicated to monitoring the legislative process and assessing the outcome of any bill that may affect our operations, programs and students.”
Erik Larson, reporter
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