In Burke County, North Carolina, previously incarcerated individuals have lower economic stability due to unemployment, lower education levels, and low socioeconomic status (Burke County Health Department, 2022). One year after exiting prison, 51% of formerly incarcerated individuals do not have a job and earn below the federal poverty line (NC Commerce, 2023). Evidence shows that well-established reentry processes including continuing education and steady employment reduce recidivism (NIJ, 2023). More educational training for incarcerated individuals results in lower rates of recidivism; less than a high school degree results in a 60% recidivism rate, whereas recidivism drops to 19% for those with any college degree (Bender, 2018). We determined short, medium, and long-term focus goals, and established guidance for potential hurdles in building an incarceration education program. An education program for incarcerated individuals in Burke County will improve long-term health and economic stability by offsetting the social determinants that lead to nonviolent criminal behavior (Parker, 2022).Master of Public Healt
