MS HB961

Requires the Mississippi Department of Corrections to administer an Adult Basic Education (ABE) examination meeting 12th grade standards to all adult offenders in custody

Mandates individualized instruction and remedial classes for offenders who fail any subject area of the examination until they pass

Guarantees meritorious earned time (sentence reduction) for offenders who successfully complete the ABE examination

Cites that Mississippi offenders completing prison education programs have a 3-year recidivism rate of approximately 2%, compared to the state's overall 27.65% recidivism rate in 2013

Notes the Department of Corrections budget increased 310% between 1992 and 2012, reaching over $334 million in fiscal year 2018