Is a murderer going to get out? Either way it all depends on whether you think the main purpose of prison is to punish or to rehibilitate.
If it's to punish, then obviously no.
If it's primarily to rehibilitate... yes for SOME criminals. Others already have skills they need. Although if it's to rehibilitate it makes me wonder why some people go to jail. For example someone who in a fit of rage kills his life when she is cheating on him. Is he ever going to murder again? It seems very unlikely and keeping them in jail 20+ years is going to make it less likely they can be functional to society.
As for my opinion... don't really have one. The way we do prisons now makes it seem pointless either way. I'd have to see a cost/benefit analysis of said programs to decide. Really we need to change the prison system and break it up into two specific groups. One for rehibilitation and one for punishment.
