由於刑罰制度長久以來對於犯罪人究應給予教育刑或應報刑?及二者熟輕熟重之爭論。以我國近十年來，在法律制度上無論給予受刑人較寬鬆的假釋政策，或是較嚴格的懲罰威嚇政策，均無法有效解決出獄人之高累、再犯及撤銷假釋率之問題而論，及根據國外許多研究文獻證實，對於被監禁在圍牆內的犯罪人，如果施予合適之矯正教育計劃訓練，尤其是可以獲得學位之高等正教育計劃，則越可以明顯降低再犯罪率及增加就業能力，也可節省國家之監禁費用。 本論文以官方資料分析及設計問卷調查等二種研究方法，來解析接受空中大學矯正教育之出獄人其在社會上之生活適應情形。本研究以追蹤自86年實施空中大學矯正教育至92年底之出獄人的再犯罪情形。並以我國設立空中大學面授點之八所矯正機構從86至92年底中的所有出獄人共170名及具備相當條件但未接受空大教育的假釋出獄人各約170名，作為問卷調查研究對象，並進行比較分析兩組出獄人之生活適應差異情形。 研究發現，接受過空中大學矯正教育之出獄人大都肯定此一矯正計劃之實施成效，相嗎的統計分析亦得到相同之結果，且接受過此一進修教育計劃之出獄人均比未接過的有較好的生活適應與收入。尤其在追蹤六年後的再犯罪率更是相對的低，可見得其對出獄人之生活適應情形是正面且值得肯定。 由於本研究是第一個針對我國高等矯正教育進行之本土化實證研究，希望在研究發現上，政府可以繼續提供合適之矯正教育計劃給予受人外，亦配合我國政府由上而下之觀念的改變，相信可以提供政府在協助犯罪人出獄後之生活適應問題上更多的幫助;其次在降低我國高累再犯罪問題上，相信也會有所影響。以提供有關單位在制定犯罪矯治與犯罪預訪政策之參考。

In the domain of penal system, a long debated question is: should we give criminal offenders more education or more punishment? In the past 10 years, the change of legislation towards either harsh or gentle parole policy seems have little influence on the recidivism and parole revocation rates. Previous research in other countries have proved that those inmates who receive suitable education programs in prisons, especially higher education programs with degrees have higher employment rates and lower recidivism rates when returning to society. Consequently, it reduces imprisonment expenditures. This is the main aim for the current dissertation, namely exploring the influence of receiving higher education to inmates’ life adaptability. In terms of methodology, O collected both quantitative and qualitative data, utilizing several research instruments-survey questionnaire and secondary data analysis. I reviewed the change of recidivism rate and parole revocation rates in the last decade using official statistics. A survey was conducted to 170 parole inmates who gave received Open University education and another 170 inmates who have not in 8 institutions from 1997 to 2003 in order to compare their adaptability extent, supplemented by their recidivism records. The result shows that the inmates who have graduated from Open University education have higher attendant rate in a variety of correctional education programs and lower recidivism rate. They receive higher salary and have better life adaptability and higher recognition to correctional education than their counterpart. This is the first empirical research evaluating the higher education program in correction institution in Taiwan. This study not only has broad implications for future research in this area, but perhaps more immediately, addresses a key policy issue in Taiwan. My finding provides important research evidence. It is hoped that the government will develop appropriate responses to the key policy area in correctional education to improve rehabilitation effect of prisons and increase long term public safety.