Even something as simple as making sure they leave the system literate...it's surprising how many adults can't read. Prison literacy programs reduce reoffense significantly amongst people convicted of survival crimes (typically theft).

But they don't want to reduce recidivism. They want to increase it. And I know parole officers give themselves points for sending people back to jail.

(I hold to the fact that parole officers should, in fact, get a bonus or "bounty" for good outcomes. Your guy gets a job and keeps it for at least three months? You get a bonus. Your guy goes to community college and is learning a trade? Bonus. They should be judging themselves by how much they help their "clients" not by sending them back to jail).