LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska advocacy group has called on the state prison system to bulk up its inmate educational programs to better prepare inmates for jobs and prevent further crimes.

Lincoln-based Nebraska Appleseed released a report Wednesday urging the state to increase funding for the corrections department’s vocational and life skills training program.

James Goddard, a co-author of the report, said that it makes sense to better prepare inmates with job skills because more than 90 percent of them will return to society and Nebraska has a worker shortage.

The group made recommendations, including making college courses more accessible. The report noted that female inmates cannot take college courses and offerings for male inmates are limited.

Dawn-Renee Smith with the corrections department said that it has not fully reviewed the report, but the agency is already moving forward on some suggestions.