I like the way you're thinking, but that's a little too easy to game unfortunately.
Here is my proposal:
1. Require something like 40% of the prison guards to have four-year degrees from accredited institutions, preferably in the humanities and the science.
2. Offer the prison a bonus for the academic achievements of each inmate.
3. Tie the bonus to the magnitude of the educational achievement so that going from, say, a GED to a bachelor's is much greater than going from a bachelor's to another bachelor's or even a master's. Also, publication in academic journals is eligible for the bonus, as are patent awards.
Here is my proposal:
1. Require something like 40% of the prison guards to have four-year degrees from accredited institutions, preferably in the humanities and the science.
2. Offer the prison a bonus for the academic achievements of each inmate.
3. Tie the bonus to the magnitude of the educational achievement so that going from, say, a GED to a bachelor's is much greater than going from a bachelor's to another bachelor's or even a master's. Also, publication in academic journals is eligible for the bonus, as are patent awards.