JOYFUL POST #20

Crime or college?

From English Wikipedia: Our World in Data. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.

As of 2021, there were almost 1.8 million people in prison in the United States. Does it need to be so?

The ideal justice system would be based on restorative justice— providing the necessary support for the healing of victims, society, AND offenders.

Lack of opportunity and adverse formational environment is all too often at the root of a life of crime. Now, with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid law (FAFSA) coming into effect soon we can provide an alternative path to a life of crime— the incarcerated can apply for Pell Grants as low-income students.

With college in prison providing a rigorous set of standards, the incarcerated can be lifted mentally and spiritually to integrate or reintegrate into society as productive members. Imagine what a hopeful outcome this can be, providing the path of a fulfilling career with adequate remuneration to subsist in our economy. Prisoners can now aspire to separate themselves from the environment that landed them in prison. They can improve their life experience and provide society with positive outcomes.

Let’s explore the risks.

Recidivism has dropped by 43% in experimental programs that allow inmate enrollment in college. In 1994 Congress dedicated $7 Billion to building new prisons. It also reduced expenditures by $35 million by eliminating the incarcerated from Pell Grants. Is this not a mistake of huge proportions?

The record shows that 67.8% of released prisoners are rearrested within 3 years. 75% of released prisoners are rearrested within 5 years. But 97.5% of Bard College Prison Initiative (BPI) participants never go back to prison. That is a huge payback. Does it not allow rededication of taxpayer funds to more urgently needed programs rather than providing funding for law enforcement and new prisons?

Is this not reason for joy and celebration?

Kudos to Max Kenner, Bard College, and the BPI for fostering this compassionate and creative approach to incarceration. Surely there are and will be challenges. But is this not worth pursuing to turn us away from being a nation of incarcerated people?

This is something for which to be thankful on this Thanksgiving Day!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

To learn more about this topic click here and here.

20231120