From Vera Institute of Justice:
Access to education changes lives. For students who are incarcerated, participating in college-in-prison programs can improve their quality of life behind bars and increase employment opportunities once they return home.
Receiving a postsecondary education while incarcerated benefits
students, their families, and their communities.
But the opportunity to access life-changing postsecondary education is still out of reach for most people in prison. The 1994 Crime Bill banned Pell Grants—federal need-based financial aid—for incarcerated students, making higher education inaccessible to most for nearly 30 years. That changed on July 1, 2023 when access to aid was restored.
Reinstating Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated students means that more than 760,000 people in prison will have an easier time affording college behind bars. However, the limited number of college-in-prison programs available means that many prospective students still cannot access it. In order to realize the full potential of this change, more schools across the United States must work toward
creating college-in-prison programs and ensure that they are fostering
supportive, welcoming environments for justice-involved students. Continue reading >>>
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