Obama Helping Inmates Gain an Education

For over 22 years, financial aid to inmates in the United States has been banned, bringing into question the effectiveness of rehabilitation in the prison system. However, in his last year of presidency, President Barack Obama has instituted a pilot program that would see this ban nullified.

Beginning in July of 2016, over 12,000 inmates will have the opportunity to acquire financial assistance in order to complete online classes or classroom-based instruction. The idea is that by giving inmates the opportunity of an education, they will become more productive citizens upon their release. Given the fact that many inmates end up returning to prison after their sentences expire, this plan seeks to end the repeat offender cycle by reintegrating inmates into contemporary society.

The stigma of being a former inmate also complicates and hurts inmates chances to become a part of society. Studies show that the unemployment rate amongst former inmates lies anywhere from ‘60 to 75 percent.’ By equipping these inmates with an education and the relevant skills for reintegration into the workplace, President Obama hopes to combat such issues associated with inmates.

Education Secretary John B. King Jr. is quoted as saying “We all agree that crime must have consequences, but the men and women who have done their time and paid their debt deserve the opportunity to break with the past and forge new lives in their homes, workplaces, and communities,” shifting away from the once held belief that inmate rehabilitation is a lost cause.

This program is part of an effort from both Republicans and Democrats to bring about reforms to the United States criminal justice system. Also included in the bill is the requirement from companies to “ban the box” which would make it unnecessary for former felons to report their criminal history.

Inmates will be eligible for Pell Grants under the Second Chance Pell Pilot Program which can reach as high as $5,815 per year.

New York Republican Rep. Chris Collins struck back at the proposed program saying that “the Obama administration’s plan to put the cost of a free college education for criminals on the backs of the taxpayers is consistent with their policy of regarding lawbreakers while penalizing hardworking Americans.”

Requirements for this program require inmates to acquire their education through 67 eligible universities and be an inmate at over 100 penitentiaries that have access to this program. In addition, they must be within 5 years of release from prison. So while this plan is being touted by the Obama administration as a success, the scope of the program is limited to just 100 prisons for the time being.

Research from the RAND Corporation has shown that for inmates who participate in such programs, they have a 43 percent less chance of returning to prison and they have a 13 percent higher employment rate compared to inmates who did not achieve an education while in prison. If such a program is successful on a larger scale, it would be no surprise to see this program expanded nationwide to all prisons.

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