Honoring the Humanity of Incarcerated Students: Reimagining Benefits of College-in-Prison Beyond Recidivism and Employment

• In Event: Reimagining Pathways: Higher Education Enrollment Aspirations and Barriers Facing Minoritized, Agentic Populations

Abstract

College-in-prison (CIP) is expanding across the United States after the reinstatement of eligibility of incarcerated students for federal Pell grants and similar state-based aid. Costs of CIP are often justified through its impact on reducing recidivism and increasing employment opportunities for incarcerated individuals. This rationale narrows the benefits of college conceptualized for the broader public, such as critical thinking, adult development, peer socialization, and belonging. This paper draws from a mixed-methods process evaluation of a CIP initiative in New York State, which supported 931 students from 2017 to 2022. Findings show that CIP demonstrates many benefits, beyond recidivism and employability, that contribute to well being for students as well as to broader society.

Authors

• Neal A. Palmer, CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance

• Pavithra Nagarajan, Justice System Partners

• Julia Bowling, CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance