Students for Northeastern Prison Initiative is working to change the conversation about prison reform at the administrative level. Created by the COMM3409 class for the final project, this initiative is trying to push for prison rehabilitation, rather than punishment. Not only do these programs provide the inmates with the post-secondary education, but they also allow them to enhance their social skills, artistic development and emotional outlets.
Currently, half of prisoners will return after they are released. On average, these recidivism rates drop to around 22% if an education program is offered. At Bard Prison Initiative, which educates inmates in the New York-Metropolis area through Bard College, their recidivism rate has dropped to 2%. The programs give inmates opportunity and hope. Professors who teach at these correctional facility programs find that the inmates show just as much drive and interest as students in a traditional college setting.
They can sometimes even bring more to the classroom due to past experiences or backgrounds. For example, a history professor at a program through Washington University sees a lot of intersection between her topics and the hierarchies of today’s society within race and class. After release, they can find employment, as over half of jobs require some college education. Inmates that went though Bard’s program went on to become playwright fellows and Ph.D students.
Critics of the program argue that this system shouldn’t pay any more for people who have broken the law. The average price of an inmate for one year is $29,000. This is even more in New York. However, in the long run, education programs can save taxpayers money. Because recidivism rates decrease that significantly, the Rand Corporation study shows that for every $1 spent on education, taxpayers save $4 - $5.
For Northeastern University, this initiative is one step that will allow us to stay true to our mission statement and stated values: “Create and translate knowledge to meet global and societal needs”. Being a highly esteemed private university, we have both the academic and fiscal tools and responsibility to empower society’s most vulnerable and oppressed. The structural and institutional racism that is in place in the criminal justice system must be changed, and Northeastern as the opportunity to do so. This initiative will include a letter writing / tabling campaign from 11/16-11/30, as well as a social media campaign. All signed letters will then be hand-delivered to various individuals on the administrative level to start this much needed conversation.
Currently, half of prisoners will return after they are released. On average, these recidivism rates drop to around 22% if an education program is offered. At Bard Prison Initiative, which educates inmates in the New York-Metropolis area through Bard College, their recidivism rate has dropped to 2%. The programs give inmates opportunity and hope. Professors who teach at these correctional facility programs find that the inmates show just as much drive and interest as students in a traditional college setting.
They can sometimes even bring more to the classroom due to past experiences or backgrounds. For example, a history professor at a program through Washington University sees a lot of intersection between her topics and the hierarchies of today’s society within race and class. After release, they can find employment, as over half of jobs require some college education. Inmates that went though Bard’s program went on to become playwright fellows and Ph.D students.
Critics of the program argue that this system shouldn’t pay any more for people who have broken the law. The average price of an inmate for one year is $29,000. This is even more in New York. However, in the long run, education programs can save taxpayers money. Because recidivism rates decrease that significantly, the Rand Corporation study shows that for every $1 spent on education, taxpayers save $4 - $5.
For Northeastern University, this initiative is one step that will allow us to stay true to our mission statement and stated values: “Create and translate knowledge to meet global and societal needs”. Being a highly esteemed private university, we have both the academic and fiscal tools and responsibility to empower society’s most vulnerable and oppressed. The structural and institutional racism that is in place in the criminal justice system must be changed, and Northeastern as the opportunity to do so. This initiative will include a letter writing / tabling campaign from 11/16-11/30, as well as a social media campaign. All signed letters will then be hand-delivered to various individuals on the administrative level to start this much needed conversation.