Browsing Category
Higher Ed in Prisons
20 posts
It took almost 30 years for Pell Grants to return to prison. But, for many, college is still out of reach.
July marks the first time in nearly three decades that incarcerated people are broadly eligible for Pell Grants.
March 15, 2023
First person: ‘There’s no equality’ for disabled students in prison
Minnesota’s prisons have failed their disabled students, a federal investigation found.
March 13, 2023
College on death row: “Y’all aren’t here to be rehabilitated.”
Gaining a higher education is the ultimate act of resistance, writes Lyle C. May.
February 1, 2023
How an illicit cell phone helped me take college courses from prison
Cell phones in prisons are often seen as a threat to security, but they are also a lifeline to information and knowledge.
January 20, 2023
When a prison closed, dozens of college dreams died with it
The story of the Washington state students shows just how fleeting even established programs can be. Access to higher education often comes down to a matter of geography — and luck.
December 6, 2022
First Person: How I parent my college son while in prison
Parenting from behind bars is like an air traffic controller trying to fly a plane from the ground — you can relay information, but you miss the hands-on experience that matters most.
November 17, 2022
Q&A: Bill Keller on rehabilitation and the waste of human potential
Bill Keller, founding editor of the Marshall Project, talks with national reporter Charlotte West about his new book, "What’s Prison For?".
November 2, 2022
Two lifers on the role of college in prison: ‘I found a new habit. Education.’
New York Thomas and Suave Gonzalez talk about fighting the system and the role of education in prison when you think you’re never getting out.
October 20, 2022
Education often plays a big role in clemency decisions. Should it?
Johnny Pippins has already completed a master’s degree from prison. To pursue a Ph.D., he needs Illinois' governor to let him out early.
July 14, 2022
The last class, 28 years later
What happened to the last of the Pell Grant-funded prison higher ed graduates and their paralegal skills?
June 15, 2022