Green Party's Hawkins: Educate every prisoner and make SUNY and CUNY free

[hrmjustin]

By KELLY FAY

A hopeful Green Party gubernatorial candidate says a controversial initiative to provide college degree programs in prisons should be available in every correctional facility in the state. Howie Hawkins, who ran on the Green ticket in 2010, is encouraging the state to extend the availability of higher education opportunities beyond the ten prisons outlined by the governor's plan.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently announced an initiative to make associate and bachelor's degree programs available at one prison in every region. The programs would cost approximately $5,000 a year per student. The administration hopes to see New York's 40 percent rate of recidivism drop and reduce some of the financial burden of the $60,000 a year it costs to incarcerate one individual. Hawkins endorsed the premise of the program, saying it would prepare inmates for release and save public money, but it should be available at all correctional facilities.

'Every prisoner should have the opportunity to further their education, including higher education. Prisoners released with college degrees will have a much better chance of securing decent employment and successful reentry into society,' Hawkins said. 'If Cuomo's college for prisoners program is good, it should include all prisons, not just the ten prisons in the governor's proposal.'

http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2014-02-25-86935.113122-Green-Partys-Hawkins-Educate-every-prisoner-and-make-SUNY-and-CUNY-free.html

[Historic NY]

1. I sorry Ny's Penal System isn't a school oF higher learning.....

no one paid my tuition except myself......and I wasn't in jail.