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Earning a College Degree in Prison Gives Ex-Offenders a Chance

George Chochos
George Chochos.

Back in 1990, there were more than 300 college-in-prison programs in the U.S. By 1997, the number was down to less than ten -- eliminated as part of the nation’s movement to get "tough on crime." 

Research shows that college-behind-bars can be among the most effective ways to stop prison’s revolving door, and give ex-offenders a chance to lead successful and productive lives once they’re on the outside.

This hour, we meet a man who earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees while in prison in New York State. We also talk with folks from the Center for Prison Education, which offers Wesleyan University classes to inmates at several prisons in Connecticut. 

And later, a researcher from the RAND Corporation tells us about a study on the effectiveness of correctional education programs across the U.S.

GUESTS:

  • George Chochos - Earned two degrees while serving a 14-year prison sentence in New York State; current student at Yale Divinity School
  • Dara Young - Program manager of Wesleyan University's Center for Prison Education
  • Michael McAlear - Associate Professor of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at Wesleyan University
  • Dr. Lois Davis - Senior Policy Researcher with the RAND Corporation

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Chion Wolf contributed to this show. 

Diane Orson is a special correspondent with Connecticut Public. She is a reporter and contributor to National Public Radio. Her stories have been heard on Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Weekend Edition, Here and Now; and The World from PRX. She spent seven years as CT Public Radio's local host for Morning Edition.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.