Isn't this unfair? Prisoners getting free bachelor's degrees from a private college

[Anonymous]

To help your reading probably helpful to decode:
Middle class students = White kids
Convicted criminals = Black people

It actually would have cut this thread in half.

[Anonymous]

You understand that this makes it much less likely that they will re-offend, right? To assault your child or sell drugs to him/her?

People give their money to save kittens and ballet companies. What is so wrong about salvaging humans who have decades left on this planet?

[Anonymous]

It’s better these folks get an education and become productive members of society instead going back on the street and committing more crimes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You understand that this makes it much less likely that they will re-offend, right? To assault your child or sell drugs to him/her?

People give their money to save kittens and ballet companies. What is so wrong about salvaging humans who have decades left on this planet?

this right here. I'm 100% for this. The best way to avoid recidivism is through programs like this. I hope we can replicate throughout the country and keep people out of prisons. BTW, you benefit, too, by living in a safer world. Win-win, OP.

[Anonymous]

Every kid in Michigan (where Calvin is located) who has a household income under $65k and limited assets and gets into one of the University of Michigan campuses (Flint and Dearborn are not too difficult) can get free tuition https://record.umich.edu/articles/u-m-extends-go-blue-guarantee-15-minimum-wage-to-all-campuses/

So it's not like anyone would have to--or want to--go to prison in order to get an education. Could we do more to make college affordable for more people? Sure. Am I mad that a private college got private contributions to educate prisoners when society will be better off with them educated? Nope. People and foundations can spend their money however they want and this is far from the worst way I can think of!

[Anonymous]

OP ~ do you want to be a prisoner to get an education for free?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Calvin University is a private college in western Michigan. Tuition and fees are $38,370, so even if the prisoners get full $6,895 year pell grant, that's a lot of free scholarships or however it's provided.

In other words, convicted criminals get free college and rich kids get free college from their parents, of course, while low and middle class kid are soaked with an average of $30,000 in student loans for a state university degree (it's about $35,000 for a private bachelor's). This seems extremely unfair, yet the media champions it.

Detroit Free Press: Caps, gowns and barbed wire: First-ever college graduation in prison was joyous celebration
https://www.freep.com/story/news/education/2022/05/09/prison-graduation-handlon-correctional-facility/9708357002/

I despise bean counters like OP. What a defective way to think.

[Anonymous]

Given that the USA has the largest prison population worldwide, the worst conditions, the worst reoffending statistics and zero actual rehabilitation within prisons

I would say giving prisoners an education of any kind is a HUGE step forward.

OP you're a fool and short sighted if you can't see this.

[Anonymous]

It’s a private school so who cares

[Anonymous]

Out of all the finger pointing, Id rather point towards the wealthy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really OP? eyeroll.

Wouldn't you rather these convicts learn something useful while they are serving time - and perhaps give them a chance to be productive, self supporting individuals when they leave?

And for those that don't leave....how exactly is their degree behind bars of any consequence to your low/middle class kid.

Finally, I bet you you looked hard enough, you could find a school willing to help your child go to college. If your kid is a good student, find a school that has stats far below their own and get merit aid.

I bet you're wrong. And pray tell, why don't the convicted felons need to have "good" stats? And by good you mean great. Yet most criminals are bottom their class at lower end high schools. Yet to get free college via merit and financial aid as a law-abiding kid, you need near perfect stats and finish at the top of the class. How is this in any way fair to donut hole low and middle class kids?

Um, I don’t think you need top stats to get into this particular college and I doubt you’d send your kid there.

Sure, let’s complain about crime but do nothing to give people opportunities so they are recidivist. Great plan.

[Anonymous]

Recidivism rates are much lower if the inmates are able to get an adulation. In the end it saves everyone money.

[Anonymous]

education * (thanks autocorrect)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP ~ do you want to be a prisoner to get an education for free?[/quo

Just go ahead and commit a crime and you'll be eligible too. See, life really is fair!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really OP? eyeroll.

Wouldn't you rather these convicts learn something useful while they are serving time - and perhaps give them a chance to be productive, self supporting individuals when they leave?

And for those that don't leave....how exactly is their degree behind bars of any consequence to your low/middle class kid.

Finally, I bet you you looked hard enough, you could find a school willing to help your child go to college. If your kid is a good student, find a school that has stats far below their own and get merit aid.

Prison is for punishment

It is also for rehabilitation. Up until the 1970s/80s, US prisons used to focus a lot more on rehabilitation, encouraging inmates to develop trade skills to help them find legal employment after their release. But then the "tough on crime movement" started that focused more on punishment, with the private prison movement (which does not want to spend a money on anything that is not strictly necessary) following shortly thereafter. Opportunities and resources for rehabilitation dropped dramatically and, not surprisingly, recidivism rates skyrocketed. If we want to reduce crime in this country, rehabilitation, including education and job training, need to be given a higher priority so that former inmates have viable options for legal employment and are not forced to return to crime to support themselves.