I reach about 2400 people with my blogs and newsletters. I take this responsibility seriously. Back in May 1998, I first advocated for education and mentoring for those in prison, before anyone else was doing it, and it is beginning to work. You may have seen the recent TV news advertisements regarding criminal justice reform and the positive results of education and mentoring for those incarcerated.
Back in 2013, I reached out to Ann Jacobs who is the Director of the Prisoner Re-entry Institute, a research organization at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and I offered her some of my opinions that you read in my blogs. They have been successful. From the PRI July 2019 newsletter:
On June 27th [2019] PRI celebrated the accomplishments of 31 College Initiative (CI) students who recently completed post-secondary degrees, including 9 associate degrees, 12 bachelor's degrees, seven master's degrees, one law degree, and one doctorate degree. CI supports formerly-incarcerated and court-involved men and women in enrolling and succeeding in college. 2019 was the largest class of degree-earning graduates since CI joined PRI, with CI students earning degrees at ten CUNY schools, four private colleges, and two SUNY schools.
John Jay College President Karol Mason spoke at the graduation about the obstacles these graduates have already surmounted and the doors that a college degree will open. "Through their determination and hard work," said President Mason, "these students demonstrate the importance and value behind the pathways that College Initiative creates for individuals with prior criminal justice involvement.... with training, mentorship, knowledge, and support, the sky is the limit for these talented individuals."
Two of this year's CI graduates also previously took classes in PRI's Prison-to-College Pipeline (P2CP) at Otisville Correctional Facility with NYS Secretary of State Rossana Rosado, who provided the keynote address at the June 27th event. “Working with my guys—that’s what I call P2CP students—gives me a unique perspective on the strength and potential of people who have experienced the worst in our criminal justice system, and yet, they still rise," said Secretary Rosado.