Improving Corrections & Reintegration by Increasing Access to Higher Education for Individuals Impacted by the Criminal Legal System: Building Successful Corrections to College Pipelines

In light of Congress’ recent restoration of Pell grant for incarcerated students, the Fellow proposes to produce a major set of corrections-to-college pipeline deliverables, including potential training and technical assistance, that focus on best-practices and policy solutions to equip the field and improve BJA’s investments in reentry and reintegration. Through the residency at BJA, the Fellow will bring to bear the unique perspective and skillsets derived from years of lived experiences within the criminal legal system as well as years of criminal justice advocacy focused on removing reentry barriers and addressing collateral consequences in voting, higher education, housing, and employment. The Fellow’s proposal will help existing Second Chance Act grantees, and the field, better serve its justice impacted population in ways that improve corrections and reintegration by building capacity to create and promote corrections-to-college pipelines around the country. This innovative and timely proposal will help BJA build more responsive funding opportunities, technical assistance support, and ways to document the achievement of successful outcomes. It will enhance BJA’s current national efforts related to promoting successful reintegration and reducing recidivism, and it will assist BJA in identifying and defining new and emerging reentry challenges by ascertaining where corrections to college pipeline gaps exist and suggesting efficient and effective methods to address them.