Inmate Graduates: Why give free college tuition in prison? Start with savings to taxpayers

It is wonderful that Ms. Buffett understands that inmates getting college degrees is not a perk, but a way to help cut down on recidivism. Inmates have a record which is the first strike on them since the public doesn't seem to think they have paid for their crime and deserve a second chance. The second strike is when they can't find a job to support themselves, so they return to crime usually. This is a truth that our presidents, congress, and state legislators do not understand. Their cuts to prison education/vocational needs is a large part of why prison is a revolving door for so many. They, therefore, contribute largely to the problem.

i dont believe that they should be getting basically a free ride. it isnt ne different then being on welfare.....i am paying for that prisoner to get his education whie i am struggling to pay my rent...really....

If they don't get education to be able to find work, you will be paying 25,000 a year to keep them in prison. I would prefer to pay for their being educated to find work and stay out of prison, than pay for them to be in prison over and over for their whole lives. Either way,we are paying. This is what so many people just don't seem to understand.

i understand that... it just pisses me off that i can barely pay my own bills...and yet im expected to pay for somebody who broke the law to get an education....mayb i should sell drugs just so i can have a place to live....i just dont get it...

SOOOO let me get this straight, I bust my ass to do good in collage so that financial aide will give me grants, and i'm almost 30,000 dollars in debt to Sallie Mae due to student loans, and prisoners are getting FREE COLLAGE EDUCATIION?? How the hell does that work? So you mean to tell me that I will be competing with former inmates for jobs because my tax dollars paid for them to go to school while I struggled financially through collage and will be forever indebted to the government because of student loans?? BULLSHIT

Eisha wrote:

SOOOO let me get this straight, I bust my ass to do good in collage so that financial aide will give me grants, and i'm almost 30,000 dollars in debt to Sallie Mae due to student loans, and prisoners are getting FREE COLLAGE EDUCATIION?? How the hell does that work? So you mean to tell me that I will be competing with former inmates for jobs because my tax dollars paid for them to go to school while I struggled financially through collage and will be forever indebted to the government because of student loans?? BULLSHIT

i didnt go to collage but that was my point exactly.

If you read up on the college programs for prisoners, WE (taxpayers) are NOT paying for this! Ms. Buffet is a billionaire and through her and her brothers funding, they make this possible. The instructors are also volunteers. Read up on the facts before you start complaining. I would much rather pay for inmates to attempt to better their lives with education than to continue to raise families that have little to desire to get out of bed, let alone go to work. Some are just so clueless! I bust my ass too but I'm all for this program and NOT everyone qualifies. Wow!