Statement on Obama Administration announcement of pilot program to allow incarcerated Americans to receive Pell Grants and take college courses

WASHINGTON--Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-Calif.), a member of the House Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after the federal Department of Education announced the Second Chance Pell Pilot program that will allow Americans in both state and federal prisons to receive Pell Grants and pursue the postsecondary education:
 
"I wholeheartedly support the Obama Administration's announcement today of the Second Chance Pell Pilot program that will allow both state and federal prisoners to access Pell grants. Allowing prisoners a chance to pursue higher education is good for our communities, good for our national budget, and it is just the right thing to do. President ​Obama is returning us back to where our nation was a few decades ago when we thought that rehabilitation was crucial to ​the criminal justice system, and we provided education opportunities to people ​while they were in prison ​as well as providing financial aid to former offenders ​so they could attend state colleges and universities when they got out.
 
"Returning our focus on rehabilitation will benefit not just the men and women who have done their time once they return home, but our state and national budgets as well. A 2013 RAND Corporation study found that every dollar invested in prison education programs saves $4 to $5 on incarceration costs later.
 
"Today's announcement from the Department of Education is one more necessary step to bring an end to the notorious 'tough on crime' era that has led to more people in prison for nonviolent crime, prevented former prisoners from being successful when they left jail, and has led to higher recidivism rates.
 
"Congress now must follow President Obama's lead and pass comprehensive criminal justice reform to include legislation that I introduced last year that would roll back the outdated policy that suspended college aid for students who want to pursue a college education after a petty drug offense. Investing in every American's college education will improve our nation both today and for generations to come."