I often say that my educational odyssey began when I was incarcerated.

While serving my sentence at Sing Sing in 1993, I had the opportunity to enroll in classes offered through Dutchess Community College. The school had a compelling reputation, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was part of something meaningful. The only difference was that I was taking classes in a prison environment.

Many of us who have experienced the prison system know that incarceration alone does not rehabilitate people. Programs like college do.

Education changes how you see yourself and your future. Whether someone participates for one semester or earns an associate’s, bachelor’s= or even a master’s degree, the impact is profound. Study after study shows that the more education a person receives while incarcerated, the less likely they are to return to prison.

For me,........

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