Do all prisons offer prisoners the possibility to take a university degree while serving their sentences?
I've read a story of a Canadian female prisoner who earned a degree in Psychology (from Queen's University) while serving her sentence.
This was news to me. (And I don't know if this possible in my country. I've heard of prisoners in my country though, who completed Grade 5 and 6 while serving their sentences).
I assume that prisoners are supposed to have a high school diploma to qualify for such programs, aren't they?
Do they have to write any other examinations to be accepted?
And how many programs (or majors) are available?
Finally, as for their university work, are there classes in prison?
Or is the teaching method the same as in distance learning?
That was a quite interesting news story, I must say.
Answers:
Prisons yes, Jails no. At least in the USA. Yes their classes often are in person! They also get distance learning through the internet, video courses, and correspondence courses. IT IS ALL FREE. Personally, it pisses me off. I have to pay for my education and I am a law abiding and productive citizen.
For many years in the United States inmates could receive many professional degrees. It is no longer that way. Congress took Pell grants from prisoners years ago. Once this happened it became virtually impossible for prisoners to get a degree. This happened in large part because of the feelings of people like cyanne2ak. I agree with those sentiments. Another reason Pell grants are no longer available to inmates is Congress got sick and tired of them obtaining law degrees and helping other prisoners.
Today prisoners have access to vocational training and not much more.
Bard College in VT has a relationship with a couple of NY State Prisons where prisoners apply to Bard and ultimately receive 4 year degrees from Bard. While the NY prison system allows Bard faculty to visit prison and teach, they have no financial or other interests in the program.
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