Connecticut is making higher education more accessible to incarcerated individuals following the recent expansion of Pell Grant eligibility to those within correctional facilities.
Joined by formerly incarcerated individuals, officials from higher education, corrections, and government, gathered to build and strengthen educational opportunities for people in the prison system. In October, The University of Connecticut’s Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy (IMRP) hosted stakeholders for discussion about expanding postsecondary education within the state’s correctional system.
Since Pell Grants became available to incarcerated people last year, Connecticut has joined a growing number of states, including Minnesota and Maine, in addressing postsecondary education in correctional settings. The state’s approach draws on a strong foundation, with 11 higher education programs supported by institutions such as CT State, Goodwin University, Yale, and Wesleyan already operating in correctional facilities.
As Connecticut’s programs emerge from pandemic-era setbacks, there is a concerted focus on prioritizing flexible pathways for incarcerated students and recognizing the need to adapt to their unique circumstances.. This includes planning for individuals who may transition between facilities mid-study or face distinct personal and legal challenges.
Connecticut’s General Assembly has supported these goals by approving legislation that requires a detailed needs assessment, which will be conducted by the budget office and the Department of Corrections, with a report due in early 2025. The IMRP also has plans for future reports, set for release in 2025 and 2026, that will examine the long-term impacts of postsecondary education on those who complete these programs
On Tuesday, policy analyst Kevin Neary, who is leading the report initiative, briefed attendees, noting that the goal is “to create a shared understanding of the landscape” and assess “the longitudinal outcomes and impacts of higher education over time” on those enrolled in the programs.
This focus on inclusive and adaptive educational strategies for incarcerated people reflects a broader commitment to rehabilitative justice, providing opportunities that support both reintegration and personal development.
Undersecretary for the Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division within the governor’s budget office, Daniel Karpowitz, told attendees in Hartford on Tuesday, “We envision this work as building from strength. …We’ll figure out how to do this together.”
