There's been some controversy over the state funding college courses for prisons since the Governor Cuomo’s new push.
New York Assemblyman Brian Kolb says it's unrealistic to ask taxpayers to foot the bill for an inmate's college education. He says that's when so many other families and young adults are saddled with student loans.
“Here you want to use taxpayer money, based on governor Cuomo’s proposal, to further educate prisoners who have broken the law. The average man and woman in this state are really scratching their head saying this just makes no sense at all."
Kolb says the state should focus its efforts on reducing crime and the price of college - instead of helping prisoners earn a degree. As an alternative, Kolb suggested people donating books and computers to the prisons and having professors do pro-bono work - so there's no cost to taxpayers.
Cornell University has provided college courses to prisoners at Auburn and Cayuga correctional facilities for the past 15 years.
Despite the controversy over who's paying for prisoners’ higher education, Cornell professor Mary Katzenstein, an expert on prisons and recidivism, says the governor's initiative is a positive move for everyone.
"That this is very sensible. It’s really about not just providing the kind of education that you and I have had the benefit and privilege of having. It’s also good for public safety. We view it has investing in public highways or investing in vocational education for prisons."
Katzenstein says the college only accepts a fraction of the prisoners into its program - after taking the entrance exam. She says the interest for college courses offered in jails is enormously coveted.
Cuomo's plan would expand on the state’s Department of Corrections and Community Supervision’s college program providing $5,000 per inmate for each year of education.