Keeping It REAL: Why Congress Must Act to Restore Pell Grant Funding for Prisoners

Abstract

In 1994, Congress passed the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act (VCCLEA), a provision of which revoked Pell Grant funding “to any individual who is incarcerated in any federal or state penal institution.” This essay highlights the counter-productive effects this particular provision has on penological goals. The essay suggests Congress acknowledge the failures of the ban on Pell Grant funding for prisoners, and restore such funding for all qualified prisoners.

Keywords: Prisoners, Pell Grants, Higher Education, Post-Secondary Education, Prison, REAL Act