Case Studies (Reality)
- The U.S. has the highest incarceration rate in the world. 1 out of every 100 Americans are in prison and 2/3 of these cases were nonviolent offenses.
- The U.S. keeps prisoners longer than any other country.
- Average cost to house one prisoner for one year is approximately $40,000 to $50,000 per offender per year.
- Average cost to send one student to college for a year, including tuition, fees, room and board is approximately $17,131.
- As many as 50% of juvenile delinquents are children with a parent who has been behind bars. Second generation crime is very real and trending upward.
- With a system that is locking up more offenders for minor/nonviolent crimes than it is releasing, (mandatory minimums), this is a situation that grows monthly and will continue to impact families and communities while putting a strain on our country’s resources.
- It is far less expensive to send someone to college than it is to send someone to prison, which gives the college graduate a purposeful life so he/she can give back to the community.
- In the U.S. alone, 3% of children under the age of 18, has a parent in state or federal prison.
- Today, there are approximately 2.2 million people incarcerated or on parole in the United States.
Case Studies (Solution)
- The solution is to stop the cycle before it begins.
- By providing scholarships and educational opportunities for young adults, giving them a chance of being successful in the working sector.
- The scholarship money will go directly to the community colleges, universities or vocational schools where they are enrolled.
- We will never put scholarship funds in the applicant’s hands.
- By working with correctional institutions, parents, counselors, high school teachers and community leaders, we will reach these young adults before they follow in the footsteps of their incarcerated parents.
- Education versus Incarceration is the key to stopping this trend.
- Scholarships will reduce the tax payer’s burden of paying for the cost of an offender’s kid going to jail.
- Reduces tax payer burden of paying medical cost for future offenders if these at-risk young adults in up in prison.