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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Pell Grants for Prisoners?

    Pell Grants are for students who can't afford college. In the 1990's, America cracked down on crime, and President Bill Clinton signed a ban on Pell Grants for inmates in federal and state prisons. Then this year, President Obama plans to lift the ban — which he's allowed to do in the interests of gathering data. But the data is already in.

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    By Warren Olney • Dec 22, 2015 • 33m Listen

    Pell Grants are for students who can't afford college. In the 1990's, America cracked down on crime, and President Bill Clinton signed a ban on Pell Grants for inmates in federal and state prisons. Then this year, President Obama plans to lift the ban — which he's allowed to do in the interests of gathering data. But the data is already in. With education, former prisoners do better on the outside; they're less likely to be imprisoned again, and that saves taxpayer money. Opponents say students who've never committed crimes are more deserving. We bring you that debate.

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    The Value of Giving Prisoners an Education
    1. 1:49'Star Wars' Pushes Box Office Boundaries
    2. 8:40Pell Grants for Prisoners?You’re reading this
    3. 42:51Using Prison Education to Fight Recidivism in California
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Jenny Hamel

      KCRW

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jared Morgan

      freelance producer

    • KCRW placeholder

      Josh Mitchell

      Wall Street Journal

    • KCRW placeholder

      Vivian Nixon

      College and Community Fellowship

    • KCRW placeholder

      Roger Pilon

      Cato Institute

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    The Value of Giving Prisoners an Education
    1. 1:49'Star Wars' Pushes Box Office Boundaries
    2. 8:40Pell Grants for Prisoners?You’re reading this
    3. 42:51Using Prison Education to Fight Recidivism in California
    Back to To the Point