Nature spoke to three US researchers who have built academic careers after they were released. Article by Virginia Gewin via Nature.com
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| CAREER FEATURE |
Most applications to academic institutions around the world include a box to check if a student has a criminal history, but a ‘ban the box’ movement is now under way. Last year, the UK Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS) — which manages application to all British universities — dropped its criminal-history question. And in August, the US Common Application, used by 800 colleges and universities, removed the question — although individual institutions can still ask it.
A 2013 study from the RAND Corporation, a think tank in Santa Monica, California, found that incarcerated individuals who participated in correctional education programes were 43% less likely to return to prison after release than were those who did not.
Although 2.3 million people are currently in US prisons, fewer than 5% of people get university degrees — making them 8 times less likely to complete their education than the general public. Fewer still pursue PhDs. Nature spoke to three US researchers who went from prison to PhD programmes to senior posts in academia, and who now aim to help others to find their academic footing. Career Feature - Full Article via:
“Knowing how transformational education can be, I started From Prison Cells to PhD, a non-profit organization that currently works with 100 formerly incarcerated people each year. We provide resources, tools, support, mentoring and internships to help them to pursue their academic goals.” — STANLEY ANDRISSE: Create pathways
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