National College Transition Network

ABE to College Transition: A Resource for ABE and ESOL Teachers and Programs

Saturday/Sunday August 3-4, 2002

College preparation course opens doors for Norfolk County inmates

By GILLIAN REAGAN
The Patriot Ledger

DEDHAM -Jose Cruz was on a dangerous road of gangs and violence growing up in Boston. His troubles landed him in the Norfolk County Correctional Center in February.

But the 20-year-old found hope after completing the Norfolk County sheriff office's College Integration Program.

He said the staff gave him "a new insight on life." Through the program, Cruz passed his General Educational Development test and will attend Bristol Community College to study business administration after his release in the fall.

"I can't believe I'm standing here with two letters of acceptance next to me," Cruz said. "It's a dream."

Cruz was among the first nine inmates to graduate from the 12-week program. Seven received acceptance letters from Quincy College, Massasoit Community College and Bristol Community College on Friday.

The program is divided into five classes -life skills, mathematics, reading and writing, counseling and computer skills. Students also learned about the college application process, financial aid and other resources for students.

The college preparation courses are part of the Norfolk County sheriff office's Reintegration Program, which strives to give inmates access to resources outside jail and reduce recidivism.

Sheriff Michael Bellotti said such programs steer inmates away from a life of crime by giving them opportunities with structure and accountability.

"If we approach this offender population one a person at a time, we're going to significantly reduce crime," Belotti said.

About two-thirds of inmates released from state prisons in 1994 committed at least one serious new crime within the following three years, according to a study by the U.S. Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Deputy Superintendent of Programs William Knight said jail "tends to have a revolving door when they come out of here," Knight said. "This is the door of opportunity that they're opening."

Knight said he expects a waiting list for the next program in the fall. Three semesters will be offered each year.

Quincy College President Sean Barry presented acceptance letters to five inmates. Barry said he supports the program because it benefits the former inmates and Quincy College students.

"They've turned around their lives and I think that's an experience other students can appreciate in the classroom," Barry said.
The director of the College Integration Program, Christine Larkin, said the courses were offered one weekday and on Saturdays.

"I would go down to the units and drag students up to class," Larkin said. She said inmates didn't take the program seriously at first, but started "buckling down" once they realized they would get something from it.

"It gave them the confidence they needed to attend college and build up their skills and abilities," Larkin said.

Christopher Powers, who graduated with Cruz, said "I got a lot more out of this program than a letter of acceptance, I got dignity and pride."
The program is funded by a $30,000 grant from the Nellie Mae Educational Foundation in partnership with the New England Literary Resource Center.

The grant was given as part of the New England ABE-to-College Transition Project, which runs through the resource center.
Gillian Reagan may be reached at greagan@ledger.com.

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