Raising the Bar(s)

By Guest Contributor Ashley Finigan

Today, the United States has the dubious distinction of having the largest prison system in the world. According to a study by the Pew Center on the States, we now have over 2.3 million people living behind bars at a great cost to the states, the federal government and the future human capital of the nation. While punitive minimum sentencing—three strikes laws and the discrepancy between crack/cocaine offenses have all contributed to the ballooning prison population—none have helped to boost our global standing in educational attainment or achievement.

Moreover, strict sentencing laws have not done much to improve rates of recidivism, as many inmates habitually relapse into crime. Many who go to jail on drug charges come out hardened by the experience and continue the cycle of crime and self-destruction. African-American communities across the nation are reeling over the impact of this situation with 1 in 9 black men ages 20 to 34 in jail. The effects: a dearth of black men on college campuses, a lack of job prospects for those with criminal records and a growing number absentee fathers. Future generations are left to deal with the impact of all this wasted talent, while taxpayer dollars continue to cover rising prison costs.

Rikers Island, in New York State offers a stark case example of the financial costs of imprisonment. It has been described as one of the world’s largest penitentiaries, with an average daily inmate population of approximately 14,000 according to the New York State Department of Corrections. The facility houses over 20 schools for those incarcerated, catering almost exclusively to youthful juvenile offenders. The price to incarcerate can go upwards of $28,000 echoing the costs of a year’s tuition at many state universities. This sorry situation begs the question: why not spend this money on education? Instead of paying the price as the children grow up and stray from the law, President Obama is right to pursue an ambitious national education policy.

The President and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s Race to the Top competitive grants for education reform to states aggressively reforming their classrooms and embracing innovative learning environments is perhaps the best stimulus for the future of the country. Instead of investing in prisons and getting diminishing returns, President Obama has redoubled efforts for the United States to once again be a global leader in education on all levels. If a child successfully completes high school and goes on to earn a higher degree, their life chances improve exponentially and a stint behind bars can no longer be part of the equation. With his focus on true education reform and support for programs such as Teach for America, AmeriCorps and international achievement standards, Mr. Obama has truly earned the title of “The Education President”.

Ashley Finigan is a graduate student at Columbia University, pursuing a master’s degree in African American Studies. She is a former Teach for America corps member and currently volunteers with Minds Matter mentoring talented public high school students. Ashley can be reached at afinigan@gmail.com