Press Release: TURN ON THE TAP NY PRAISES GOVERNOR HOCHUL FOR INCLUDING TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR INCARCERATED NEW YORKERS IN BUDGET

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 18, 2022

CONTACT: Eric Koch | ericdkoch@gmail.com

TURN ON THE TAP NY PRAISES GOVERNOR HOCHUL FOR INCLUDING TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR INCARCERATED NEW YORKERS IN BUDGET

Siena Poll Today Showed Huge, Bipartisan Majorities For Programs That Lower Barriers to Incarcerated New Yorkers Re-Entering Society

ALBANY, NY – Today, with new polling showing bipartisan support to expand prison programs that lead to job opportunities, Governor Kathy Hochul released a budget that restores Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) eligibility to incarcerated New Yorkers. In response, the Turn on the TAP NY campaign released the following statement:

A college degree is one of the most impactful opportunities anyone can get, and we commend Governor Kathy Hochul for taking a bold step to repeal the ban on TAP for incarcerated New Yorkers as part of her Executive budget. Governor Hochul understands that this is good public policy. Providing college opportunities in prison has been found to deliver strong employment outcomes, develop employer-demanded skills, make prisons safer, strengthen pathways to successful reentry, reduce recidivism, improve public safety, create a pathway to financial security, and strengthen democracy — all while saving the state money. These programs also hold the unique potential to improve students’ lives, help narrow racial and economic equity gaps in postsecondary attainment and workforce participation, strengthen local economies and communities and disrupt cycles of incarceration that continue to target, harm, and limit opportunity for people of color and people from low-income backgrounds.

With Governor Hochul’s support, we call on the legislature to deliver S4464/A2322, which repeals the TAP ban, to her desk. These bills have broad support in the Senate and Assembly and will help restore educational equity to incarcerated people. Now is the time to #TurnOnTheTAPNY.

Turn on the Tap NY is a statewide campaign comprised of community groups, directly impacted advocates, alumni of college in prison programs, and college-in-prison providers working together to repeal the ban on TAP grants for incarcerated students. Additional information can be found at turnonthetapny.org.

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