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Mike Segar / Reuters
Inmate Abdul Cornelius is hugged by his mother Regina, left, and his sisters after receiving his General Equivalency Diploma along with 26 others at a graduation ceremony for inmates at the George Motchan Detention Center at New York City's Rikers Island correctional facility on June 26, 2012.
Reuters reports — More than two dozen students graduated on Tuesday from one of New York City's more unusual schools, where pens are forbidden and armed guards watch over every classroom.
The ceremony at the East River Academy on Rikers Island, New York City's main jail, allowed prisoners to take a step toward a better future with a high school equivalency diploma, known as a GED.
"Wow! Wow! I say ‘wow' because now I have something people can appreciate me for," said Adboul Hanne, who is awaiting trial on an attempted murder charge.
Rikers makes the school mandatory for inmates who are 16 or 17 and encourages it for inmates ages 18 to 21. Some 3,600 students pass through the school per year, and about 800 are enrolled at any given time, the New York City Department of Correction said. Read the full story.
Mike Segar / Reuters
Guards stand next to inmates during the graduation ceremony at Rikers Island.
Mike Segar / Reuters
Inmate Arisleida Duarte applauds as she and others receive their diplomas.
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A waste of taxpayers money on this scum.
agreed!!!too bad in the ghetto they multiply quicker than they shoot each other.As i goto work right now, it makes me sick that my taxes getting paid out are going to these pieces of crap.
That whole "Lock em' up" mentality is part of the problem. Don't you think if we helped reform them, they have less chances of doing crime and getting thrown in jail, thus being less of a financial burden?
Too bad everyone on here can't see further ahead than the tip of their noses.
what_the_81, I agree with you. No reason these kids should not have the chance to an education or the chance to better themselves.
Congratulations to these young people! May their future be brighter and may they succeed in all they do to overcome their situation. This is a great start.....
And, what great contributions have you made to society, alison-506550?
ah, rusy and allison...you ignorance overwhelms me....education is the key to change. i think i is a wonderful idea and should be mandatory for all inmates...not only does it give them an education and therefore a fighting chance to do something oter than commit crimes, it also does wonders for their self esteem and therefore their attitude on life ( and just to clarify, by "their"i mean the inmates)
Agree.....as a waste of money. Why should we have to pay for the educating of convicted criminals...when we don't have adequate funds for the present school systems and "non-criminal" students in our public schools. Do time in prison because you deserve to be there. Do the time.....and you shouldn't get any benefits what-so-ever.
Just kind of wondering if you understand that it's because of the lack of intelligence that people do stupid things that get them in jail.
Lack of intelligence or judgement?
My tax dollars being wasted again I see.
I wonder how much of your taxes you get back and how much you paid. I would bet the money you pay in taxes could not afford to buy toilet paper to wipe the inmates A$$$$$$
I'll bet not one of those inmates couldn't handle a single day of being a POW in Vietnam.
"Homey Schooled!"
It's kinda like Welfare, if you want free money, free food, subsidized living, etc....have a bunch of kids with no means to support them. You want room, board, food, access to a workout facility and a free education, commit a crime and go to jail.
I think this is a good thing. They are going to be in there so why not give them a chance so when they get out they can take a step in the right direction? At least give them a chance....especially the kids. Who knows what kind of enviroment they grew up in...not excusing just explaining.
I bet employers will be so excited to hire them now. Sigh, this is even a bigger waste to tax dollars then what prisons already do to begin with. Why does education become such a option in prison yet people that are not convicts are struggling most of their life to afford an college education. That actual Public schools are closing down and facing budgeting problems all the time yet we can hold a extra activity in jail that is school. So tax payers are not only paying for the people to be in jail, but also for providing a high school education, plus paying for high school kids to get a get an education as well. It almost seems financially easier to just commit crimes and get your education in jail. This is ridiculous, and shows why we as a country are so far in debt. We can't bother with infrastructure but we waste money we don't have on things like this.
For every diploma received this way, devalues all others earned the correct way.
This is a LIE.. This is a good program..I guess you would say a person who was forced into the military by a judge degrades the person who volunteer.
A draftee was a much a slave conscripted to kill people he had nothing against.
I can think of a thousand reasons for Americans to kill Mexicans but not a single one to kill the Vietnamese Americans were ordered to kill.
AppeasersFate
Wait, are you implying that there are US high school diplomas worth a damn?
Hey Momma:
I'm gonna join a gang,
them I gonna kill somebody,
then I'm gonna go to jail, and
then I'm gonna get my grade school diploma!
WHY are some putting this POSITIVE Program down? These kids need reform! I'm glad to see that these people are trying to better their lives. At least they aren't sitting around playing cards and lifting weights and eating commissary all day. Everyone deserves a 2nd chance!!
Negative people irritate me!
To all the Nay-sayers, if these young people sat in jail and did nothing, you would STILL have something negative to say. I applaud this group of youngsters for taking the first step towards turning their lives around. WASTING MY TAXES!!!....Give me a break. Corporate WELEFARE, now that's wasting your taxes!!
I think it's bizarre that sooo many people are upset about these men getting a GED dipolma. Really???? If we don't want them to be back in jail again after they get out, they must have a way to get a job and support themselves. How many jobs are available for ex-cons? and especially ex-cons who never finished high school. Not many, if any. Honestly, public schools have hoards of money. Do not tell me, that public schools, who spend up between &7.000- $10,000 and sometimes loads more PER student can not teach kids to read, write and do math. I can say this because I am a teacher and worked for a few years in the inner city.
The biggest cause of crime is drug and alcohol abuse. The biggest reason for a high rate of recidivism is drug and alcohol abuse. Most parolees return to crime. However, the best way to break those bonds of criminal conduct is through education. But, the criminal element also has a certain predisposition towards criminal conduct. Some will remain completely uncorrectable. That segment is doomed to a life of crime.
Once they get into the criminal justice system it is very difficult to get out. The recidivism rate in California is 75%. The national average is 50%. The odds are against rehabilitation. At juvenile hall the minors are allowed to watch big screen cable TV, listen to gangster rap on the radio and have BBQs on back patio. They also allowed to disrespect and physically assault staff with impunity. There is something wrong with this picture. The thug huggers have taken over the institution.
We spend about $6,000 to $8,000 on school students per year. We spend about $50,000 per year on each inmate. There is something wrong with this picture. Why don't spend our money on the good people instead of the bad people.