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December 5, 2005
Leaders in Washington Secure $250,000 for Bedford Hills College Program
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this is a caption Education Program for Women Inmates Supported by Senator Clinton and Congresswoman Maloney
(New York, NY) - Marymount Manhattan College (MMC) today announced that $250,000 in funding had been secured for its Bedford Hills College Program (BHCP) through the passing of the FY06 federal appropriations bill for science, justice and commerce. The BHCP funding was included in the bill due to the supportive efforts of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D - NY) and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D - NY). In addition, an anonymous donor this week contributed $125,000 to the Bedford Hills program.
Through the Bedford Hills College Program, Marymount Manhattan College offers college and college-preparatory coursework to inmates at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, a New York State maximum-security prison for women.
"Marymount Manhattan College and the Bedford Hills College Program are lucky to have such tireless allies as Senator Clinton and Congresswoman Maloney in Washington," said Margaret Minson, MMC Vice President for Institutional Advancement. "This federal funding will be instrumental in expanding the College Program and extending opportunities for women at Bedford Hills who are committed to changing their lives."
After passing in the House and the Senate, the bill was signed late last month by President Bush. The Bedford Hills funding is financed through the Edward Byrne Discretionary Grants Account, which provides financial support to help improve the functioning of the United States criminal justice system.
Leadership at Marymount Manhattan reached out to representatives in Washington earlier this year to educate them about the program at Bedford Hills and request much-needed financial support. The federal funding will help to upgrade facilities and improve the technological resources available to students participating in the program.
Congresswoman Maloney said, "I am proud to have worked with Marymount Manhattan College to secure federal funding for their Bedford Hills College Program. With this new funding, they will be able to better provide college and college-preparatory coursework to inmates at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility so that these women can leave prison with more of the skill sets and education they need to be productive members of society."
Higher education in prison has been shown to have a positive effect; women who attend college while in prison are almost four times less likely to be reincarcerated and 18 times less likely to violate parole than those who did not attend college in prison.
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