micropolisnyc:

Graduation Day at Sing Sing prison

Here’s an amazing statistic for you, about recidivism rates.

Of the 26,867 inmates who left New York prisons in 2008, nearly 40 percent returned to prison within 3 years. However, there are important exceptions: Among those are the maximum security inmates behind the walls of Sing Sing in Ossining, NY who have obtained a masters degree in Professional Studies — a one-year graduate degree administered by the New York Theological Seminary. Their recidivism rate over 31 years has been just 10 percent. The rate for those who’ve left with a degree in the last five years? ZERO.

“Education,” said Dale Irvin, the president of New York Theological Seminary, “is the surest indicator of low recidivism rates.”

Listen in to the latest Micropolis story and hear how a number of people — including convicted murderers — have turned their lives around while becoming assets to the prison community. 

Look at the parallels between these two photos.

Look at how completely opposite the emotions are.

Look how far we’ve come.

(Source: roadjerseys)