Help the children first! Put $5,000 toward each kid in NYS schools! Stop taking funds away from our kids. Where is the lottery money going? Put the prisoners to work and let them do online courses with their own money.
A
Ashley Sidman
12 years ago
How about instead of sending them to college on the taxpayer's dollars, you use that money to help fund kids who want to go to college and can't afford to.
C
Chelsea Pollinger
12 years ago
It is disgusting.
T
timothy stengel
12 years ago
absurd to even suggest
A
Amy King
12 years ago
I think they should have to work for college. For instance have them work and earn credits to apply towards getting a class. They shouldn't get it for free. We cannot afford to pay for our kids to go to school. Always punish the people that do the right thing... give aid to the people that don't follow the rules. It just stinks!!! What does this say to our children?
S
Sonya Lodestro
12 years ago
Unbelievable!! My kids had to take out student loans for college. They were never in any knid of trouble, why should someone who has committed crimes get to go to school on my tax dollars. Why don't you pay some of my kids student loans instead!!!
W
william r pioli
12 years ago
support the college bound student who are not criminals FIRST
J
Joe Driscoll
12 years ago
I pay some of the highest taxes in the entire country and now our governor wants to give free college degrees to criminals. I don't care if a donkey is opposite Cuomo on the ballot in November, I'm voting for the donkey!
T
Tim Callahan
12 years ago
remember when prisoners used to build roads ? whatever happened ty that ? Please don't let Cuomo get any more control of the once great state of NY!!!!!
S
stephen klinger
12 years ago
I cant afford the taxes in NY anymore.
A
Anonymous
12 years ago
I am confused as to why someone who is in prison will get a college degree for nothing but students who try to be good citizens must go in debt for years. it was their choice to break the law instead of working hard to get ahead. Please do not make the sacrifices of parents and students a joke. The example the state is setting is that if you want a college degree for free, never mind working hard for a scholarship just go to jail and the state will pay for it. Not only will NYS be the welfare state of choice but come to NYS, commit and crime and get a free college education
M
Mr. William T. Conroy
12 years ago
Current students are required to sign up for the Armed Forces thru the selective service registration. Convicted Offenders are not eligible to serve our nation. Students are required to pay back money that was provided for education, Offenders will drop out and pay nothing. Tax payers lose! What are they going to do with former convicted Offenrers who have served their debt to society? thye should be entilted to a college edcatuation too. After all the current locked up inmates havbe not even done that yet. At least former inmates did their time. Prison is for behavior rehabilitaion, Not advanced education. A majorty of inmates dropped out of high school
J
Jill Stanton
12 years ago
So as law abiding citizens trying to make ends meet and stressing about how I am going to afford to send my child to college these convicts who have victimized others get a free ride?? Come on Como get your head on straight. This is outrageous!
G
Gerald Skrocki
12 years ago
I had the experience of working in Sing Sing, Green Haven, Hudson, Attica, Shawangunk, Wallkill, Summit Shock and Coxsackie Correctional Facilities as a Correction Officer, Sergeant and Lieutenant. I have very strong opinions about funding college for incarcerated felons with taxpayer money. This is not about the fairness of the criminal justice system. It is about the intent and purpose of the system and it has never been rehabilitation. That happens after prison.
Prison is PUNISHMENT! It was set up that way to discourage people from breaking the law, and it was each and every individuals choice to break that law! For the majority of inmates, by the time someone is actually sentenced to a prison term, they have already had several run ins with the law and had chance after chance at staying out of prison. Now Cuomo wants to reward convicted felons with college educations! What kind of message is this sending to the public? Go to prison, get free meals, housing, medical care, cable TV, and a college degree! This is NOT the way to reduce the prison population. Paying $5,000/year per inmate for a college education is asking too much of New York State's cash strapped law abiding citizens. New York State residents pay the highest property tax in the nation as well as the highest energy costs. If Cuomo wants to reduce prison populations, then intervene before incarceration. Put the money to use in areas of at risk kids and fund their education. I joined the Army for the GI Bill college benefits and worked my way through college. In 1978, during my first year at Marist College, after serving three years of active duty in the US Army, I met inmates just paroled from Green Haven Correctional Facility who moved in the dormitory next to me. They were both part of a prison college program who were now finishing their degrees compliments of NYS. I just couldn't understand it then and I don't today.
G
Gerald Skrocki
12 years ago
I had the experience of working in Sing Sing, Green Haven, Hudson, Attica, Shawangunk, Wallkill, Summit Shock and Coxsackie Correctional Facilities as a Correction Officer, Sergeant and Lieutenant. I have very strong opinions about funding college for incarcerated felons with taxpayer money. This is not about the fairness of the criminal justice system. It is about the intent and purpose of the system and it has never been rehabilitation. That happens after prison. Prison is PUNISHMENT! It was set up that way to discourage people from breaking the law, and it was each and every individuals choice to break that law! For the majority of inmates, by the time someone is actually sentenced to a prison term, they have already had several run ins with the law and had chance after chance at staying out of prison. Now Cuomo wants to reward convicted felons with college educations! What kind of message is this sending to the public? Go to prison, get free meals, housing, medical care, cable TV, and a college degree! This is NOT the way to reduce the prison population. Paying $5,000/year per inmate for a college education is asking too much of New York State's cash strapped law abiding citizens. New York State residents pay the highest property tax in the nation as well as the highest energy costs. If Cuomo wants to reduce prison populations, then intervene before incarceration. Put the money to use in areas of at risk kids and fund their education. I joined the Army for the GI Bill college benefits and worked my way through college. In 1978, during my first year at Marist College, after serving three years of active duty in the US Army, I met inmates just paroled from Green Haven Correctional Facility who moved in the dormitory next to me. They were both part of a prison college program who were now finishing their degrees compliments of NYS. I just couldn't understand it then and I don't today.
R
Ralph Goldstrom
12 years ago
Say NO !
M
Meghan Stayton
12 years ago
When my college education is free then they can have free education!!!!
J
Jeanne Turansky
12 years ago
I agree with Sen. Grisante. However, if an education program is needed, consider the GED and/or skill training. Interest and abilities tests could be administered to help individuals learn what options they have. But it would seem more practical to me to offer skills training that could contribute once out of prison to a certificate program. This would cost less. Maybe even some of the jobs at the prison could double for practical experience. This would still be cheaper but may help to reduce recidivism. Although this practical approach may seem like the state is rewarding the offender, it is offering them possibilities once their stay is over. Instead, rehab drug and alcohol programs which are going on now in prisons would seem to be more valuable. But no degree programs. Here's a thought, if a degree program is wanted by the inmate, let him/her get a sponsor (private not state funding like a relative) to sponsor them by paying the bill.
K
Karen Mulcahy
12 years ago
I'm paying for my son's college education. I'm working overtime and taking out loans. I spent my life teaching my vhdren to do the right thing, live right, respect for God, his country, family and that there is an achievable American dream. Now the message being sent is total disregard for everything true and right and get a free ride! This is anarchy not rehabilitation.
K
kevin quinn
12 years ago
the reason there doing this is beacause the government want to give felons the right to vote, so now you want to educate them for free and then give them the right to vote it's all about keeping them in office. SCUMBAGS
Help the children first! Put $5,000 toward each kid in NYS schools! Stop taking funds away from our kids. Where is the lottery money going? Put the prisoners to work and let them do online courses with their own money.
How about instead of sending them to college on the taxpayer's dollars, you use that money to help fund kids who want to go to college and can't afford to.
It is disgusting.
absurd to even suggest
I think they should have to work for college. For instance have them work and earn credits to apply towards getting a class. They shouldn't get it for free. We cannot afford to pay for our kids to go to school. Always punish the people that do the right thing... give aid to the people that don't follow the rules. It just stinks!!! What does this say to our children?
Unbelievable!! My kids had to take out student loans for college. They were never in any knid of trouble, why should someone who has committed crimes get to go to school on my tax dollars. Why don't you pay some of my kids student loans instead!!!
support the college bound student who are not criminals FIRST
I pay some of the highest taxes in the entire country and now our governor wants to give free college degrees to criminals. I don't care if a donkey is opposite Cuomo on the ballot in November, I'm voting for the donkey!
remember when prisoners used to build roads ? whatever happened ty that ? Please don't let Cuomo get any more control of the once great state of NY!!!!!
I cant afford the taxes in NY anymore.
I am confused as to why someone who is in prison will get a college degree for nothing but students who try to be good citizens must go in debt for years. it was their choice to break the law instead of working hard to get ahead. Please do not make the sacrifices of parents and students a joke. The example the state is setting is that if you want a college degree for free, never mind working hard for a scholarship just go to jail and the state will pay for it. Not only will NYS be the welfare state of choice but come to NYS, commit and crime and get a free college education
Current students are required to sign up for the Armed Forces thru the selective service registration. Convicted Offenders are not eligible to serve our nation. Students are required to pay back money that was provided for education, Offenders will drop out and pay nothing. Tax payers lose! What are they going to do with former convicted Offenrers who have served their debt to society? thye should be entilted to a college edcatuation too. After all the current locked up inmates havbe not even done that yet. At least former inmates did their time. Prison is for behavior rehabilitaion, Not advanced education. A majorty of inmates dropped out of high school
So as law abiding citizens trying to make ends meet and stressing about how I am going to afford to send my child to college these convicts who have victimized others get a free ride?? Come on Como get your head on straight. This is outrageous!
I had the experience of working in Sing Sing, Green Haven, Hudson, Attica, Shawangunk, Wallkill, Summit Shock and Coxsackie Correctional Facilities as a Correction Officer, Sergeant and Lieutenant. I have very strong opinions about funding college for incarcerated felons with taxpayer money. This is not about the fairness of the criminal justice system. It is about the intent and purpose of the system and it has never been rehabilitation. That happens after prison. Prison is PUNISHMENT! It was set up that way to discourage people from breaking the law, and it was each and every individuals choice to break that law! For the majority of inmates, by the time someone is actually sentenced to a prison term, they have already had several run ins with the law and had chance after chance at staying out of prison. Now Cuomo wants to reward convicted felons with college educations! What kind of message is this sending to the public? Go to prison, get free meals, housing, medical care, cable TV, and a college degree! This is NOT the way to reduce the prison population. Paying $5,000/year per inmate for a college education is asking too much of New York State's cash strapped law abiding citizens. New York State residents pay the highest property tax in the nation as well as the highest energy costs. If Cuomo wants to reduce prison populations, then intervene before incarceration. Put the money to use in areas of at risk kids and fund their education. I joined the Army for the GI Bill college benefits and worked my way through college. In 1978, during my first year at Marist College, after serving three years of active duty in the US Army, I met inmates just paroled from Green Haven Correctional Facility who moved in the dormitory next to me. They were both part of a prison college program who were now finishing their degrees compliments of NYS. I just couldn't understand it then and I don't today.
I had the experience of working in Sing Sing, Green Haven, Hudson, Attica, Shawangunk, Wallkill, Summit Shock and Coxsackie Correctional Facilities as a Correction Officer, Sergeant and Lieutenant. I have very strong opinions about funding college for incarcerated felons with taxpayer money. This is not about the fairness of the criminal justice system. It is about the intent and purpose of the system and it has never been rehabilitation. That happens after prison. Prison is PUNISHMENT! It was set up that way to discourage people from breaking the law, and it was each and every individuals choice to break that law! For the majority of inmates, by the time someone is actually sentenced to a prison term, they have already had several run ins with the law and had chance after chance at staying out of prison. Now Cuomo wants to reward convicted felons with college educations! What kind of message is this sending to the public? Go to prison, get free meals, housing, medical care, cable TV, and a college degree! This is NOT the way to reduce the prison population. Paying $5,000/year per inmate for a college education is asking too much of New York State's cash strapped law abiding citizens. New York State residents pay the highest property tax in the nation as well as the highest energy costs. If Cuomo wants to reduce prison populations, then intervene before incarceration. Put the money to use in areas of at risk kids and fund their education. I joined the Army for the GI Bill college benefits and worked my way through college. In 1978, during my first year at Marist College, after serving three years of active duty in the US Army, I met inmates just paroled from Green Haven Correctional Facility who moved in the dormitory next to me. They were both part of a prison college program who were now finishing their degrees compliments of NYS. I just couldn't understand it then and I don't today.
Say NO !
When my college education is free then they can have free education!!!!
I agree with Sen. Grisante. However, if an education program is needed, consider the GED and/or skill training. Interest and abilities tests could be administered to help individuals learn what options they have. But it would seem more practical to me to offer skills training that could contribute once out of prison to a certificate program. This would cost less. Maybe even some of the jobs at the prison could double for practical experience. This would still be cheaper but may help to reduce recidivism. Although this practical approach may seem like the state is rewarding the offender, it is offering them possibilities once their stay is over. Instead, rehab drug and alcohol programs which are going on now in prisons would seem to be more valuable. But no degree programs. Here's a thought, if a degree program is wanted by the inmate, let him/her get a sponsor (private not state funding like a relative) to sponsor them by paying the bill.
I'm paying for my son's college education. I'm working overtime and taking out loans. I spent my life teaching my vhdren to do the right thing, live right, respect for God, his country, family and that there is an achievable American dream. Now the message being sent is total disregard for everything true and right and get a free ride! This is anarchy not rehabilitation.
the reason there doing this is beacause the government want to give felons the right to vote, so now you want to educate them for free and then give them the right to vote it's all about keeping them in office. SCUMBAGS