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| Indiana Prisoners Get Millions in Grants for College |
| By Indianapolis Star |
| Published: 07/23/2001 |
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Nearly 700 offenders received more than $2 million in state and federal grants through the State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana to take college courses in prison during the past year. 'It irks me that someone can slaughter another human being and have the taxpayers pay for their education,' said Marlene Giordano. Recently, one of the two men convicted of murdering Giordano's brother received a bachelor's degree with honors at a ceremony in the prison where he is serving a life sentence. David Perlini, SSACI executive director, said 680 inmates received the taxpayer-funded grants averaging about $3,000 each in the past year. He said about $2 million in grants have gone to imprisoned offenders annually since a court said the state couldn't exclude prisoners from assistance. 'There had been a law passed in Indiana in which prisoners were not going to receive state student assistance,' Perlini said. 'A prisoner, Steven Z. Parrett, filed suit in federal court. In 1985, we received a court order by (U.S. District Court) Judge Allen Sharp enjoining us from enforcing that code.' Billie Ray Adams, 55, funded his Ball State University education through an SSACI grant, said Department of Correction spokeswoman Pam Pattison. Adams was convicted in the 1972 murder of Giordano's brother, Marion County Sheriff's Deputy Tom Settles. Settles, 25, was shot in the head when he tried to stop Adams and his cousin from robbing a Cumberland bank branch. Inmates have an incentive to pursue their education. Indiana's Community Transition Program, which went into effect July 1, 1999, provides for up to four years' credit off an offender's projected release date for completing high school or equivalency diplomas, college degrees or substance abuse programs. 'A number of individuals have taken advantage of that opportunity,' Pattison said. She said offenders who go through the program learn a skill, which helps them reintegrate successfully into the community. Adams' academic achievement won't directly affect his life sentence, but it could get him in front of the parole board sooner. |
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