(Feb. 25, 2020) — U.S. Senator Chris Murphy visited York Correctional Institution in Niantic on February 24, 2020. He met with incarcerated individuals who, according to his Facebook page, “want the chance to better themselves through education.”
Senator Murphy was joined by Steven Minkler, CEO of Middlesex Community College (Middletown) and representatives from Wesleyan University (Middletown) and Three Rivers Community College (Norwich).
Over the last few years, Middlesex Community College and the Wesleyan Center for Prison Education have partnered to provide classes and associate degrees thanks to Federal Pell Grants. Senator Murphy is hoping to push federal legislation to continue this program.
For more media coverage of the press conference, please visit the links below:
Sen. Murphy, aiming to expand Pell grant eligibility for incarcerated students, hears from inmates at York Correctional Institution (Hartford Courant, February 24, 2020)
Murphy visits York prison to discuss law that helps inmates afford college (The Day, February 24, 2020)
Sen. Murphy to discuss restoring educational grants for incarcerated individuals (Fox61, February 24, 2020)
Sen. Murphy says Pell Grants could help prevent inmates from returning to prison (WTNH, February 24, 2020)
Inmates at local prison discuss how education grant transformed their lives (WFSB, February 24, 2020)