There are 2.2 million people now incarcerated in American prisons.
Each year, hundreds of thousands of those inmates are released.
One of the most important ways of keeping them from re-offending and winding up back in prison is education.
One study by the U.S. justice department found that people who took classes while they were in prison were 43% less likely to find themselves back behind bars within three years than inmates who didn't take any education programs.
The Obama administration has launched a pilot program that offers Pell Grants to incarcerated students.
Three Michigan colleges are among the 67 schools chosen for the program, called Second Chance Pell: Delta College, Mott Community College and Jackson College.
Todd Butler, Dean of Arts and Sciences at Jackson College, joined us today to talk about the program, the impact of education on recidivism, and what he hopes for the students enrolled in Jackson College courses this fall thanks to Second Chance Pell.
GUEST Todd Butler is the Dean of Arts and Sciences at Jackson College.
