Some Good News to Share:
A New Program in Vermont that Takes a Different Approach to Criminal Justice

Dear Fellow Vermonter,

It is no secret that our nation’s criminal justice system is broken. Not only do we have more people in prison than any other country on Earth but, after prisoners are released here, they return to the penal system in higher numbers than in any other country. Unbelievably, according to the Department of Justice, about 66% of prisoners released in 2008 were arrested again within three years, and 82% were arrested within 10 years. If that’s not a failed system, I don’t know what is.

On top of that, taxpayers spend a substantial sum of money locking people up. In Vermont, the cost is estimated to be about $90,000 a year to incarcerate one person.

Clearly, it’s time to bring changes to a system that is not working for those who are incarcerated, and not working for taxpayers.

A few years ago, I secured federal funding to initiate a new program here in Vermont that takes a different approach to criminal justice. The goal of this program, done in collaboration between Community College of Vermont and the Department of Corrections, is to provide educational and job training opportunities to people while they are serving their sentences so that, when they leave prison, they have the opportunity to get decent jobs and become productive members of society. This will provide new opportunities for inmates and, if successful, will save substantial sums of money for taxpayers.

What’s particularly unique about this program, and may make it the first of its kind in the country, is that it extends free classes not just to inmates but to staff in the correctional facilities as well. These are hard-working people who do very difficult and important jobs. They also should have the opportunity to have affordable access to higher education and be able to improve their careers.

Last week, I had the chance to see the program in action at Northern State Correctional Facility in Newport, and hear directly from staff and incarcerated Vermonters about their experience in the classroom. I am pleased to report that there was a lot of excitement for the program and I want to thank the teachers at Community College of Vermont for their great work.

To my mind, we need more opportunities like this across the country, and I am hopeful we can make this a national program. In America today we need more people to help rebuild our country, not locked in prison at taxpayer expense. And that’s what this program is about.

I hope you'll watch the brief video above that I recorded after visiting the prison in Newport.

Sincerely,

Senator Sanders walking the grounds of Northern State Correctional Facility in Newport Friday afternoon.

Senator Sanders with Community College of Vermont (CCV) President Joyce Judy discussing Corrections Post-Secondary Education Initiative (CPSEI) with employees of the Northern State Correctional Facility (NSCF).

Senator Sanders and CCV President Joyce Judy sit down with students to discuss the Corrections Post-Secondary Education Initiative (CPSEI), which CCV administers to make courses available to incarcerated Vermonters and corrections staff.

Senator Sanders with Northern State Correctional Facility caseworker and current CPSEI student Stephanie Moly.

Senator Sanders speaking with Northern State Correctional Facility caseworker and future CPSEI student Zachary Vincent.