President Schmoke: Executive Clemency Could Help Resolve Incarceration Crisis
June 24, 2017
Contact: Office of Government and Public Affairs
Phone: 410.837.5739
In an op-ed in The Baltimore Sun, University of Baltimore President Kurt L. Schmoke says that the governor's use of executive clemency could help resolve the incarceration crisis brought on by the war on drugs.
"Many non-profit organizations, including area colleges and universities, are working with the correctional system to offer programs to incarcerated individuals to make certain that they will leave prisons better persons than they entered the system.
"One example is the Second Chance College Program offered by the University of Baltimore at Jessup Correctional Institution (JCI), a medium security prison for men. There are about 30 students enrolled to study toward a bachelor's degree in Community Studies/Civic Engagement. They also take courses in entrepreneurship. The students begin their coursework at JCI and transition to UB once released.
"The governor could build upon these education programs at no additional cost to the state. How? Increasing the chance of achieving commutation of sentence for those participating in self-improvement programs would offer a powerful incentive for more people to participate."
Read President Schmoke's op-ed.
Learn more about Kurt Schmoke.