BC Prison Education Program expands to women’s facility – Boston College

Program Expansion and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

The Boston College Prison Education Program (BCPEP), the largest initiative of its kind in Massachusetts, has expanded its operations to the Massachusetts Correctional Institution in Framingham. This expansion initiates a one-year pilot program specifically for incarcerated women, directly addressing key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• SDG 4 (Quality Education): The program provides inclusive and equitable quality education for a marginalized population.
• SDG 5 (Gender Equality): By extending its services to the state’s only women’s prison, the program ensures equal educational opportunities and empowers women.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The initiative is made possible by a $100,000 Accelerator Grant from The New England Prison Education Collaborative, exemplifying a multi-stakeholder partnership for sustainable development.

Objectives and Impact on Sustainable Development

Promoting Quality Education and Lifelong Learning (SDG 4)

The core objective is to provide incarcerated women with access to higher education, enabling them to earn credits toward a college degree. The program is designed to be a transformative experience, reflecting a commitment to the liberating power of liberal arts education.

1. Curriculum: The initial cohort will be introduced to the liberal arts through courses in creative nonfiction, ethics, theology, and design thinking, all taught by Boston College faculty.
2. Degree Pathway: Credits earned can be applied toward a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Liberal Arts from the University’s Woods College of Advancing Studies.
3. Continuity of Education: Upon release, students are encouraged to continue their studies at the Woods College, joining a cohort of 15 formerly incarcerated students already enrolled from the men’s program.

Fostering Economic Growth and Reducing Inequalities (SDG 8 & SDG 10)

By providing university-level education, the program directly contributes to reducing inequalities and promoting future economic opportunities for participants. This educational access is a critical component for successful reentry into society, enhancing employability and supporting sustained economic independence.

• The program targets a vulnerable group, directly addressing the mandate of SDG 10 to reduce inequality within and among countries by ensuring no one is left behind.
• As noted by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, such educational opportunities increase the success of individuals as they reenter communities, aligning with SDG 8’s goal of promoting full and productive employment and decent work for all.

Strengthening Justice and Institutions (SDG 16)

The BCPEP functions as a critical tool for rehabilitation within the justice system. By fostering a strong academic community and providing a pathway for personal and intellectual growth, the program contributes to the goal of building peaceful, just, and strong institutions.

• Education in correctional facilities is a proven strategy for reducing recidivism, which in turn promotes safer communities and more effective justice systems.
• The program’s success at the MCI-Shirley men’s facility, which has admitted six cohorts since 2019 and held two graduation ceremonies, serves as a model for building a positive, learning-oriented culture that supports rehabilitation.

Implementation and Operational Framework

Pilot Program Details

The admission and implementation process for the MCI-Framingham pilot program is structured to identify and support college-ready students.

1. Recruitment: Information sessions for the approximately 200 incarcerated women began in September.
2. Admission: A formal process, including an essay and interview, will run through November.
3. Commencement: Classes for the first cohort are scheduled for the spring and summer semesters.

Adaptation and Support

While modeled on the successful program at MCI-Shirley, the BCPEP team intends to adapt its approach to meet the specific needs of the students at MCI-Framingham. A significant percentage of the women at the facility are considered college-ready. The program will provide tutoring and extracurricular events to build a supportive academic culture, learning from the students to ensure the long-term success and sustainability of the opportunity.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  This is the most central SDG in the article. The entire piece focuses on the Boston College Prison Education Program (BCPEP), which provides access to higher education for incarcerated individuals. The article highlights the program’s goal to “provide women incarcerated in Massachusetts with the same opportunity as their male counterparts—to further their education while earning credits toward a college degree.” This directly aligns with the goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  The article’s main subject is the expansion of the prison education program to a women’s facility, MCI-Framingham. This action directly addresses gender inequality in access to educational opportunities within the prison system. The program aims to give incarcerated women the “same opportunity as their male counterparts,” explicitly working to achieve gender equality and empower a vulnerable group of women.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The program targets a marginalized and vulnerable population—incarcerated individuals—who are often excluded from educational opportunities. By providing a pathway to a bachelor’s degree, the program works to reduce the inequalities faced by this group. The article emphasizes the program’s commitment to “ensuring that the liberating power of the liberal arts is not limited by prison walls,” which speaks directly to reducing inequalities of opportunity based on one’s status.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 4.3: Ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university.

  The BCPEP provides university-level courses taught by Boston College professors, allowing students to “earn credits for the courses they complete, which they can put toward a bachelor’s degree.” The expansion to the women’s prison directly addresses the “equal access for all women and men” component of this target.

• Target 4.5: Eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable.

  Incarcerated individuals are a vulnerable group. The article’s focus on expanding the program from a men’s prison (MCI-Shirley) to the state’s only women’s prison (MCI-Framingham) is a clear action to eliminate gender disparities and ensure equal access for this specific vulnerable population.

• Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… other status.

  The program empowers incarcerated individuals through education, which is a critical tool for successful social and economic inclusion upon release. The Governor’s statement that the program helps “increase the success of individuals as they reenter communities” supports this target. The “other status” in this context is that of being incarcerated.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of educational programs available to vulnerable populations

  The article explicitly mentions the launch of a “one-year pilot program at the medium-security prison” for women, which is a direct indicator of an increase in educational opportunities.

• Participation and graduation rates in tertiary education

  The article provides specific numbers that can serve as indicators. It mentions the program “admitting six cohorts” and “awarding diplomas to four graduates” at the men’s facility. The admission process for the new women’s cohort, targeting “roughly 200 women,” implies that enrollment numbers will be a key metric.

• Number of individuals from vulnerable groups continuing education

  A key indicator of the program’s long-term success is mentioned: “15 formerly incarcerated students from MCI-Shirley are currently studying” at Boston College’s Woods College of Advancing Studies after their release.

• Gender parity in program availability

  The expansion of the program to MCI-Framingham is itself a qualitative indicator of progress towards gender parity in educational access within the Massachusetts prison system.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: bc.edu