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Folsom Lake College prison reentry program to receive nearly $1 million from Congress

Sacramento Bee - 1/4/2023

The Folsom Lake College prison and reentry education program that teaches incarcerated students in-person will receive almost $1 million from Consolidated Appropriations Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden on Thursday.

The spending bill will allocate $1.7 trillion to operating the federal government through the end of September. The Folsom college’s PREP program will receive $950,000 requested by Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, and Rep. Ami Bera, D-Elk Grove, who represents parts of Folsom.

The college tweeted in August that Bera met with educational leaders to discuss the expansion of the program.

“Having recently visited Folsom Lake College to meet with the faculty and staff at the Prison and Reentry Program, I have seen first-hand the positive impact this program has made on our community,” Bera said via email. “This federal funding will help reduce recidivism, violence and overall conflict in our community while equipping students with increased job training and skills upon their reentry into society.”

According to Molly Stafford, the director of the PREP program at Folsom Lake College, in spring 2022 the academic milestones of students enrolled in the program resulted in approximately $4,696,365 of tax savings to the community.

She said the recidivism rate for these students was slightly under 2%, compared to 60% statewide.

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“As of last academic year, PREP has offered 260 courses and enrolled more than 7,155 students,” Stafford said via email. “Through a series of virtual and in-person meetings, FLC was able to showcase the way PREP taps into student potential regardless of systemic barriers, deficits and stigma.”

PREP began in 2016 following the passage of Senate Bill 1391 in 2014, which allowed California community colleges to teach in-person in prison, according to Stafford.

She said PREP students throughout the region, including those at Mule Creek State Prison and Folsom Prison, participate in a variety of college degree programs such as social work and human services and small business entrepreneurship and management.

“What started as a handful of course offerings and two certificate programs has grown substantially with over 40 course offerings per term and a robust network of allies and advocates of students who have experiences with the justice system,” she said.

She said the ultimate goal of the program is employment and contribution to the community. She said services such as career and academic counseling are critical to successfully preparing former inmates for a place in the workforce.

Because of this, the program focuses on financial literacy and planning skills fundamental to helping students navigate financial aid programs and budget-earned wages.

“A PREP student enrolled in classes at Mule Creek State Prison told us, ‘I cannot predict the future, obviously, but thanks to this opportunity I can say I see a future,’” Stafford said.

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