The CUNY Catch Program was established in 1991 to provide transitional services for inmates returning from Rikers Island to their home communities.

Context

• There are more than two million people behind bars at any given time in the U.S.
• U.S. incarceration rate is far beyond that of any other nation in the world.
• There are stark racial and ethnic disparities in U.S. incarceration rates in every region of the country.

Context

• Latinos are nearly twice as likely to be incarcerated than are white people.
• African American people are five times more likely to be incarcerated than white people
• Rates of crime are similar across racial groups.

African American people in New York State make up only 16% of the population, but comprise 53% of the people in NY jails and prisons.

Data from Bruce Western (HKS)

• If African American males drop out of high school, 2/3rd will serve time in prison by their mid-30’s.
• With a high school diploma this number drops to 18%
• With some college (Associate's degree) the percentage drops again to 5
• With a BA degree (college) the number drops to 1-2%

In 1999, CUNY Catch worked with more than 2000 young people at Rikers Island, New York City's main penal institution, and it offered educational and vocational programming for more than 500 participants at three college campuses.

Assessment of participant’s educational needs took place either on Rikers Island (prior to discharge) or at one of the participating CUNY campuses after discharge.

95% of students who took the GED prep course ulimately passed the GED test.
50% of 1999 participants enrolled in college; the rest were provided with job placement assistance. (1999 data)

Program summary

• CUNY Catch supported young adults leaving the NYC Department of Correction.
• Provided GED preparation and assisted with college enrollment.
• College preparation classes at three CUNY campuses: Bronx Community College, Medgar Evers College, and LaGuardia Community College.

A National Model

• A 2002 report by the Casey Foundation identified New York’s CUNY Catch and Friends of Island Academy as successful national models in establishing a pathway for GED completion and college admission.

The program was closed June 30, 2015 as a result of cuts to Federal funding.

No long-term impact evaluation of the program could be found.


Staff for the program say that it graduated 50-60 students in the final year. (Conversation, Feb 29, 2015)

On July 31, 2015, the Obama Administration announced the Second Chance Pell Pilot program to allow incarcerated (and returning) Americans to receive Pell Grants and pursue the postsecondary education with the goal of helping them get jobs, support their families, and turn their lives around.

Few public universities offer supports for people emerging from prison. Whose responsibility is it to provide for the educational and economic advancement of formerly incarcerated people?

Untitled Slide