After serving a jail term to the end, many felons leave prison having reformed and ready to be re-integrated back to society. However, with the knowledge that not many people or organizations will be willing to employ them, these ex-convicts leave jail not knowing what they will do to earn a living and rebuild their already wasted life. Not many of us have the advantage of getting the right values and morals when growing up and that is why to err is human. As such, it is understood that felons may have committed crimes because of a number of reasons and that is why once they have paid their debt to the government and the society, they can always live a dignified life like other members of the community. To help ex-convicts cope with life after prison and prevent them from resorting back to crime, the government has gone the extra mile and passed several pieces of legislation to meet their needs. These pieces of legislation are designed to give felons a second chance so that those who are willing to go back to school, create self-employment or even work for the government will have a full range of opportunities to utilize. To facilitate this, the government offers an extensive array of opportunities ranging from grants to scholarships and jobs. Unfortunately, many people are not aware of these opportunities, and they may find themselves stranded after coming back to society. To save them the confusion and trouble finding a soft landing, this website saw it right to craft this well-researched article on the various government grants and scholarships available for felons. Reading the following article will offer elaborate information about government grants,scholarships and department of labor programs available for felons and how they can be accessed.
What are grants?
A grant is any funding that you are given and does not require to be repaid. In most cases, grants are given depending on individual needs, and that is why not everybody is eligible for a grant. If, for example, you are earning a decent salary and you can sustain your family, you may not receive a grant that is given to those who earn much less. The same case applies to educational grants which can only be granted to those who wish to further their education, and they cannot afford it.
Can felons get grants?
Felons can get grants. The federal governments and private institutions are determined to enable felons transform after prison life and they therefore give different grants. This article looks closely at the grants that felons can get from the government.
Government grants for felons
The government gives numerous grants for felons through the various departments. They include:
Educational Pell grants for felons
As a felon, the best way to start a new career is to get education or training. This seems expensive, though, bearing in mind that you may not have the finances to pay for your education and many employers will run a criminal check before hiring you. Besides, most financial aid meant for students is restricted for felons which make it even harder for ex-convicts wishing to further their education. Thanks to Pell grants for felons as they allow ex-convicts to go back to school with ease. Pell grants for felons are not given on any particular skill, and they are designed to make quality education accessible to all irrespective of their financial ability. These grants are only provided for education purpose, and almost all felons can access them under certain conditions. Besides, ex-convicts cannot be incarcerated in any prison during the period they will be receiving a Pell grant. This means that felons may apply for a Pell grant while still in prison, but they must wait to be released to receive the grant.
Unlike other offenses, sex and drug-related felonies may prevent offenders from getting Pell grants. However, if you are convicted of drug offense, you can complete a drug treatment program to regain eligibility. You can also regain eligibility after passing two consecutive drug tests from a certified doctor. This is ,however, not the case with those who are convicted for other drug-related offenses like sale of drugs as their eligibility is indefinitely restricted while those found in possession of drugs will be indefinitely restricted to receive Pell grants after three convictions.
As a felon, getting a Pell grant requires determination and a genuine desire to go back to school, and you have to, therefore, find out the paperwork involved and follow the application procedure diligently. First, you have to submit a duly filled FASFA form which can be accessed online. Doing it online is faster but you can also choose to fill paper forms available in most locations. Ideally, the form will ask for details about the financial status of the felon’s family and the educational programs they intend to take.
The amount of Pell grant that a felon can receive is dependent on several factors such as their family’s expected financial contribution, the tuition cost of the program they are considering and if the student is attending a full-time or part-time enrollment program.
Department of labor
There are several grant programs offered by the department of labor to felons out of prison or those categorized as pre-release. These programs provide grants designed to give these individuals a better landing which would prevent them from re-engaging in criminal activities and going back to prison.They include:
Workforce innovation and opportunity act(WIOA)
To perfect the government’s function of solving the problem of felons reintegration to the society, WIOA is legislated to help them and other displaced workers. Its functions are designed and coordinated with American Job Center, and here, felons have a chance to explore career opportunities, find training and also look for jobs.
Reentry Employment Opportunities (REO)
REO is authorized by WIOA as to do research and evaluation for justice of those who have been formerly incarcerated. It aims at developing strategies and partnerships to facilitate the implementation of effective programs capable of improving labor outcomes for felons. Besides each state has a labor department office meant to coordinate benefits for employers. One of the benefits designed to benefit ex-convicts is giving incentives to employers who employ felons on a full-time basis. In New York, for example, the labor department extends bonds of up to $ 10,000 through its federal bonding program and employers who qualify must offer full-time employment to felons which is equivalent to thirty hours a week or more.
As mentioned earlier applying for any government grant requires you to have the right resources and information about the application procedure. Other funding opportunities that felons can take advantage of in the department of labor include
1. National Dislocated Workers Reserve Grants
2. State Apprenticeship Expansion
3. Fidelity Bonding Demonstration Grants
4. Workforce Data Quality Initiative
Scholarships for felons
There are numerous scholarships valuable for felons. Like grants, these scholarships need not be repaid, and the only difference between them and grants is the provider. While grants are provided by the federal government and private institutions scholarships are provided by education institutions. These scholarships vary in terms of benefits with some paying part of your fees and others paying your full tuition. Since these scholarships are very competitive, it is always advisable to apply a many of them. Some of the scholarships available for felons include:
Benjamin and Patricia Allen
This unique scholarship is offered to children from underprivileged backgrounds and since most felons come from such backgrounds most of them greatly benefit from it.
Charles Colson Scholarship
This scholarship is given by Wheaton College and is open to students willing to strengthen their relationship with God. The school, which is located in Illinois, openly calls felons to apply, and there are numerous ministry programs.
Jeremy Gordon’s College Scholarship
This scholarship is given four times a year, and it aims at setting felons on a better path.What sets this program apart from others is the fact that even those who are currently serving a sentence in prison can also apply for the scholarship and study while in prison. Ideally, those who attend Adams State University benefit most from the program.
The list given above highlights just a few of the scholarships for felons, but there are much more available.Furthering your education is one thing that can contribute significantly to a prosperous life after spending years behind bars.Grab the opportunity and set your life on the path to prosperity.
Final advice
Going back to prison is the worst thing that can happen to anyone who has successfully served a jail term.If you have left prison, it is advisable that you take advantage of the numerous programs designed to help you lead a life of dignity. From government grants to job opportunities and scholarships, you have a full range of opportunities to transform your life after leaving prison. Deciding to go back to school or looking for funds to start a business is a great decision. This will not only enable you to reform your life, but you will also have a chance to interact with other members of society naturally.Upgrade your life from changed to transformed with government grants and scholarships for felons.