The John Jay College Institute for Justice and Opportunity Prison-to-College Pathways (P2CP) program and the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) announce that students incarcerated at Otisville Correctional Facility will be able to earn an associate degree from BMCC starting in fall 2024. 

The P2CP program offers educational and career pathway opportunities to system-impacted individuals in carceral settings and in the community. BMCC's Project Impact serves prospective and current system-impacted BMCC students. These campuses and programs ensure that CUNY’s mission reaches people impacted by the criminal legal system.

“At John Jay College, we believe in the transformative power of education for all, and the Prison-to-College Pathways program is a testament to that belief,” said Karol V. Mason, president of John Jay. “By offering incarcerated students the opportunity to earn an associate degree, we are providing them with a vital chance to rebuild their lives, pursue their dreams, and contribute meaningfully to our communities. This partnership with BMCC marks a significant step toward justice and equity, ensuring that no one is defined solely by their past but is empowered to shape their future." 

“Education is a powerful and transformative tool for social change,” said Dr. Anthony E. Munroe, president of BMCC. “By expanding Prison-to-College Pathways into a degree granting program, we are not only enhancing the educational opportunities available to our students, we are also alleviating barriers that have historically marginalized justice-impacted individuals. Offering a degree pathway that is accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of our diverse student body will create opportunities for advancement and success that can help break the cycle of poverty by fostering an environment where every individual, regardless of their background or circumstance, can thrive and contribute meaningfully to our society.”

This partnership is one of many ways that P2CP students are returning home with pathways for continuing their education and finding meaningful employment upon release, helping to address and repair the harms caused by decades of mass incarceration in many New York City communities.