Cameron Miranda
It is possible for incarcerated people to study law while in prison. In the United States, some inmates have enrolled in law school, and in Uganda and Kenya, the African Prisons Project (APP) has provided legal education to prisoners. While studying law can be challenging for prisoners, it can also offer them a sense of achievement and the opportunity to help their fellow inmates. However, even with a law degree, it may be difficult for former prisoners to become licensed attorneys due to character and fitness reviews. Despite these challenges, some ex-prisoners have successfully become lawyers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can people study law in jail? | Yes, in some countries, prisoners can study law while incarcerated. |
| Countries where prisoners can study law | The US, the UK, Uganda, and Kenya. |
| Sources of funding | Charities like The Longford Trust offer scholarships to current and former convicts who want to study for a degree. |
| Benefits of legal education for prisoners | It reduces the recidivism rate, helps prisoners advocate for themselves and their fellow inmates, and gives them a sense of achievement. |
| Barriers to becoming a licensed lawyer after studying law in jail | Some states in the US have outright bans on anyone with a felony from being admitted to the bar. |
| Overcoming barriers | Ex-prisoners with law degrees can fight for admission to practice law, as seen in the case of a former prisoner admitted to the New Jersey bar in 2017. |
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What You'll Learn
Inmates can pursue law degrees while incarcerated
Inmates at other institutions have also pursued law degrees while serving their sentences. For example, Sang, an inmate at Verne prison in Portland, Dorset, started his law degree while incarcerated. Similarly, Ana Ruiz, a former inmate, began her law degree after being released from prison. Ruiz's education was funded by the young people's charity The Longford Trust, which offers scholarships to current and former convicts pursuing degrees.
Pursuing a law degree while incarcerated comes with unique challenges. Incarcerated students may struggle with the academic rigors of law school, such as learning how to read case law. They also face limitations on their ability to interact with classmates outside of class. Additionally, graduating with a law degree does not guarantee that inmates will be licensed to practice law. Some states have bans in place that prohibit anyone with a felony from being admitted to the bar.
Despite these challenges, there are benefits to inmates pursuing law degrees. Inmates who study law can gain a better understanding of the legal system and their rights. They may also be able to use their legal knowledge to help themselves or others in similar situations. Additionally, education can help inmates rebuild their self-esteem and achieve a sense of accomplishment. It can also help reduce recidivism rates by providing inmates with the skills and qualifications needed to obtain stable income and contribute positively to their communities upon release.
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Qualifying to practice law after imprisonment
In the United States, the country with the highest incarceration rate in the world, it is possible for inmates to pursue law degrees while incarcerated. However, graduating with a law degree does not guarantee they will be licensed to practice law. Some states have outright bans on allowing anyone with a felony to be admitted to the bar. In other states, felons are presumed to lack the character and fitness required to practice law unless they can prove otherwise. For example, in Minnesota, those with a felony must go before a state board of law examiners and make the case that they have the appropriate character and fitness to practice law.
Even in states where a felony does not automatically preclude admission, it raises red flags that require the candidate to overcome a presumption that they are not fit to be an attorney. State bar associations typically require applicants to prove their good moral character and fitness to practice law to an examining committee. This poses an additional barrier for people with felony records who seek to become lawyers.
Despite these challenges, there are success stories of former prisoners who have become attorneys. For example, Brandon Sample, who was incarcerated on federal securities and money laundering convictions at the age of 19, earned a bachelor's degree while incarcerated and then received a law degree from the Vermont School of Law after his release. He now practices federal criminal defense out of his Vermont office. Another example is Desmond Meade, who served 15 years for drug and firearm-related offenses and then enrolled in Florida International University's School of Law after his release. However, Meade is not able to practice law in his home state of Florida.
It is important to note that the path to becoming an attorney after imprisonment is not an easy one. In addition to the educational and licensing requirements, there may be social stigma and bias associated with having a criminal record. This can make it difficult to find employment and housing, even for those who have successfully completed their sentences and obtained the necessary qualifications.
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Benefits of legal education for prisoners
The benefits of legal education for prisoners are extensive. Firstly, it helps to reduce recidivism and lower incarceration rates, which in turn reduces costs for the state. This is achieved through improved self-esteem and self-worth, as well as increased morale among prisoners. Educational programs in prison provide prisoners with a sense of validation and achievement, which can be channelled into personal growth and rehabilitation. This is particularly important in a prison environment, which can naturally lower self-esteem.
Prisoners with legal education are also more likely to be employed after their release, with employment rates 13% higher than those who did not participate in educational programs. This supports their successful re-entry into society and strengthens public safety. Legal education can also help prisoners understand their constitutional rights and improve their legal knowledge, which may help with their own cases and parole hearings.
Furthermore, prisoners with legal education can provide assistance to other inmates with their court cases, sharing their knowledge and skills. They can offer unique insights in seminars and tutorials, contributing to a more diverse learning environment. While it may be challenging for those with legal education to become practising lawyers due to character and fitness requirements, their experiences can help them relate to defendants in a way that others may not. Overall, legal education for prisoners has far-reaching benefits that can improve their lives and the communities they return to.
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Inmates' insights in law classes
Inmates who have pursued law degrees while incarcerated have shared their experiences and insights about taking on the challenging course of study.
Maureen "Mo" Onyelobi, who is serving a life sentence in a Minnesota prison for aiding and abetting murder, has said that she knows firsthand how valuable her perspective would be in the world of law. She believes that her experiences are invaluable and cannot be learned in a classroom. Onyelobi has also shared that the toughest part about attending law school from prison is the slow speed at which she is able to read case law. She also mentions that not being able to speak with classmates outside of class can be frustrating. Despite the challenges, she is proud of her academic performance, sharing that she has been getting good grades.
Another inmate, Jeff Young, who is also serving a life sentence in a Minnesota prison for aiding and abetting murder, has expressed similar sentiments. He has found law school to be challenging, especially when it comes to learning how to read case law. However, he is grateful for the opportunity to continue his education and is making steady progress.
Albert Woodfox, who spent 44 years and 10 months in solitary confinement in Louisiana's Angola Penitentiary, shared that studying law helped him win release after a wrongful murder conviction.
Ana Ruiz, a former inmate and law student, has spoken about the impact of starting her law degree on her self-esteem. She said, "Being sent to prison is a crushing blow to anyone's self-esteem – you think you're worthless, you feel excluded. Starting to study makes all the difference, because you realise you can achieve something." Maria Aristodemou, a senior law lecturer at Birkbeck College, where Ruiz studied, has echoed this sentiment, stating that students with direct experience in the criminal justice system often have fascinating insights to share in seminars and tutorials. She believes that their unique perspectives can enrich the learning experience for all students.
However, Aristodemou also cautions that there is a downside to this. She explains that individuals with such experiences can sometimes be quite opinionated and entrenched in their views, making it challenging for them to see the wider picture. She notes that unpacking these issues in a seminar setting may not be the most effective approach and can be time-consuming for the entire class.
Overall, inmates who have pursued law degrees while incarcerated have expressed a range of insights. While some have found the experience empowering and valuable, offering unique perspectives that cannot be learned in a classroom, others have acknowledged the challenges and frustrations that come with studying law from within the prison system.
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Initiatives for inmates to pursue law degrees
Inmates pursuing law degrees while incarcerated face numerous challenges, including the stigma associated with their criminal records and the difficulty of accessing educational resources in prison. However, several initiatives have been established to support and encourage inmates interested in studying law.
One such initiative is The Legal Revolution, which aims to structurally transform the legal discipline through a series of legal initiatives that centre on racial equity, mental health, and the expertise of those most impacted by the law. The program has received waivers from the American Bar Association to admit two incarcerated students per year into law school. It has also secured funding from law firms and foundations and the support of Minnesota's Corrections Department.
Another initiative, the prison law pipeline program, is a response to the school-to-prison pipeline, which contributes to inequities in the justice system. This program also uses waivers from the American Bar Association to admit incarcerated students into law school, providing them with the opportunity to pursue a legal education.
The Minnesota Initiative, led by 38-year-old Elizer Darris, is another example. Darris, who was sentenced to life in prison at the age of 15, mentors young inmates and encourages them to pursue their education and study law. He believes that this can help break the cycle of incarceration and provide them with a sense of purpose.
Additionally, some inmates have pursued law degrees through distance learning or online programs. For example, Sang, an inmate at Verne Prison in Portland, Dorset, UK, started a distance-learning law degree at Nottingham Trent University. His funding came from The Longford Trust, a charity that offers scholarships to current and former convicts. Similarly, Gary, a former inmate, studied law while incarcerated and is now out of prison and continuing his degree.
These initiatives provide inmates with the opportunity to pursue a legal education, gain valuable knowledge and skills, and potentially use their experiences to bring about positive change in the legal system.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, people can study law while incarcerated. Inmates in Uganda and Kenya, for example, can enroll in the African Prisons Project (APP), which teaches them to advocate for themselves and their fellow inmates in their nation's criminal justice system. In the US, inmates have also been allowed to pursue law degrees while in prison.
Allowing incarcerated people to study law can help reduce the recidivism rate. Inmates who gain legal expertise can help their fellow inmates, and those who go on to work in the legal system may be able to relate to defendants in a way that many lawyers cannot.
While graduating with a law degree does not guarantee that an inmate will get a license to practice law, there are some instances of former prisoners becoming attorneys. In the US, previous felony convictions do not automatically preclude admission to the bar in most states, but they do raise red flags that require the candidate to prove their fitness to practice law.
Studying law in jail can be challenging due to limited resources and the stigma associated with incarceration. Inmates may also face additional barriers when seeking to become licensed attorneys due to the character and fitness review process.
