Bard College - Fishkill Correctional Facility is a school located in Beacon, New York that offers an incredible opportunity for those who wish to pursue higher education even after serving time in a correctional facility. Established in 1989, Bard College - Fishkill Correctional Facility is a collaboration between Bard College and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS).
Being the first and only correctional facility that offers college level courses, not to mention a master's degree program, put this school on the map as one of the most forward-thinking and progressive correctional facilities in the United States. The courses taught at Bard College - Fishkill Correctional Facility are the same ones that students on the outside can take, covering topics such as literature, human rights, math, business administration and more.
The philosophy behind this school is that by providing prisoners with an education, it will help them make positive contributions to society once they are released. It has also been noted that inmates who participate in the educational program often end up staying out of trouble while in prison as well as having lower recidivism rates after they leave.
Above all else, Bard College - Fishkill Correctional Facility focuses on rehabilitation over punishment. After Statistics found that people coming out of prison are far less likely to offend when they are educated, the school made it their mission to provide inmates with educational opportunities to better themselves. With elevated cognitive development, inmates have a better understanding of their choices and how to best utilize them for a better future.
The effects of Bard College - Fishkill Correctional Facility have been astounding. Not only has it provided inmates with an education, but studies have also shown that it has also resulted in calmer atmospheres in prisons nationwide. Inmates leave with a better understanding of their place in society and with tangible skills that they can use to pursue gainful employment and lead productive lives.
Throughout its 30 plus year history, Bard College - Fishkill Correctional Facility has helped turn thousands of lives around by giving prisoners an educational platform that offers the same opportunities available to any other student on the outside. Through its commitment to providing inmates with the skills they need to reintegrate into society after release, this school has proven itself to be one of America’s best and brightest success stories. Take action and visit Bard College - Fishkill Correctional Facility today!