Cuomo Announces $7.5M Plan To Expand Education Programs For Inmates
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants to see college programs expanded for the state's prison inmates.
He announced a plan on Sunday that would put $7.5 million toward college-level educational programs, aimed at helping inmates get an associate's degree, a bachelor's degree, or an industry certificate.
The money would come from criminal forfeiture dollars taken in by the Manhattan district attorney's office. There are about 1,000 inmates getting college-level education currently; the funds could help about 1,000 more.
The expansion was part of a slate of prison reforms Cuomo outlined, which also included investments in alternatives to incarceration.
Cuomo has been releasing plans in a host of areas in advance of his State of the State speech. Other new plans include the expansion of the Jacob K. Javits Center, and an expansive renovation of Penn Station. Cuomo has also said he is aiming to freeze tolls on the Tappan Zee bridge and the New York Thruway until 2020.
The Democrat will make that address on Wednesday.
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