it was the summer of 1990 my friend Joe who had just turned 16 was going for a
who had just turned 16 was going for a
who had just turned 16 was going for a joyride with his new high-school friends
joyride with his new high-school friends
joyride with his new high-school friends to pastime what Joe didn’t know was that
to pastime what Joe didn’t know was that
to pastime what Joe didn’t know was that his Joyride would soon turn into an
his Joyride would soon turn into an
his Joyride would soon turn into an initiation into a gang Joe was soon
initiation into a gang Joe was soon
initiation into a gang Joe was soon faced with the tough decision fit in
faced with the tough decision fit in
faced with the tough decision fit in with the gang or faced the harsh
with the gang or faced the harsh
with the gang or faced the harsh consequences of not joining in Joe chose
consequences of not joining in Joe chose
consequences of not joining in Joe chose to participate in a drive-by shooting
to participate in a drive-by shooting
to participate in a drive-by shooting thinking no harm would come from it
thinking no harm would come from it
thinking no harm would come from it maybe a broken window maybe the crowd
maybe a broken window maybe the crowd
maybe a broken window maybe the crowd would scatter and fear the worst did
would scatter and fear the worst did
would scatter and fear the worst did happen Joe shot and killed an innocent
happen Joe shot and killed an innocent
happen Joe shot and killed an innocent bystander and is now in prison for life
bystander and is now in prison for life
bystander and is now in prison for life I was born in Iowa and raised in Omaha
I was born in Iowa and raised in Omaha
I was born in Iowa and raised in Omaha Nebraska my neighborhood was safe I
Nebraska my neighborhood was safe I
Nebraska my neighborhood was safe I could pie outside when I wanted wherever
could pie outside when I wanted wherever
could pie outside when I wanted wherever I wanted and without checking in with my
I wanted and without checking in with my
I wanted and without checking in with my parents I was carefree during the
parents I was carefree during the
parents I was carefree during the summers with my hardest decision being
summers with my hardest decision being
summers with my hardest decision being what color of popsicle I wanted to eat
what color of popsicle I wanted to eat
what color of popsicle I wanted to eat that day
that day
that day blue or pink I went to an elementary
blue or pink I went to an elementary
blue or pink I went to an elementary school that provided me with high
school that provided me with high
school that provided me with high ability learning classes a middle school
ability learning classes a middle school
ability learning classes a middle school equipped with honors courses and a high
equipped with honors courses and a high
equipped with honors courses and a high school where I had access to advanced
school where I had access to advanced
school where I had access to advanced placement classes my education was well
placement classes my education was well
placement classes my education was well rounded and excellent to say the least
rounded and excellent to say the least
rounded and excellent to say the least I never imagined I would find myself as
I never imagined I would find myself as
I never imagined I would find myself as a junior at the University of
a junior at the University of
a junior at the University of nebraska-lincoln doing research on
nebraska-lincoln doing research on
nebraska-lincoln doing research on prisons and education through my
prisons and education through my
prisons and education through my research I’ve learned that the United
research I’ve learned that the United
research I’ve learned that the United States has the largest inmate population
States has the largest inmate population
States has the largest inmate population in the world
in the world
in the world we host 25 percent of the world’s
we host 25 percent of the world’s
we host 25 percent of the world’s inmates while only having 5% of the
inmates while only having 5% of the
inmates while only having 5% of the world’s population our 25 percent of the
world’s population our 25 percent of the
world’s population our 25 percent of the world’s inmates is comprised of 2.3
world’s inmates is comprised of 2.3
world’s inmates is comprised of 2.3 million people and of these 2.3 million
million people and of these 2.3 million
million people and of these 2.3 million people within 3 years of release over
people within 3 years of release over
people within 3 years of release over half will be really the average daily
half will be really the average daily
half will be really the average daily population across 10 facilities is
population across 10 facilities is
population across 10 facilities is approximately 5,000 people and although
approximately 5,000 people and although
approximately 5,000 people and although our incarceration rate is much lower
our incarceration rate is much lower
our incarceration rate is much lower than the national average the numbers
than the national average the numbers
than the national average the numbers are still significant with inmate
are still significant with inmate
are still significant with inmate population numbers being as high as they
population numbers being as high as they
population numbers being as high as they are chances are you will come into
are chances are you will come into
are chances are you will come into contact with a formerly incarcerated
contact with a formerly incarcerated
contact with a formerly incarcerated person or someone who’ll be in prison in
person or someone who’ll be in prison in
person or someone who’ll be in prison in the future so what went wrong
the future so what went wrong
the future so what went wrong the answer is complex but part of the
the answer is complex but part of the
the answer is complex but part of the solution lies in providing better more
solution lies in providing better more
solution lies in providing better more equal education to prevent people from
equal education to prevent people from
equal education to prevent people from going to prison
going to prison
going to prison and secondly the funding of prison
and secondly the funding of prison
and secondly the funding of prison education programs to keep inmates from
education programs to keep inmates from
education programs to keep inmates from returning in Nebraska our public schools
returning in Nebraska our public schools
returning in Nebraska our public schools are funded by property taxes for cities
are funded by property taxes for cities
are funded by property taxes for cities like Omaha this means that areas with
like Omaha this means that areas with
like Omaha this means that areas with higher property taxes get more money to
higher property taxes get more money to
higher property taxes get more money to spend on schooling for Joe although he
spend on schooling for Joe although he
spend on schooling for Joe although he attended high school only 16 miles away
attended high school only 16 miles away
attended high school only 16 miles away from mine he attended school in an area
from mine he attended school in an area
from mine he attended school in an area that had lower property taxes and that
that had lower property taxes and that
that had lower property taxes and that was also considered high-risk according
was also considered high-risk according
was also considered high-risk according to most researchers schools that are
to most researchers schools that are
to most researchers schools that are high risk are those where social and
high risk are those where social and
high risk are those where social and economic conditions render its students
economic conditions render its students
economic conditions render its students at risk of failure individual
at risk of failure individual
at risk of failure individual circumstances must also be taken into
circumstances must also be taken into
circumstances must also be taken into account Joe a young teenager new to high
account Joe a young teenager new to high
account Joe a young teenager new to high school was very likely to fall under
school was very likely to fall under
school was very likely to fall under peer pressure to fit in and gain new
peer pressure to fit in and gain new
peer pressure to fit in and gain new friends his decisions to hang out with
friends his decisions to hang out with
friends his decisions to hang out with the people that he did and to make new
the people that he did and to make new
the people that he did and to make new friends instead of focus in school were
friends instead of focus in school were
friends instead of focus in school were individual circumstances that put Joe
individual circumstances that put Joe
individual circumstances that put Joe farther into the at-risk category
farther into the at-risk category
farther into the at-risk category another thing to consider in at-risk
another thing to consider in at-risk
another thing to consider in at-risk neighborhoods is the high percentage of
neighborhoods is the high percentage of
neighborhoods is the high percentage of minorities in the United States thirteen
minorities in the United States thirteen
minorities in the United States thirteen point three percent of the population is
point three percent of the population is
point three percent of the population is African American but where prisons are
African American but where prisons are
African American but where prisons are concerned there are 37 point seven
concerned there are 37 point seven
concerned there are 37 point seven percent of our inmates are African
percent of our inmates are African
percent of our inmates are African American our inmates are often poorly
American our inmates are often poorly
American our inmates are often poorly educated nationwide too and every 10
educated nationwide too and every 10
educated nationwide too and every 10 adults as a high school dropout but when
adults as a high school dropout but when
adults as a high school dropout but when prisons are concerned the dropout rate
prisons are concerned the dropout rate
prisons are concerned the dropout rate doubles to four in ten post-secondary
doubles to four in ten post-secondary
doubles to four in ten post-secondary education is another issue in prisons
education is another issue in prisons
education is another issue in prisons only 13% of inmates have some
only 13% of inmates have some
only 13% of inmates have some post-secondary education this is tiny
post-secondary education this is tiny
post-secondary education this is tiny compared to the 46 percent or almost
compared to the 46 percent or almost
compared to the 46 percent or almost half of our adults who an associate’s
half of our adults who an associate’s
half of our adults who an associate’s degree or higher in 2015 a lack of
degree or higher in 2015 a lack of
degree or higher in 2015 a lack of education is a serious issue when its
education is a serious issue when its
education is a serious issue when its major causes being the school to Prison
major causes being the school to Prison
major causes being the school to Prison Pipeline this occurs when students and
Pipeline this occurs when students and
Pipeline this occurs when students and at-risk neighborhoods are suspended or
at-risk neighborhoods are suspended or
at-risk neighborhoods are suspended or expelled even for minor offenses when
expelled even for minor offenses when
expelled even for minor offenses when students are sent home from school
students are sent home from school
students are sent home from school they’re forced to spend time in their
they’re forced to spend time in their
they’re forced to spend time in their communities full of negative social
communities full of negative social
communities full of negative social influences not only this but they miss
influences not only this but they miss
influences not only this but they miss out on important lessons in school and
out on important lessons in school and
out on important lessons in school and they easily fall behind according to our
they easily fall behind according to our
they easily fall behind according to our inspector general of Nebraska prison
inspector general of Nebraska prison
inspector general of Nebraska prison stucco burnick students who did not
stucco burnick students who did not
stucco burnick students who did not succeed
succeed
succeed early on in school are likely to find
early on in school are likely to find
early on in school are likely to find themselves in our juvenile justice
themselves in our juvenile justice
themselves in our juvenile justice system which may lead them into our
system which may lead them into our
system which may lead them into our adult criminal justice system in their
adult criminal justice system in their
adult criminal justice system in their futures but here’s where we can become
futures but here’s where we can become
futures but here’s where we can become part of the solutions Doug Cobra neck
part of the solutions Doug Cobra neck
part of the solutions Doug Cobra neck believes that if more of us reach out to
believes that if more of us reach out to
believes that if more of us reach out to those whom we see are struggling in the
those whom we see are struggling in the
those whom we see are struggling in the classroom and in life great things can
classroom and in life great things can
classroom and in life great things can happen many students face significant
happen many students face significant
happen many students face significant challenges in school and in their
challenges in school and in their
challenges in school and in their extended communities before of us reach
extended communities before of us reach
extended communities before of us reach out to them we can make positive changes
out to them we can make positive changes
out to them we can make positive changes a current prison education teacher has
a current prison education teacher has
a current prison education teacher has also suggested that we encourage our
also suggested that we encourage our
also suggested that we encourage our fellow students to not only graduate
fellow students to not only graduate
fellow students to not only graduate from high school but to move on to trade
from high school but to move on to trade
from high school but to move on to trade school to go to college or even join the
school to go to college or even join the
school to go to college or even join the military
military
military he has also suggested after hearing so
he has also suggested after hearing so
he has also suggested after hearing so many times in prison things like the
many times in prison things like the
many times in prison things like the other kids at school hated me that we
other kids at school hated me that we
other kids at school hated me that we don’t bully people whom we see are
don’t bully people whom we see are
don’t bully people whom we see are different from ourselves another thing
different from ourselves another thing
different from ourselves another thing that we can do is advocate for early
that we can do is advocate for early
that we can do is advocate for early childhood learning in Nebraska less than
childhood learning in Nebraska less than
childhood learning in Nebraska less than 8% of our at-risk children
8% of our at-risk children
8% of our at-risk children are enrolled in an early learning
are enrolled in an early learning
are enrolled in an early learning program pair engagement programs have
program pair engagement programs have
program pair engagement programs have also been proven to be effective
also been proven to be effective
also been proven to be effective programs that provide parents with the
programs that provide parents with the
programs that provide parents with the skills that they need to nurture and
skills that they need to nurture and
skills that they need to nurture and promote learning for their infants have
promote learning for their infants have
promote learning for their infants have also been proven to benefit their
also been proven to benefit their
also been proven to benefit their overall health well-being and
overall health well-being and
overall health well-being and development Sixpence early learning
development Sixpence early learning
development Sixpence early learning funder nebraska is one such program
funder nebraska is one such program
funder nebraska is one such program dedicated to providing these types of
dedicated to providing these types of
dedicated to providing these types of services to one thousand infants and
services to one thousand infants and
services to one thousand infants and their families what if we could provide
their families what if we could provide
their families what if we could provide these types of programs to every single
these types of programs to every single
these types of programs to every single at-risk child the Council for a strong
at-risk child the Council for a strong
at-risk child the Council for a strong America did a study and found that
America did a study and found that
America did a study and found that children who participated in these
children who participated in these
children who participated in these programs had half as many arrests and
programs had half as many arrests and
programs had half as many arrests and convictions than those who did not if we
convictions than those who did not if we
convictions than those who did not if we could provide these types of programs to
could provide these types of programs to
could provide these types of programs to every single at-risk child we have the
every single at-risk child we have the
every single at-risk child we have the potential to decrease our inmate numbers
potential to decrease our inmate numbers
potential to decrease our inmate numbers drastically so what else can we do we
drastically so what else can we do we
drastically so what else can we do we push for programs in prisons to provide
push for programs in prisons to provide
push for programs in prisons to provide them with education release and restored
them with education release and restored
them with education release and restored Nebraska is one such program that is
Nebraska is one such program that is
Nebraska is one such program that is already in place this education as well
already in place this education as well
already in place this education as well as improved prior education is the key
as improved prior education is the key
as improved prior education is the key to keeping people from returning to
to keeping people from returning to
to keeping people from returning to prison according to research done in
prison according to research done in
prison according to research done in 2014 by the RAND Corporation inmates who
2014 by the RAND Corporation inmates who
2014 by the RAND Corporation inmates who participated in correctional education
participated in correctional education
participated in correctional education programs had 43% lower odds of
programs had 43% lower odds of
programs had 43% lower odds of recidivism also offers inmates with
recidivism also offers inmates with
recidivism also offers inmates with opportunities to get jobs after prison
opportunities to get jobs after prison
opportunities to get jobs after prison this is because education and employment
this is because education and employment
this is because education and employment have positive relationship so as
have positive relationship so as
have positive relationship so as education levels increase so do
education levels increase so do
education levels increase so do employment rates education in prisons is
employment rates education in prisons is
employment rates education in prisons is necessary to make positive changes we
necessary to make positive changes we
necessary to make positive changes we must push for education in order to
must push for education in order to
must push for education in order to decrease the number of inmates that we
decrease the number of inmates that we
decrease the number of inmates that we have in general that way we can keep
have in general that way we can keep
have in general that way we can keep people like my friend Joe from spending
people like my friend Joe from spending
people like my friend Joe from spending their lives in prison it’s time to treat
their lives in prison it’s time to treat
their lives in prison it’s time to treat our peers like people who deserve equal
our peers like people who deserve equal
our peers like people who deserve equal educational opportunities and like those
educational opportunities and like those
educational opportunities and like those who deserve
who deserve
who deserve our respect and encouragement it’s time
our respect and encouragement it’s time
our respect and encouragement it’s time to push for early learning programs and
to push for early learning programs and
to push for early learning programs and to join peer mentorship programs and
to join peer mentorship programs and
to join peer mentorship programs and it’s time to push for funding and
it’s time to push for funding and
it’s time to push for funding and prisons to go towards education let’s
prisons to go towards education let’s
prisons to go towards education let’s together imagine and work towards a
together imagine and work towards a
together imagine and work towards a future where joy rides for kids like Joe
future where joy rides for kids like Joe
future where joy rides for kids like Joe or simply that full of joy and not
or simply that full of joy and not
or simply that full of joy and not tragedy
tragedy
tragedy [Music]
”
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