My fiance will, hopefully, be paroled in February, 2004. I would like to get some info on college programs for ex-offenders in Iowa. I think going to college would be his best bet since I am finding out that jobs for ex-offenders are very hard to come by...I would appreciate any input you may have...thanks

crisslee,

Hi, I am going to move your post down to the Iowa forum, hopefully someone will be able to help you there.

Patti

Crisslee, I really have no answers for you. I do know that there is information out there, I just don't know what direction to point you in. Occasionally, the guys get a good counselor. How about him asking his counselor where he can start looking.

Please keep us posted. And would you post what information you do find here in the Iowa forum. That would be helpful for the others that come behind you.

Crisslee, I also don't have any solid information. My suggestion would be to start calling community colleges and universities and seeing what policies they have, etc. Then, call the financial aid departments at the colleges that seem most interesting to him and figure out how to pay for it. Sorry that is all I have!

The Univ. of Iowa has a number of "guided correspondence" courses, with material that goes back and forth by mail and at the student's own pace, and I know there are a lot of inmates who take these courses. As to education on the outside, it depends on your location. The Sat & Evening programs at Iowa are meant for people ith jobs & other obligations. Good luck! Ralph

Thank you all for your responses...that, alone, is worth so much to me right now...just a simple "Hi" from others in this position (prisoners "outside" waiting-hey, has that one been coined yet? If not, I just did! POW ).

I have been going to DMACC and am going to ask the girl in financial aid dept. and see what she says. One of the times I was in that dept. I was in line behind a young man who was just getting out of prison and was enrolling and talking about his financial aid...I also have talked with someone who's friend's daughter has just gotten out of Mitchellville and is going through some kind of program at DMACC for people like her...Funny, the way I happened upon this beautiful site is thru the research I have been doing on my thread subject!..anyway, I certainly will find something out about this and relay it on to this forum.

My Jimmy and I have a situation...he will be having to take care of ME when he comes home...day-to-day care and finacially a couple months after he comes home. So, I am trying to find out what I can for him...if there ie a way for him to go to DMACC and get student loans for living expense (like I do now because of my health), that would work real well...and he would be so elated to attend college.

I am depressed tonite 'cause my car went down and this weekend was visiting time for us (once a month)...plus, I was going to take his daughter to see him for the first time in 6 months...they are so very close...it breaks my heart that I can't get them together...and, you know with the delay in letters back and forth-he will be waiting for us to walk thru those doors and we won't be there. That makes for a real ruff weekend for him. But, when Monday comes and he gets the letter saying why we weren't there and we will be there next weekend, he'll be okay (sorta). I am sure that he has gotten a letter saying I was having car trouble...but he will worry anyway...I am sure you all know this.

Again, I am so happy I found you all...I know that, when the darkness and loneliness and helplessness starts to come over me, I can come to you and get solace.

Question...what is "PM" ing someone mean?
'Nother question...when will a live chat happen for this site? We sure need it, 'specially around 2 or 3 in the am sometimes when we can't sleep...love ya all

Crisslee, you will notice at the bottom of each post there are these 4 thingies (profile, pm, search, buddy) that you can click on.
Profile: tells about the person. You would have filled out
some of the stuff. DOB, where is your loved one
how long in, how much more time, your bio, etc.
Search: Can click on it and it is a list of all their posts.
Buddy: don't know; never check it

PM: It's when you want to give a private message to
some one. You can give messages back and forth
and they won't be on the board.

Live Chat: somewhere on this forum isn't there a thing for a
chat room.

thanks for the info

there is a chat section, but it is just the forums i think...i think they are working on getting live chat rooms eventually