Rebuilding his life

Christen · #1 06-09-2004, 01:10 PM

I'm not sure what forum to post this in so maybe a moderator may have to move it to the appropriate place. My boyfriend and I are in California and he was released from prison in January for a parole violation. He is going to be going to college in the fall and I'm wondering if there is any financial aid or scholarships for felons/ex-felons? Anyone know?

deb · #2 06-09-2004, 04:53 PM

Christen,

I moved your post to this forum as we don't have a separate one for education concerns... But, I work at a community college and work with several students who have felonies on their records. Each of the ones I work with has been able to get a pel grant or scholarships. A few of them have gotten help from Vocational Rehabilitation. It will depend on what his felony was for (for a pel grant), his income, and eventual gpa once he gets started... Voc Rehab can help if he has any sort of disability which includes if he's in recovery from any addiction... Hope this helps... He should check at the financial aid office and the student support services office at the school he will be attending...

Deb

SerenitysDancer · #3 06-09-2004, 05:34 PM

He shouldn't have a problem getting educational loans that are guaranteed and not guaranteed. As for the pell grant, it will ask if he ever was arrested or has a felony for a crime that is drug related. If it is, that may disqualify him for the pell grant, but there are other ways grants/loans that can help him pay for college.

In all regards its best to contact the financial aid office of the institution of learning he will be attending to get specific questions answered for your geographical location.

**justvicki** · #4 06-18-2004, 09:00 PM

Next month I will complete my Associate's degree in Business Administration and in September I will start classes for my Bachelor's. I was paroled in February 2003 after serving 4 years in West Virginia prisons. I was eligible for full Pell Grants and Staffford Loans. If someone really wants to go to school after incarceration, it can be done! Good luck!

lezlgcy13 · #5 11-15-2008, 03:32 PM

First things first; I was convicted on three counts for sale of marijuana. I want to go back to school but have many questions and I am just not sure where to look for the answers. Here are a couple questions right off the top; 1) I heard there was a grant for felons; can I still get it even if I have drug convictions? I was also told that you could still get loans as a felon if your convictions were not drug related, so that’s out. 2) Will I even be accepted into school? I know the University of NH has a no tolerance policy. If you are convicted of anything drug related while in school have to leave. Now that I am off probation and served my time am I going to get shot down right out of the gate? I should add that I am intending to go to school at University of Tenn. Knoxville, or somewhere in Tennessee. I thought I would mention it in case some of the laws are different. 3) What are my job options, some people have said "the world is my oyster" others have said I will wash dishes or maybe be lucky enough to do get a job in construction. I was wondering what jobs are off limits period. I had heard no law enforcement, no medical of any kind. I was told I couldn't even volunteer as an EMT in the town I currently live. 4) The career paths I am most interested in are; medicine, science, outdoor forestry and therapy. I was told that I would have no problem being a licensed alcohol and drug counselor. The problem with most of these career paths I am really interested in is they require some sort of certification which I may not be able to acquire because of my felonies. Even a massage therapist has to be all certified and official. I hope this makes sense to someone...any and all feedback is greatly appreciated, be it good or bad.

Thanks,
Leslie

deeone · #6 02-19-2009, 10:58 PM

You can get financial aid and pell grants. I am in Michigan going into my second year of college. I served five years for delivery of marajuana and cocaine. It did not disqualify me for the pell grants. It will disqualify you if you were convicted of a drug offense while you recieving financial aid. If you were not getting help for college when you got your drug cases then you are fine. Don't belive me just fill out the fafsa and answer yes to the drug question and answer the questions it will take you to. After that it will answer no to the drug question if your were not recieving financial aid at the time of your conviction. Hope this helps any further ex-cons/ex-felons with questions reguarding this matter. As i read before I started people say you won't get financial aid, I promise they are wrong. I am getting it.

fanicius · #7 08-19-2009, 05:42 PM

In 2003 I was convicted of a Felony 4 sex related offense, not required to register. I did 3 months of a 4 year sentence, was released on Judicial and served a total of 5 years of CC. All behind me now. I applied to a local private college. I had to be interviewed by the Dean of Students who then spoke with my former probation officer, but did get accepted. All colleges will have different policies and you may have to make your case. I found that this small private 4 year college in the community I grew up in was more receptive to me and was willing to provide a second chance. I qualified for Pell grant, a"College Grant", both subsidized and unsubsidized stafford loans. The Community Action Commission, at least in Ohio has a program called IDA where you attend money management and planning classes and put money away in a special protected savings account, earmarked for education, buying a home, etc., and for each dollar you save up to $480 annually, they will match it with $2. for a total savings of $1,440! The Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation may also be able to assist as mentioned previously in this thread.