FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 2025
RICHMOND, Va. – Legislation that won overwhelming bipartisan support in Virginia’s House and Senate to strengthen education programs in state prisons is now headed to Governor Youngkin’s desk.
House Bill 2158 sponsored by Del. Betsy B. Carr (D-Richmond) and Del. Carrie Coyner (R-Chester) aims to enhance educational pathways for Virginians who are incarcerated by focusing on basic literacy, GED completion and expanded access to college degree programs.
Leaders with the Virginia Consensus for Higher Education in Prison advocated for passage of the bill during the 2025 legislative session. An initiative of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, the Virginia Consensus brings together higher education, government and faith stakeholders, side by side with Virginians who have experienced justice system-involvement, to expand access to higher education in prison.
Virginia currently offers higher education programs in 13 of its 45 state prisons through partnerships with four community colleges, including Danville Community College, Southside Virginia Community College, Piedmont Virginia Community College and Rappahannock Community College, as well as four-year school, Virginia Wesleyan University.
Incarcerated students in prison higher education programs commonly utilize Pell grants, a federal student aid program for people with lower incomes, available to students who are incarcerated or on traditional college campuses.
“We’re thankful for the leadership of Delegates Carr and Coyner and the robust bipartisan support the bill received from Virginia lawmakers,” said Terri Erwin, Virginia Consensus director. “Higher education in prison can generate extraordinary outcomes, for individuals and the commonwealth, like reducing recidivism and creating the opportunity for more Virginians to realize their full potential. Increasing college prison programs would also give Virginia businesses a larger talent pool for jobs with high demand skills.”
HB 2158 establishes partnerships between the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), the Virginia Department of Corrections, Virginia Works and the Virginia Information Technologies Agency to develop a plan to strengthen the full educational trajectory for incarcerated learners, including basic literacy, GED completion and college degrees.
“We fully support this important legislation and look forward to advancing the partnership,” said VCCS Chancellor David Doré. “We know higher education in prison can be life changing for learners. This is an exciting opportunity to expand our programming and prepare more students for the workforce”
Leaders with the Virginia Consensus are also partnering with the business community to highlight the benefits of hiring formerly incarcerated individuals, commonly referred to as “second chance hiring.”
According to state data, about 10,000 people are released from Virginia prisons every year. A Prison Policy Initiative analysis estimates that 27% of formerly incarcerated people are unemployed due to a variety of historically unchallenged exclusionary policies and practices. This is changing nationally, however, as key employers, industries and governmental leaders realize the benefits of reducing systemic barriers to maximize labor market participation.
Virginia Consensus points to increasing access to college degree programs in prison as an important tool for strategically preparing individuals returning from incarceration to expand options for higher-skilled roles in companies offering benefits and employee development opportunities. To the benefit of employers, research shows that second-chance hires become more committed employees, who exhibit reduced job turnover, better work attendance and greater job loyalty, as compared to peers without justice-system involvement.
Virginia Consensus is focused on aligning college programs with local workforce needs and state and regional economic development ambitions to maximize outcomes for employers and the formerly incarcerated people.
Consensus Director Erwin says higher education in prison bolsters businesses and society at large, “When formerly incarcerated people are connected to quality job pathways, it helps them achieve socioeconomic mobility and increases their capacity to support their families and contribute to their communities. When employers find well-prepared, loyal employees to fill in-demand positions, it supports business growth.”
“Educational opportunity for incarcerated individuals is a difference-maker, opening the door to meaningful employment and economic mobility,” said Kenneth Hunter, Virginia Consensus organizer. “This legislation gives us the opportunity to positively impact families and communities for generations to come.”
Last year, Governor Youngkin signed Executive Order 36, titled Stand Tall – Stay Strong – Succeed Together. The Order is focused on successful reintegration of Virginians returning from incarceration, with important elements addressing state agency collaborations in pre-release education and career readiness.
Executive Order 36 set a foundation for HB 2158, which should reach the Governor’s desk in the next few weeks. Virginia Consensus leaders are hopeful he will sign this important legislation before the March 24 deadline.
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Terri Erwin, PhD, Virginia Consensus Director, Terri@virginiainterfaithcenter.org
Roberta Oster, Communications Director, Roberta@virginiainterfaithcenter.org
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The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy is a multi-faith, nonprofit, non-partisan organization with a statewide base that includes over 20,000 people of faith and good will in every legislative district in Virginia, working together with hope for
and focus on a more just society.
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