Representative Ric Keller (R-Florida) introduced new legislation which was recently passed that bans Pell Grants from convicted sex offenders. This doesn't mean all sex offenders, just those who are residents of civil-commitment centers. So what is a civil-commitment center? These are centers where convicted sex offenders reside after being released from prison. It is for those offenders who are deemed a threat to society and cannot be released, but have served their prison sentence.
In 1994, Congress banned federal financial aid for convicted felons in prison, but at that time civil-commitment centers were just emerging and not addressed in legislation. Since the 1990's, over 20 states have built these civil-commitment centers. One man has received $15,000 in Pell Grants since 1999, and is still locked up. At another center, 153 residents took correspondence courses, with 125 of them receiving Pell Grants (Norton, 2008).
There is much debate over whether the legislation banning Pell Grants should be implemented. Some centers promote rehabilitation to enable offenders to re-enter society, while others simply want to contain the residents. Those promoting rehabilitation say the ban on Pell Grants impedes the offender's chance to get an education and be a productive citizen, if released. Keller's viewpoint is the opposite. He feels that rapists and child molesters should not have access to free money when so many low-income students struggle to get financial aid.
So where should the line be drawn? I see this as a moral issue as well as political. If a sex offender is going through rehabilitation and likely to re-enter society as a functional citizen, should he or she be denied federal financial aid for an education? Should these offenders be allowed to received federal Pell Grants at the expense of taxpaying citizens? While low- and middle-class students struggle to pay for college? Since legislation has already passed, this is just food for thought.
Norton, Ingrid. (2008). Congress Bans Pell Grants for Sex Offenders. Chronicle of Higher Education, online.