Elisabeth Santiago

Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison

We envision lives that are transformed with the help of education in order to break the cycle of crime and poverty. To make this vision a reality, Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison provides college education, life skills and re-entry support to currently and formerly incarcerated people so they can make a positive impact on their own lives, their families and communities, resulting in lower rates of recidivism, incarceration and poverty. In 1995 college degree programs at Sing Sing Correctional Facility and other New York State Prisons were terminated when state and federal governments withdrew financial support. In 1998, aware of the devestating effect this would have on prison morale, Hudson Link for Higher Education was formed to fill this incredible need. In 2001 seventeen men at Sing Sing graduated from the Hudson Link program with a Bachelor's degree. Today: Hudson Link has granted over 750 degrees and over 1400 of our alumni have been released and are leading productive lives in their communities and with their families. We currently sponsor college credit-bearing and college-degree granting programs in Sing Sing, Sullivan, Greene, Green Haven, Shawangunk, and Taconic Correctional Facilities, in partnership with nine local colleges.