College option to jail for lesser crimes
The "Future Forward" pilot, scheduled to begin in the spring with 10 to 15 students, is one of a growing number of alternative programs introduced by Williams to help those accused of lesser crimes turn their lives around.
The program is for defendants facing trials for nonviolent felonies, such as drug sales, forgery, car theft, and commercial burglary. No one previously convicted of a violent offense is eligible.
"We're going to give these people the opportunity," Williams said. "Instead of going to jail, go to college."
The effort is believed to be the first of its kind in the country, said Julius Lang, director of training and technical assistance at the Center for Court Innovation, a New York City nonprofit. He said he heard about the Philadelphia program at a national conference in Washington two weeks ago "and loved it."
"One of the major risk factors with reoffending is lack of employment . . . so focusing a program especially addressing that risk factor is just a smart thing to do," he said, "and to do it in a creative way where existing educational institutions like community colleges partner with the prosecutor's office and try to get potential employers to buy into this idea. This is what we need to see a lot more of in this country."
Williams, who said the idea came to him in the shower one day, wanted to give more Philadelphians a shot at higher education and at the same time keep their records clean and reduce recidivism.
Those eligible must be at least 24, have earned a high school diploma or GED, meet
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