Amid Calls for Massachusetts to Prioritize Prison Education, MET Head Outlines Obstacles

For over 50 years, BU MET has given incarcerated individuals in the Massachusetts prison system the opportunity to pursue personal growth via higher education through its Prison Education Program. Now, a diverse cohort of nonprofit leaders and correctional specialists have called on the incoming administration of Massachusetts Governor-elect Maura Healey to commit to expanding and prioritizing programs of this kind.

Published by The Boston Foundation, “Unlocking College: Strengthening Massachusetts’ Commitment to College in Prison” outlines the numerous benefits of educating the imprisoned. Retired MET professor of criminal justice Dr. Mary Ellen Mastrorilli, who for years headed the BU Prison Education Program, recently spoke with WGBH about the report, offering insights into the practical challenges of teaching within the confines of the penal system.