What is the importance of Pell Grants in the collection, Doing Time: 25 Years of Prison Writing-a PEN American Center Prize Anthology?

Jon Marc Taylor wrote "Pell Grants for Prisoners." A brief history of the college programs for prisoners was given. It started with the University of Southern Illinois in 1953. Due to a lack in funding, Congress passed Title IV in 1965 that helped with finances. Educational programs had a calming effect on the inmates and some became positive role models. Other positive effects were drops in recidivism rates and success stories of graduates that included a physician, a VP, personnel directors, and teachers.

The author argued against the 1991 Helms Amendment 938 by stating that the inmates received a very small proportion of the Pell Grants and that they were not well off before their incarceration. He further disputed more false statistics that formed the 1992 Coleman-Gordon Amendment. The author listed several disturbed groups that supported funding, such as Educators for Social Responsibility and Literacy Volunteers, along with inmate students. Congress was lobbied for funding by these many organizations.

"His essay, 'Pell Grants for Prisoners,' won the National/I.F.Stone and Robert F. Kennedy Student Journalism Awards in 1993." (355)