A panel discussion that illuminates the transformative power of education as a prophylactic measure to reduce recidivism rates, restore human dignity and empower individuals to contribute to the preservation and enhancement of their communities. Educators examine the devastating effects of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, colloquially known as the 1994 Crime Bill, that prohibited access to Pell Grants for incarcerated students as part of an effort to propagate “tough on crime” policies. Albeit the decision repealed the 1965 Higher Education Act that democratized access to higher education, the 2015 Second Chance Pell (SCP) Experimental Sites Initiative reinstated access and set the precedence for the restoration of Pell Grants in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.