Alison.com, one of the largest free-to-use online learning and self-empowerment platforms, is helping to ensure that crime and justice-oriented rehabilitation becomes the national norm. Evidence shows that offender rehabilitation reduces crime levels more than punishment alone. Alison is working with the US Court Service to ensure outcomes are improved for minor offenders.

Alison is encouraging all states to consider alternative sentencing, which does not involve incarceration. This mitigates overcrowding in prisons at a lower cost than expanding capacity and provides more latitude to ensure the punishment fits the crime. Although it is accepted that education is far more useful in the rehabilitation of those who commit minor offences, the cost of this education has to be considered before this kind of sentence can be delivered. Alison provides this opportunity completely free-of-charge, with CEO, Mike Feerick, believing that free education for all is the solution to such long-standing problems.

Dylan Lewis, a 22-year-old drug-offender was released from the threat of incarceration, having to complete two free business courses on the Alison online learning platform. Lewis, the first to be given such sentencing in the US, completed the courses through home study and at a Board of Cooperative Educational Services facility where he took the course tests.

Judge William J. Watson, the judge on Lewis’ case comments:

“If we are to seriously consider how we can help young men and women not to re-offend, we must look to remedies that change minds, not just physical circumstances. Free online learning offers an instrument unavailable to courts to date and it must be explored.”

This initiative forms part of Alison’s social support programmes. Read more about how Alison is empowering marginalised communities: www.alison.com/programmes.

ENDS

Further Information

For further information please contact the Alison press office via email: [email protected].