Illinois could save millions of dollars on incarceration costs if the federal ban on Pell Grants for inmates was lifted, according to a new report from the Vera Institute of Justice.

A new program from the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission has set some ambitious goals to cut recidivism and boost educational attainment and employment rates over the next three years for 18 to 24 year olds who have had some contact with the justice system. The initiative is called the Young Adult Reentry Program (YARP).

Perry Cline’s story is a remarkable one. He’s a formerly incarcerated 51-year-old man who overcame the odds to graduate from the University of Illinois last month.

Like many people coming out of prison, Perry Cline never thought he’d get a college degree.

Last year, the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) spent $276 on books for its educational programming across 28 correctional facilities, according to data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. In the early 2000s, however, the state prison system spent roughly $750,000 each year on books. The dramatic decrease in funding stands in contrast to research that shows educational programming for inmates can significantly impact recidivism rates. Prison librarians, academics and a former Illinois inmate all agree that prison libraries play an important role in that work.