1. Aid
for
Students
with
Criminal
Convictions
By
David
Coolidge
October
28,
2013
The
US
Department
of
Education
has
a
message
for
all
students
with
criminal
convictions:
make
sure
you
understand
your
status,
and
don’t
assume
you
can’t
get
aid.
The
office
has
provided
a
handy
chart
here,
which
explains
what
sort
of
aid
you
can
get
based
on
your
situation,
and
what
your
difficulties
might
be.
Key
take
away
points:
 If
you
are
currently
incarcerated
in
an
institution
other
than
a
federal
or
state
institution,
you
can
get
a
Federal
Pell
Grant.
 Once
you
are
released,
most
eligibility
limitations
will
be
removed.
In
fact,
you
can
and
should
apply
for
aid
before
you’re
released
so
your
aid
is
processed
in
time
for
you
to
start
school.
 Even
if
you
are
ineligible
for
federal
aid,
you
should
complete
the
Free
Application
for
Federal
Student
Aid
because
most
schools
and
states
use
FAFSA
information
to
award
nonfederal
aid,
and
there’s
a
chance
you
might
be
able
to
get
some
of
those
funds.
 If
you’re
on
probation
or
parole
or
living
in
a
halfway
house,
you
might
be
eligible
for
federal
student
aid.
However,
if
you
were
convicted
of
a
drug-­‐
related
offense
or
if
you’re
subject
to
an
involuntary
civil
commitment
for
a
sexual
offense,
your
eligibility
could
be
limited.
 Your
eligibility
might
be
suspended
if
you
have
a
drug
conviction
while
receiving
federal
student
aids.
This
includes
grants,
loans,
and
work-­‐study.
However,
you
can
regain
eligibility
early
by
successfully
completing
an
approved
drug
rehabilitation
program,
or
by
passing
two
unannounced
drug
tests
administered
by
such
a
program.
If
you
regain
eligibility
during
the
award
year,
notify
your
financial
aid
office
immediately
so
you
can
receive
any
aid
you’re
eligible
for.