General Discussion

Jilly_in_VA

(9,984 posts) Tue Apr 16, 2024, 04:47 PM Apr 16

Man who received college degree while incarcerated accepted into law school

Benard McKinley is going to one of the most prestigious law schools in the United States, just four months after he became a free man.

At 16, McKinley was arrested for a gang-related murder, and at 19 years old was sentenced to 100 years in prison. As he was being taken to a maximum security prison to serve his sentence, he made himself a promise.

"I promised myself before I got out of that bus that no matter what the outcome was that, you know, I was just going to try to do better for myself," McKinley, who said he takes full responsibility the mistakes he made at 16, told ABC News. "I knew that I wanted to better myself, and I did that."

McKinley will join the Northwestern Law School class of 2027 when he starts law school this fall at 39 years old

After seeing the financial stress that legal fees were placing on his family, McKinley decided to learn the law and represented himself pro se after obtaining his General Educational Development diploma, or GED, while incarcerated. He also helped those who lacked access or resources to legal aid.

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Living/man-received-college-degree-incarcerated-accepted-law-school/story?id=109254387

Kudos to him! More incarcerated people could do similar if given the chance.

12 replies

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Highlight:

Man who received college degree while incarcerated accepted into law school (Original Post) Jilly_in_VA Apr 16 OP

K & R...................................... Lovie777 Apr 16 #1

This seems like a great example of someone pulling themselves up by their bootstraps. LonePirate Apr 16 #2

Really nice to see - wish him well in law school! K&R nt TBF Apr 16 #3

Brilliant guy, poor and likely the "wrong" skin color, given no chances outside prison Warpy Apr 16 #4

I have a feeling that he will do very good work GenThePerservering Apr 16 #5

Brother Enola Apr 16 #6

Excellent. Johnny2X2X Apr 16 #7

Need more like him republianmushroom Apr 16 #8

Not much information about why his sentence was reduced from 100 years to 25. SYFROYH Apr 16 #9

And you care Jilly_in_VA Apr 17 #10

I care because its a big part of his story. SYFROYH Apr 17 #11

Swapping one prison for another. Paladin Apr 17 #12

Lovie777

(12,295 posts)

1. K & R......................................

Reply to Jilly_in_VA (Original post)

Tue Apr 16, 2024, 04:53 PM

Apr 16

LonePirate

(13,426 posts)

2. This seems like a great example of someone pulling themselves up by their bootstraps.

Reply to Jilly_in_VA (Original post)

Tue Apr 16, 2024, 04:56 PM

Apr 16

Given how Republicans are always crowing about more people needing to do that, they will be pleased as punch by his efforts, won’t they?

TBF

(32,071 posts)

3. Really nice to see - wish him well in law school! K&R nt

Reply to Jilly_in_VA (Original post)

Tue Apr 16, 2024, 05:05 PM

Apr 16

Warpy

(111,288 posts)

4. Brilliant guy, poor and likely the "wrong" skin color, given no chances outside prison

Reply to Jilly_in_VA (Original post)

Tue Apr 16, 2024, 07:22 PM

Apr 16

Not sure he shoul why he got such a massive sentence. Some punks grow out of it, some don't (see:TFG) and it's above my pay grade to know which one this guy is.

Congratulations to him, anyway, he's worked hard if he got into Northwestern.

A fully qualified jailhouse attorney would be a blessing to inmates who are poor and black and got railroaded by sloppy cops and crooked DAs and we all know they're in there along with the bad guys.

GenThePerservering

(1,824 posts)

5. I have a feeling that he will do very good work

Reply to Jilly_in_VA (Original post)

Tue Apr 16, 2024, 07:33 PM

Apr 16

...or rather continue to do very good work as a lawyer.

Enola

(12 posts)

6. Brother

Reply to Jilly_in_VA (Original post)

Tue Apr 16, 2024, 08:50 PM

Apr 16

My older brother goes to a prison every week to teach, encourage, and council inmates about changing their lives for the better, no matter what they're in for. He and the other men he works with have helped so many to turn their attitudes and thinking around in order to serve others as they serve time. They are changing lives which otherwise would be spent in bitterness and anger.

Johnny2X2X

(19,074 posts)

7. Excellent.

Reply to Jilly_in_VA (Original post)

Tue Apr 16, 2024, 08:55 PM

Apr 16

Have an old friend who went to the federal penitentiary for almost a decade and got his degree while inside. Made a really good life for himself after he got out. Wife stayed with him for his entire ordeal and they now have two great daughters.

FWIW, he went to prison for selling LSD which should 100% be legal.

republianmushroom

(13,623 posts)

8. Need more like him

Reply to Jilly_in_VA (Original post)

Tue Apr 16, 2024, 09:15 PM

Apr 16

SYFROYH

(34,174 posts)

9. Not much information about why his sentence was reduced from 100 years to 25.

Reply to Jilly_in_VA (Original post)

Tue Apr 16, 2024, 09:24 PM

Apr 16

Or any information about the murder or his remorse or regret.

Probably doesn't matter.

Jilly_in_VA

(9,984 posts)

10. And you care

Reply to SYFROYH (Reply #9)

Wed Apr 17, 2024, 12:13 PM

Apr 17

exactly why? Maybe it's because of his behavior while earning his undergraduate degree. Try reading between the lines. Sometimes that helps.

SYFROYH

(34,174 posts)

11. I care because its a big part of his story.

Reply to Jilly_in_VA (Reply #10)

Wed Apr 17, 2024, 01:08 PM

Apr 17

A sentence reduction of 100 to 25 years is a big deal and usually happens because of an error -- not good behavior.

So no, I not sure reading between the lines would help in this case.

Paladin

(28,266 posts)

12. Swapping one prison for another.

Reply to Jilly_in_VA (Original post)

Wed Apr 17, 2024, 01:13 PM

Apr 17

Best of luck to him in law school, nonetheless.

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