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DOC Cuts College Degree Grants For Indiana Inmates

Last updated on Tuesday, June 26, 2012

(INDIANAPOLIS) - Indiana inmates will no longer be able to earn college degrees while incarcerated.

In a budget cutting move, the state's Department of Corrections has phased out college degree grants.

Earning degrees behind bars allows many inmates to shave years off their sentences. That's what happened with convicted sex offender Christopher Wheat.

A Fox59 investigation uncovered a loop hole in the law where Wheat was able to serve less than two years of an eight year sentence after being convicted of molesting a 14-year-old girl.

Lawmakers are now working to introduce legislation next session to close that loop hole in state law.

Meanwhile, the DOC is trying to figure out how or whether they should replace the degree program.

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