Description
In American society, it is customary to assign incarcerated people to a lifetime of blame and condemnation for mistakes made in their past. Underneath the label of criminal, however, lies a person who society has all but forgotten and labeled a pariah, with the incorrect notion that those who spend time in prison are inherently bad people.
The Cornell University Parole Initiative (CUPI) seeks to rectify these notions by partnering incarcerated individuals in prisons with trained Cornell students who guide clients through the arduous and emotional parole preparation process. CUPI launched in 2021, where a team of 20 undergraduate students worked with seven individuals sentenced to life in prison. As of October 2026, CUPI has grown to 70 undergraduate students who currently support over 20 applicants. In the past six years, CUPI has helped secure the release of 42 individuals.
Cornell undergraduates are paired with currently incarcerated individuals serving life or lengthy sentences in New York State prisons. The undergraduates work on teams of three with the incarcerated individual to help them prepare for a parole hearing in the coming 8–10 months. The project focuses on relationship building first and critical advocacy and support second. The team ultimately prepares a parole packet that contains an advocacy letter, a personal statement, certificates, letters of support, a release plan, and much more. They also work extensively through visitation and phone communication on interview preparation for the applicant. CUPI's work is guided by the expertise and desires of the incarcerated applicant and their families.
CUPI's work doesn't end with a parole decision. In 2026, CUPI launched the Reentry Division to support our growing number of released applicants. The Reentry Division is a team of 12 students dedicated to supporting all of our released applicants. They conduct regular check-ins, and support with securing housing, interstate compact transfers (ICAOS), jobs and resume building, and anything else our applicants need during their reentry experience. Now, after a CUPI applicant is granted release, they immediately get in contact with the Reentry Division, who works to execute the release plan that is outlined in the parole packet.
As CUPI continues to expand, more and more incarcerated individuals have requested our help. The growth of this organization is instrumental in helping as many clients as we can, whether it be through parole preparation or reentry support. Both of these processes are costly. Among other things, expenses include emails, printing and mailing of supplies, visitations, reentry support, and care packages. Each packet costs hundreds of dollars to print and mail to the parole commissioners.
As a registered student organization, we are committed to equal access to all of our programs and do not discriminate based on any protected identity status.
$25
Reentry Guide
When applicants are released, they are given extremely little support by the state for finding the basic necessities like housing and employment. This money will be used to provide applicants with a comprehensive list of reentry resources and how to best utilize them, so that they know every option if there are unexpected wrinkles in achieving the reentry plan that we've secured for them.
$50
The Journey Home
When applicants get released, they are not provided a way home. Most applicants are released from prisons in Upstate New York, which can be more than 300 miles from their home in New York City. This money covers their journey home by allowing us to buy bus tickets for our applicants.
$100
First Days Home Kit
Applicants are released only with what they had on their backs when they got to prison. After decades in prison, they often lack even the most basic necessities upon their release. These kits will be assembled according to actual need and may include socks and basic clothing necessities, a duffel bag, hygiene products, a reusable water bottle, document storage, and seasonal essentials.
$200
One Parole Application
CUPI's most significant contribution to our applicants is writing and compiling a Parole Packet: a document which captures their entire life, from the crime of conviction to their rehabilitative journey, while making the case for their freedom. It is often the most important factor in deciding whether our applicants go home. With $200, we are able to send one applicant's Parole Packet to the Parole Board. If you make this contribution, we will provide information on the person that you supported and update you on their parole status.
$600
Remaining 2026 Parole Apps
This money would cover the parole packets for all of our remaining applicants in 2026. If you make this contribution, we will provide information on each person that you supported and update you on their parole status.
$1,000
Rebuilding 5+ Lives
A complete reentry package for an applicant—everything they need to go from nothing but shelter to having a fighting chance—can be as cheap as $200. With this contribution, you can help rebuild 5+ lives of applicants who have been released. If you make this contribution, we will send you information on each person that you are supporting and how your contributions have given them a chance to get their life back on track.
$2,500
1 Year of Parole Applications
With this money, we could pay for every parole packet for the next 12 months—13 applicants, and with your help, 13 chances to go home. If you contribute to this level, we will inform you about who these 13 applicants are and provide updates on their parole and reentry statuses.