Denial of Student Aid

Higher Education Act of 1998:  Individuals applying for federal student aid are asked if they have any convictions for drug offenses.  Those who either refuse to answer the question or do have drug convictions are denied student aid.

• 1 Conviction - Aid is denied for one year
• 2 Convictions - Aid is denied for two years
• 3+ Convictions - Lifetime ineligibility
  

Similarly to the denial of welfare benefits, no other convicted criminals are denied federal student aid.  This includes murders and rapists.

Since the question was added to student aid applications, 189,065 individuals have been denied federal student aid as a result of drug convictions.

• A study by the Government Accountability Office found no evidence that this served to deter drug usage. 
  

• They are more likely to have drug convictions as a result of the environments they live in.
• Getting federal student aid is imperative to their ability to be able to afford a college education.
• "By perpetuating the disadvantages of the ghetto, it perpetuates the conditions that foster addiction." (Davenport-Hines)