http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/12/12/the-ex-con-scholars-of-berkeley
MacFarquhar, Larissa "Building a Prison-to-School Pipeline" The New Yorker, 2016.

MacFarquhar discusses in the anecdotes of various ex-inmates now attending higher education following release a more optimistic side to the prospects of inmates, provided they are willing to work toward it. It also discusses the Underground Scholars, a group consisting of former incarcerated students currently in higher education, made to act as support. The stories of the former incarcerated share themes of struggles in their lives that lead them to prison sentences, and ultimately, through the draw of literature and education, chose to stay out of it and become something more substantial. As Danny Murillo and Steven Czifra, two of such inmates realized, it is indeed possible for someone with a criminal record to still be able to succeed in education, as long as they knew what they needed to do. The article also brings up a criticism of the system and the focus to challenge the system instead of accepting it. It appears MacFarquhar's attempt by writing this article is despite the negativity that stems involving current social problems, there is something some good within society as well, considering her background including writing concerning current US politics. Its publication within The New Yorker adds to the value as a different side to an issue that rarely is brought up in conventional reporting or medium.