George Chochos

George Chochos went to prison at 26 and spent the next 11 and a half years in New York’s Department of Corrections. Upon entering, he never imagined the intentional dehumanization embedded in the very structure of prison. George says, “Prisons were built with the logic of cramming the most people into minimal space. Everything about prison is a constant reminder about your subhuman status: from the bars, clothing, and food—all aspects of human life.” Throughout his time in prison, George says his biggest struggle was “hold[ing] on for dear life to his humanity and not let[ting] prison culture shape his identity.”

When asked  what he meant by this, George responded, “there is a process whereby you lose your identity and get reduced to something non-human, as your number replaces your name. So, the status of ‘inmate’ can dangerously become who you are.” George adds that “interactions inside don’t correlate with how interactions are structured in society. There needs to be a space or time in prison for interactions that affirm human dignity.” This space and time, according to George, should involve volunteers such as college professors who do not have the state or institution’s interest at the center of the interaction. 

As a graduate of Bard College’s Prison Initiative, George was able to have these social interactions with college professors that ultimately led to him flourishing in society – as the Senior Government Affairs Associate at the Vera Institute of Justice, a graduate of Yale Divinity School, and a Healy Fellow PhD student at Georgetown University. Through Bard College, George was able to seek higher education in a way that showcased his brilliance and determination.