Benard McKinley was arrested for a gang-related murder and at 19 was sentenced to 100 years in prison. He made a promise to himself as he was entering Menard Correctional Center that he would become a better person despite what his situation looked like.
First thing he did was take classes in order to get his GED. Then he started studying the law. He successfully argued on his own behalf and had his sentence reduced from 100 to 25 years.
While still serving his sentence Bernard graduated from Northwestern University with an online degree. He was released 5 years early for good behavior from Menard last December. He's now 40 and scheduled to graduate law school in 2 years.
Bernard is the first graduate of Northwestern's Prison Education Program to be accepted into a law school. He plans to open a law clinic after earning his law degree. Bernard says there were many times his reality should have been enough to give up. "I'm a convicted murderer, no one outside of prison will ever want anything to do with me. What difference does it make I'll be over 100 when I get out. I read at a 3rd grade level and I'm a grown man. There's no way to go to college. There's no way to go to law school.
Despite all the challenges he’s faced, McKinley's determination and dedication have led him to achieve his goal of attending law school and making a positive contribution to society.