After spending nearly half his life in prison for a crime he didn?t commit, a former Peekskill resident is getting a second chance to learn.

Jeffery Deskovic was only 17 when he was convicted of the rape and murder of 15-year-old Angela Correa. His conviction was based in large part to a false confession given to Peekskill police. DNA technology exonerated him almost 16 years later. However, his transition to the outside world has been difficult for Deskovic. The staff at Mercy College?s Manhattan campus wants to make the transition easier. After hearing of his plight, the college opened its doors and offered Deskovic a free education and free housing in Ardsley.

Deskovic earned an associate?s degree in prison and only needs 10 classes to complete his Bachelor of Arts in psychology. He is taking two classes at the college, one of which is a course studying the issues surrounding the death penalty. Deskovic is also taking two classes online. He says his next step is law school.

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