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The Alliance is excited to announce the launch of our 2025 Cohort program, designed to empower prison education programs to integrate remote work-based learning (WBL) into curricula. Over the course of a year, cohort members will gain access to the tools, knowledge, and strategies needed to implement WBL within their PEPs, contributing to an emerging practice that is redefining the landscape of education in the carceral space.
The Alliance is excited to announce the launch of our 2025 Cohort program, designed to empower prison education programs to integrate remote work-based learning (WBL) into curricula. Over the course of a year, cohort members will gain access to the tools, knowledge, and strategies needed to implement WBL within their PEPs, contributing to an emerging practice that is redefining the landscape of education in the carceral space.
Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Brown was an aspiring teacher and mother to a young son when she entered the prison system over 20 years ago. After being sentenced, Brown immediately began to think about and explore opportunities for self-improvement as she looked ahead to a future beyond the prison walls.
Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Brown was an aspiring teacher and mother to a young son when she entered the prison system over 20 years ago. After being sentenced, Brown immediately began to think about and explore opportunities for self-improvement as she looked ahead to a future beyond the prison walls.
By extending admissions to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students, HBCUs are not only making college more accessible; they are also enacting education as a tool for Black liberation. These are the programs powering the "prison-to-college" pipeline.
By extending admissions to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students, HBCUs are not only making college more accessible; they are also enacting education as a tool for Black liberation. These are the programs powering the "prison-to-college" pipeline.
Originally airing in 2019, College Behind Bars, is an Emmy-nominated, four-part documentary about the transformative power of education.
Originally airing in 2019, College Behind Bars, is an Emmy-nominated, four-part documentary about the transformative power of education.
Notre Dame Programs for Education in Prison (NDPEP) hosted a panel discussion with stakeholders to discuss collaboration on higher education in prison programs, career development, and reentry support.
Notre Dame Programs for Education in Prison (NDPEP) hosted a panel discussion with stakeholders to discuss collaboration on higher education in prison programs, career development, and reentry support.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reviewed the Department of Education's (ED) new rule entitled "Pell Grants for Prison Education Programs; Determining the Amount of Federal Education Assistance Funds Received by Institutions of Higher Education (90/10); Change in Ownership and Change in Control."
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reviewed the Department of Education's (ED) new rule entitled "Pell Grants for Prison Education Programs; Determining the Amount of Federal Education Assistance Funds Received by Institutions of Higher Education (90/10); Change in Ownership and Change in Control."
More than half a million people could benefit from the reinstatement of the Pell Grant for incarcerated students in July, and efforts are underway to start college-in-prison programs for this group.
More than half a million people could benefit from the reinstatement of the Pell Grant for incarcerated students in July, and efforts are underway to start college-in-prison programs for this group.
This article is part of Community Strategies for Systemic Change, an ongoing series co-produced by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and NPQ. In the series, urban and rural grassroots leaders from across the United States share how their communities are developing and implementing strategies—grounded in local places, cultures, and histories—to shift power and achieve systemic change.
This article is part of Community Strategies for Systemic Change, an ongoing series co-produced by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and NPQ. In the series, urban and rural grassroots leaders from across the United States share how their communities are developing and implementing strategies—grounded in local places, cultures, and histories—to shift power and achieve systemic change.
"The concept of “viral justice” offers a fresh orientation, a way of looking at (or looking again) at all the ways people are working, little by little, day by day, to combat unjust systems and build alternatives to the oppressive status quo...
"The concept of “viral justice” offers a fresh orientation, a way of looking at (or looking again) at all the ways people are working, little by little, day by day, to combat unjust systems and build alternatives to the oppressive status quo...
Exploring the Experiences of Second Chance Pell is a mixed methods research study examining the implementation and facilitation of the Second Chance Pell Experiment, originally launched in 2015.
Exploring the Experiences of Second Chance Pell is a mixed methods research study examining the implementation and facilitation of the Second Chance Pell Experiment, originally launched in 2015.
Collateral consequences are scattered throughout state and federal statutory and regulatory codes and can be unknown even to those responsible for their administration and enforcement. There is often a lack of coordination in different sections of state and federal codes, which makes it difficult to identify all of the penalties and disabilities that may be triggered by a particular conviction.
Collateral consequences are scattered throughout state and federal statutory and regulatory codes and can be unknown even to those responsible for their administration and enforcement. There is often a lack of coordination in different sections of state and federal codes, which makes it difficult to identify all of the penalties and disabilities that may be triggered by a particular conviction.
View the 2021-2022 Annual Report
View the 2021-2022 Annual Report
New juvenile justice analysis reveals the system’s unequal and limited use of diversion from court involvement, particularly for Black youth.
New juvenile justice analysis reveals the system’s unequal and limited use of diversion from court involvement, particularly for Black youth.
This new report supports ensuring all currently and formerly incarcerated persons have an equal opportunity to succeed as students and individuals.
This new report supports ensuring all currently and formerly incarcerated persons have an equal opportunity to succeed as students and individuals.
Ross threw himself into learning everything he could about the role of postsecondary education in the lives of incarcerated people. He also started talking to anyone who would listen about the program’s potential. One of those listeners was Sen. Norman Sanderson, R-Carteret, Craven, and Pamlico.
Ross threw himself into learning everything he could about the role of postsecondary education in the lives of incarcerated people. He also started talking to anyone who would listen about the program’s potential. One of those listeners was Sen. Norman Sanderson, R-Carteret, Craven, and Pamlico.
Yesterday, the Biden administration took a bold first step to tackling the $1.7 trillion student debt crisis in this country by providing limited student debt cancellation. Already, borrowers and advocates are asking important questions for clarity on process and eligibility.
Yesterday, the Biden administration took a bold first step to tackling the $1.7 trillion student debt crisis in this country by providing limited student debt cancellation. Already, borrowers and advocates are asking important questions for clarity on process and eligibility.
Outside of the “fresh start” policy, there are two ways people who have defaulted can restore their Pell eligibility. They can pay off the balance in its entirety, which can be a daunting prospect as more than 40 percent of borrowers in default owe at least $20,000. The Education Department has also established a process called rehabilitation that allows people to make nine consecutive monthly payments of at least $5.
Outside of the “fresh start” policy, there are two ways people who have defaulted can restore their Pell eligibility. They can pay off the balance in its entirety, which can be a daunting prospect as more than 40 percent of borrowers in default owe at least $20,000. The Education Department has also established a process called rehabilitation that allows people to make nine consecutive monthly payments of at least $5.
To honor Kathy's vision and ensure her legacy lives on, the Center for Justice has created the Kathy Boudin Freedom Fund to support leadership, scholarship and movement building among formerly and currently incarcerated, and directly impacted people.
To honor Kathy's vision and ensure her legacy lives on, the Center for Justice has created the Kathy Boudin Freedom Fund to support leadership, scholarship and movement building among formerly and currently incarcerated, and directly impacted people.
We are excited to announce the launch of a new survey on the landscape of technology access in higher education in prison programs. This survey is a part of Ithaka S+R’s larger work on access to information for incarcerated students and the role of media review in higher education in prisons.
We are excited to announce the launch of a new survey on the landscape of technology access in higher education in prison programs. This survey is a part of Ithaka S+R’s larger work on access to information for incarcerated students and the role of media review in higher education in prisons.
For the first time in nearly three decades, all academically eligible incarcerated people—regardless of sentence length or offense—will soon be able to apply for federal aid for the 2023-2024 academic year.
For the first time in nearly three decades, all academically eligible incarcerated people—regardless of sentence length or offense—will soon be able to apply for federal aid for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Student parents are working hard and making sacrifices to secure a better future for themselves and their children. Surely we can make it easier for them to succeed.
Student parents are working hard and making sacrifices to secure a better future for themselves and their children. Surely we can make it easier for them to succeed.
The House of Delegates took aim at mass incarceration in two separate resolutions at the American Bar Association Annual Meeting in Chicago on Monday.
The House of Delegates took aim at mass incarceration in two separate resolutions at the American Bar Association Annual Meeting in Chicago on Monday.
Read the Sentencing Project's 2022 Report: “Incarcerated Women and Girls”
Read the Sentencing Project's 2022 Report: “Incarcerated Women and Girls”
PJP’s Navigator is a new database that provides tools, resources, and unique insights aimed at spurring greater collaboration between external media outlets and incarcerated writers.
PJP’s Navigator is a new database that provides tools, resources, and unique insights aimed at spurring greater collaboration between external media outlets and incarcerated writers.
The U.S. Department of Education Announces Expansion of Second Chance Pell Experiment and Actions to Help Incarcerated Individuals Resume Educational Pathways.
The U.S. Department of Education Announces Expansion of Second Chance Pell Experiment and Actions to Help Incarcerated Individuals Resume Educational Pathways.
“Beyond Pell: Addressing Persistent Funding Challenges in Higher Education in Prison Toward Racial and Economic Justice” is the latest report from the Higher Education in Prison Landscape Project Team. The report outlines the potential impacts of Pell restoration on the field of higher education in prison and the analysis focuses on persistent funding challenges that the Pell grant alone cannot address.
“Beyond Pell: Addressing Persistent Funding Challenges in Higher Education in Prison Toward Racial and Economic Justice” is the latest report from the Higher Education in Prison Landscape Project Team. The report outlines the potential impacts of Pell restoration on the field of higher education in prison and the analysis focuses on persistent funding challenges that the Pell grant alone cannot address.
This report pieces together the most recent national data on state prisons, federal prisons, local jails, and other systems of confinement to provide a snapshot of mass incarceration in the United States. Since we decided not to do a Whole Pie report in 2021 (due to pandemic-related delays in government data), this new edition offers the most comprehensive view of mass incarceration since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
This report pieces together the most recent national data on state prisons, federal prisons, local jails, and other systems of confinement to provide a snapshot of mass incarceration in the United States. Since we decided not to do a Whole Pie report in 2021 (due to pandemic-related delays in government data), this new edition offers the most comprehensive view of mass incarceration since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
The Education Trust's Justice Fellows Policy Program has produced a toolkit identifying several unjust barriers that keep incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals from accessing a higher education and benefiting from it and participating fully in society.
The Education Trust's Justice Fellows Policy Program has produced a toolkit identifying several unjust barriers that keep incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals from accessing a higher education and benefiting from it and participating fully in society.
The Alabama Prison Arts + Education Project newsletter, The Warbler, is available to anyone interested in being on their weekly distribution list and/or to receive copies to distribute to current students.
The Alabama Prison Arts + Education Project newsletter, The Warbler, is available to anyone interested in being on their weekly distribution list and/or to receive copies to distribute to current students.
Listen to the New Podcast “On The Tier” produced by the UC Underground Scholars program.
Listen to the New Podcast “On The Tier” produced by the UC Underground Scholars program.
The book, “The Sentences That Create Us”, features original pieces from Dwayne Betts, Mitch Jackson, Luis J. Rodriguez, Alejo Rodriguez (Zealous), and Vivian D. Nixon. With the support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation PEN America is giving away 75,000 copies to incarcerated people. We encourage readers to also submit a request to send a free book to a person who is currently incarcerated. Details available in the link included.
The book, “The Sentences That Create Us”, features original pieces from Dwayne Betts, Mitch Jackson, Luis J. Rodriguez, Alejo Rodriguez (Zealous), and Vivian D. Nixon. With the support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation PEN America is giving away 75,000 copies to incarcerated people. We encourage readers to also submit a request to send a free book to a person who is currently incarcerated. Details available in the link included.
With COVID still running rampant in our country, we encourage you to read this article about COVID-19 in the Texas State Prison System, published in the Journal of Urban Health (2021).
With COVID still running rampant in our country, we encourage you to read this article about COVID-19 in the Texas State Prison System, published in the Journal of Urban Health (2021).
The webinar “Mass Incarceration is a Feminist Struggle: Voices of Formerly Incarcerated Women” centers on the voices and experiences of incarcerated women and their work to build communities free of mass incarceration. As society pushes for an end to mass incarceration, what do we want a future society to remember about the abolitionist efforts of today? Watch a recording of this panel discussion to learn more.
The webinar “Mass Incarceration is a Feminist Struggle: Voices of Formerly Incarcerated Women” centers on the voices and experiences of incarcerated women and their work to build communities free of mass incarceration. As society pushes for an end to mass incarceration, what do we want a future society to remember about the abolitionist efforts of today? Watch a recording of this panel discussion to learn more.
The Landscape of Higher Education in Prison report provides a descriptive overview of the field of higher education in prison during the 2019-2020 academic year.
The Landscape of Higher Education in Prison report provides a descriptive overview of the field of higher education in prison during the 2019-2020 academic year.
