Resource Community Higher Education in Prison

Final report to the U.S. Attorney General summarizing the findings from RAND's literature review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness of correctional education programs for incarcerated adults. It also includes a systematic review of correctional education programs for juveniles; the results of a national survey of state correctional education directors, including an up-to-date picture of what the field of correctional education looks today in the U.S. and explores the use of computer technology, preparations for the 2014 GED program, and the impact of the 2008 recession; and a set of recommendations on improvements needed to further the field of correctional education.

This article outlines current research, and some initial interventions, on equitable practices that ensure incarcerated students with disabilities have access to postsecondary education.

Announcement of ITHAKA's new online forum.

On September 29, 2023, Ithaka S+R hosted a webinar, “Pell 101: Information for Librarians and Those Serving People in Prison,” to share information about the restoration of Pell funding for students who are incarcerated. Panelists included prison education journalist and Open Campus reporter Charlotte West, Vera Institute of Justice Associate Initiative Director Ruth Delaney, and NASFAA Education Specialist Sheila Meiman. The webinar recording, along with additional resources, are shared here.

On September 29, 2023, Ithaka S+R hosted a webinar, “Pell 101: Information for Librarians and Those Serving People in Prison,” to share information about the restoration of Pell funding for students who are incarcerated. Panelists included prison education journalist and Open Campus reporter Charlotte West, Vera Institute of Justice Associate Initiative Director Ruth Delaney, and NASFAA Education Specialist Sheila Meiman. The webinar recording, along with additional resources, are shared here.

An interview with Dr. Jenifer K. Montag, director of disability services at Marion Technical College, about her work as a researcher-practitioner, the challenges of providing disability services to postsecondary students in prison, and what needs to change for equitable access to education inside.

This report summarizes the results of a scan of media review directives from all 50 states and the District of Columbia for their respective state departments of corrections.

Blog post detailing how DOC education leadership and staff were planning to respond to the restoration of Pell grants for incarcerated college students.

Ithaka S+R’s letter to the Department of Education outlines their concerns and provides recommendations that would help ensure that people who are incarcerated in the United States are provided the opportunity to participate in and benefit from a quality education.

This timely manual presents a new perspective on teaching and learning focused on countering the impacts of trauma on adults’ ability to learn. Within its detailed and useful approaches, Daniels provides a road map for building a trauma-responsive teaching practice grounded in the principles of Trauma-Informed Care, and emphasizing the need for educators to develop a rigorous practice of self-care.　

Education Justice Project alumni having very frank conversations on topics such as mental health, social expectations, fear and surprise, mindfulness, family relationships and more.

Mend celebrates the lives and creative work of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people as well as individuals who have been impacted by the criminal justice system. This annual publication showcases writing of all types, including fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. While prospective authors may submit pieces that describe their experiences with incarceration, the publication welcomes contributions on any topic.

In this single-volume book, a group of incarcerated women at the Indiana Women’s Prison have assembled a chronicle of what was originally known as the Indiana Reformatory Institute for Women and Girls, founded in 1873 as the first separate prison for women in the United States.

In this single-volume book, a group of incarcerated women at the Indiana Women’s Prison have assembled a chronicle of what was originally known as the Indiana Reformatory Institute for Women and Girls, founded in 1873 as the first separate prison for women in the United States.

In this single-volume book, a group of incarcerated women at the Indiana Women’s Prison have assembled a chronicle of what was originally known as the Indiana Reformatory Institute for Women and Girls, founded in 1873 as the first separate prison for women in the United States.

In this webinar, experts on administering financial aid in prison settings discuss what financial aid administrators and prison education practitioners can do to ensure they are prepared to effectively support incarcerated learners with Pell Grant eligibility. Learn tips to successfully administer Pell Grants for incarcerated students and gain an understanding of the existing regulations and guidance impacting prison education programs and the tools available to assist the financial aid and prison education communities when serving this student population.

In this webinar, experts on administering financial aid in prison settings discuss what financial aid administrators and prison education practitioners can do to ensure they are prepared to effectively support incarcerated learners with Pell Grant eligibility. Learn tips to successfully administer Pell Grants for incarcerated students and gain an understanding of the existing regulations and guidance impacting prison education programs and the tools available to assist the financial aid and prison education communities when serving this student population.

Graduated Justice is a monthly podcast that features conversations with individuals from the higher education in prison community, brought to you by Tennessee Higher Education Initiative. We strive to find opportunities for autonomy and success within these conversations.

Graduated Justice embraces diversity and inclusion and recognizes our responsibility to foster an open, welcoming environment where every person, regardless of background, identity, sexual orientation, religion, or nationality can be their authentic selves. We value the benefits that arise from diverse experiences and are committed to providing content that expose some to new knowledge while supporting others as they connect to their identities. We also strive to acknowledge the complexity of intersecting identities by respecting the uniqueness of each individual.

In 2022, Ithaka S+R launched a nationwide survey that would help determine the national landscape for accessibility to educational technology in prison education programs. The survey asked respondents about student access to technology in their higher education in prison program, collecting demographic information before focusing on four thematic areas: technological devices, learning management systems and software, network connection and internet access, and future technology plans. The findings from this survey are presented in this report.

In 2022, Ithaka S+R launched a nationwide survey that would help determine the national landscape for accessibility to educational technology in prison education programs. The survey asked respondents about student access to technology in their higher education in prison program, collecting demographic information before focusing on four thematic areas: technological devices, learning management systems and software, network connection and internet access, and future technology plans. The findings from this survey are presented in this report.

In 2022, Ithaka S+R launched a nationwide survey that would help determine the national landscape for accessibility to educational technology in prison education programs. The survey asked respondents about student access to technology in their higher education in prison program, collecting demographic information before focusing on four thematic areas: technological devices, learning management systems and software, network connection and internet access, and future technology plans. The findings from this survey are presented in this report.

Blog post about how indifference can show up in small technical moments in a formerly incarcerated students' education journey and how those moments can contribute to continued systemic trauma.

The Rise Up Conference seeks to liberate higher education during and after prison. It highlights the role of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people in birthing this movement, the ways in which these spaces have been occupied by others, the assets we offer to these spaces, and the ways in which allies can help foster liberation. The conference also provides perspectives on higher education during and after prison that are unique to those with lived expertise.

The Rise Up Conference seeks to liberate higher education during and after prison. It highlights the role of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people in birthing this movement, the ways in which these spaces have been occupied by others, the assets we offer to these spaces, and the ways in which allies can help foster liberation. The conference also provides perspectives on higher education during and after prison that are unique to those with lived expertise.

The Rise Up Conference seeks to liberate higher education during and after prison. It highlights the role of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people in birthing this movement, the ways in which these spaces have been occupied by others, the assets we offer to these spaces, and the ways in which allies can help foster liberation. The conference also provides perspectives on higher education during and after prison that are unique to those with lived expertise.

The Rise Up Conference seeks to liberate higher education during and after prison. It highlights the role of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people in birthing this movement, the ways in which these spaces have been occupied by others, the assets we offer to these spaces, and the ways in which allies can help foster liberation. The conference also provides perspectives on higher education during and after prison that are unique to those with lived expertise.

An FAQ on Pell Grants put together with common questions crowdsourced from people inside.

A biweekly newsletter about the future of postsecondary education in prisons. Written by Open Campus staff reporter Charlotte West. Webpage includes links to previous print issues.

Recommendations for colleges wanting to help returning students.

Recommendations for building a network of stakeholders, organizations, community members, etc., in HEP work.

Author highlights and responds to 3 FAQ in the field that don't have clear or easy answers.

October 26th from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. via Zoom. The Beyond Walls compilation shares stories of individuals resisting the PIC and demonstrating the importance of relationships inside and out. The films also show the generational harm of the PIC, as well as next steps to build a world without police and prisons. The films add up to be about seventy minutes, intentionally short to leave ample time for panelists and discussion. The panel will consist of previously incarcerated people and people involved in abolition and work to decrease suffering, including exoneree and legal assistant Steven Lazar, reproductive justice organizer Alejandra Pablos, West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute Outreach Coordinator Kenneth Mattews, and multimedia artist and organizer Sylvia Ryerson.

In this descriptive research study, Caisa Elizabeth Royer, Erin L. Castro, and Estefanie Aguilar Padilla explore the experiences of prison stakeholders in higher education with prison disciplinary power. Based on interviews with nineteen prison education stakeholders, including program directors, instructors, family members of incarcerated students, and program alumni, the authors’ findings indicate that officer-initiated discipline interferes with the aims of college-in-prison programs and incarcerated students’ ability to be successful. The analysis provides rich insight into the ordinary ways prison officers discourage, disrupt, intimidate, and deliberately obstruct student engagement with prison higher education and those programs’ ability to provide coursework.

Blog post about article/study: In this descriptive research study, Caisa Elizabeth Royer, Erin L. Castro, and Estefanie Aguilar Padilla explore the experiences of prison stakeholders in higher education with prison disciplinary power. Based on interviews with nineteen prison education stakeholders, including program directors, instructors, family members of incarcerated students, and program alumni, the authors’ findings indicate that officer-initiated discipline interferes with the aims of college-in-prison programs and incarcerated students’ ability to be successful. The analysis provides rich insight into the ordinary ways prison officers discourage, disrupt, intimidate, and deliberately obstruct student engagement with prison higher education and those programs’ ability to provide coursework.

Financial aid advising is an essential component of Prison Education Programs (PEPs). Many PEPs rely on the paper FAFSA when serving students who are incarcerated. During this webinar, we will walk through the FAFSA completion process with both financial aid administrators and prison program administrators, highlighting the form's questions that are more complex to address. We will also talk about the methods for processing paper FAFSAs. Both financial aid teams and prison program administrators will join the conversation and welcome your questions.

The book is a collection of critical prose and poetry by esteemed artists and scholars (including Joshua Bennett, Ellen Bass, Joy Priest, Mahogany Brown, and so many more) about their experiences facilitating arts workshops in prisons. The intended audience includes college (and beyond) students in inside/out-type programs (or other programs where they facilitate educational programming in prisons); teachers of such programs; students and researchers interested in arts in corrections programming; really, anyone involved in higher ed in prison AND/OR arts in prison efforts!

Federal Student Aid is sending a letter to correctional facilities. It asks for their help in assisting incarcerated borrowers. The letter focuses on reducing the barriers to communication and information.

In an effort to make visible the national landscape of access to educational technology in prison education programs, Ithaka S+R launched a first-of-its-kind national survey in the fall of 2022, with grant funding support from Ascendium Education Group. The survey asked respondents about student access to technology in their higher education in prison program, collecting demographic information before focusing on four thematic areas: technological devices, learning management systems and software, network connection and internet access, and future technology plans. In the wake of this survey, we also conducted follow-up interviews to gather more qualitative data about major thematic issues that surfaced in the survey analysis. The report presents findings and a discussion that highlights areas where tension is likely to develop in the partnership between correctional and higher education institutions, as well as areas for future research.

Federal Student Aid published a new factsheet with instructions on how incarcerated borrowers can get out of default through the Fresh Start initiative. It also briefly addresses other relief options, including contact information for the office that handles complaints - the Office of the Student Loan Ombudsman.

Research brief describing the impact of effective education programs on people who are/have been incarcerated.

This report provides a broad perspective on the U.S. prison population and the takes a look at the status of prison education programs.

This research article summarizes the results of a series of studies conducted by the Texas Criminal Justice Policy Council to evaluate the ability of the Texas prison educational system to improve the educational level of inmates, enhance their employment prospects, and lower their recidivism.

The Three-State Recidivism Study reviews one of the major functions of the criminal
justice system, that is, to rehabilitate. Over the past decade, greater emphasis has
been placed on the other major rationales, specifically incarceration and punishment
without much commitment to rehabilitation. The result of the push to incarcerate and
punish that occurred in the 1990s and early 2000s is an unprecedented growth in the
size of the nation’s prison and jail populations, even as crime rates have decreased. Given the
economic hardship of maintaining federal, state, and local correctional systems, and the number of people in jails and prisons, society can no longer afford to ignore ways to reduce crime
and lower over-burdening costs resulting from high incarceration rates. Since there are methods and programs that work, our intent is to bring this information to political leaders, the
media, and the public to shed light on successful alternatives to the current system. This report shares the results of the findings from the Three-State Recidivism Study.

This report provides an introduction to services and programs available within California by collecting descriptive information about each. These programs do not necessarily represent a catalog of best practices or model programs that have been proven to be effective. Rather, this report is a starting block from which to build that analysis, and the authors suggest that as the next important stage in related research.

The first webinar in the Pipeline to Pell series will be held on Thursday, November 2nd at 11:00 am ET. The webinar will focus on the FAFSA Simplification Act, Pell Grants and Prison Education Programs.

The second webinar in the Pipeline to Pell series will be held on Wednesday, November 15th at 3:00 pm ET. The webinar will focus on The Roles of States, Localities, and Other Relevant Stakeholders.

Evaluation of the Prison University PRoject (PUP) at San Quentin State prison, an accredited college program administered through Patten University, offers an associate's degree in liberal arts to prisoners with high school degrees or GEDs.

The Higher Education in Prison Key Performance Indicator Framework is designed to help HEP programs measure the impact they have on students, institutions, facilities, and communites by including indicators that help measure student success outcomes, academic quality, civic engagement, and soft skill development.

An abridged account of the keynote address at the 2013 National Conference on Higher Education in Prison at Saint Louis University, which focused on the power of prison higher education to bring about an end to this society’s grossly excessive reliance on incarceration.

An abridged account of the keynote address at the 2013 National Conference on Higher Education in Prison at Saint Louis University, which focused on the power of prison higher education to bring about an end to this society’s grossly excessive reliance on incarceration.