ISEP: Prison Education

Higher education in prison provides the support, community and human connection that all people need to thrive. This work is critical and urgently needed to address the intergenerational failure of the education system for people who are currently and formerly incarcerated, an injustice that disproportionately impacts communities of color.

All students deserve the right to an equal opportunity to succeed as students and individuals–this is the philosophy behind California’s Best Practices: Pathways from Prison to College. In 2021, the Michelson 20MM Foundation convened leading experts, advocates, and student leaders to form the Smart Justice Think Tank (SJTT). The Best Practices identified are directly informed by the lived experiences of justice-impacted scholars and their academic advisors/mentees.

ITHAKA supports justice-impacted individuals, empowering them to improve their lives by increasing access to high-quality higher education programs and library resources in prisons.

JSTOR has supported higher education in prison since 2007 by providing a tool to support offline access to our collections for incarcerated students. Since 2019,we have expanded this work with two pilot programs. First, with funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, we conducted a pilot program to develop new and improved support for offline access. Second, with funding from Ascendium Education Group, we have initiated a pilot program to create and test a version of JSTOR to which incarcerated students can gain direct access, progress towards which will be reported on this project page.

Prison Legal News, a project of the Human Rights Defense Center, is an independent 72-page monthly magazine that provides cutting edge review and analysis of prisoners' rights, court rulings and news concerning criminal justice-related issues. PLN has a national (U.S.) focus on both state and federal prison issues, with some international coverage.

Project Rebound is a program that supports the higher education and successful reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals wishing to enroll and succeed at the California State University. By connecting students with critical resources, Project Rebound constructs an alternative to the revolving door policy of mass incarceration and increases community strength and safety.

Vera is powered by hundreds of researchers and advocates working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they’re fair for all.
Access news stories, research, and resources through their website.