Identity as an Incarcerated Person

Prison education can have life changing benefits. Unfortunately, there are high rates of recidivism among formerly incarcerated individuals. A 2012 Bureau of Justice Statistics study found that of about 404,638 formerly incarcerated people in 34 states, 67.8% were rearrested three years post release and 76.6% were rearrested within five years. Yet, according to a study by Rand Corporation, those who participate in higher education programs are 43% less likely to recidivate. College classes taught in prisons produce employment opportunities and make reentry smoother post incarceration. In addition, for those receiving higher education while serving longer or life long sentences, a St. Cloud State University study suggests there is a decrease in violence and disciplinary infractions.… Read More… »

Prison education can have life changing benefits. Unfortunately, there are high rates of recidivism among formerly incarcerated individuals. A 2012 Bureau of Justice Statistics study found that of about 404,638 formerly incarcerated people in 34 states, 67.8% were rearrested three years post release and 76.6% were rearrested within five years. Yet, according to a study by Rand Corporation, those who participate in higher education programs are 43% less likely to recidivate. College classes taught in prisons produce employment opportunities and make reentry smoother post incarceration. In addition, for those receiving higher education while serving longer or life long sentences, a St. Cloud State University study suggests there is a decrease in violence and disciplinary infractions.… Read More… »

As a freshman in high school, I knew very little about the carceral system or its deleterious impact on all who experience it. One cold winter day, I attended a Zoom presentation my sister hosted at her university, where she interviewed a formerly incarcerated woman about her experiences behind bars. Hearing this woman’s chilling story was just the beginning of my journey learning about the deep injustices within the carceral system.… Read More… »

Have you heard of an international locksmith? Christopher Etienne certainly fits this profile, but he considers himself a prison abolitionist. What does it mean to be a prison abolitionist? It means choosing restorative approaches versus punitive ones. It means building communities to give people the type of help they need versus harming people further. Etienne, STEM program coordinator for the Prison Teaching Initiatives (PTI) at Princeton University, presented at the Howard League Conference in Oxford, England on September 13–14. His presentation centered on unlocking bias and perceptions that people have when it comes to providing access and opportunity to people who have been formerly incarcerated.… Read More… »