Additional Resources
OBB Instructor Learning Modules: This module compiles a list of readings and resources for instructors to reflect on their syllabus and assignment before teaching in prison.
The Art and Science of Human Flourishing in OBB Classroom. This guide draws from a freshman course called “The Art and Science of Human Flourishing” which supports students’ mental health as they transition into college.
Justice Education Series. This website contain webinar series on the topic of justice education by the Petey Greene program. The website claims that 72% of the presenters have been system-impacted people.
Nehemiah Reentry Lunch and Learn series discuss various issues about reentry and the criminal justice system.
Inside Journal is a quarterly newspapers by Prison Fellowship with information on reentry and navigating prison life. Bulk copies can be ordered from the website.
Books About Teaching in Prison:
Critical Perspectives on Teaching in Prison
Building a Trauma-Responsive Educational Practice: Lessons from a Corrections Classroom
Philosophy Behind Bars: Growth and Development in Prison
Recent Publications by Incarcerated Scholars:
Who Would Believe a Prisoner? Indiana Women’s Carceral Institutions, 1848–1920 is a collective work by a group of incarcerated scholars, documenting history about the first women’s prison.
Life Sentences: Writings from Inside an American Prison is a collection of poetry and prose by six incarcerated men.
Journals:
Journal of Higher Education in Prison by the Alliance of Higher Education in Prison. The latest call for submission provides a list of references about teaching and learning in prison higher education.
Critical Education has a special issue on Higher Education in Prison.
Podcasts and Documentaries
Inside Story is a TV series developed by formerly incarcerated folks
Related Documentaries compiled by Education Justice Project
Ear Hustle: Podcast on prison lives and issues.
OuttaDeeBox podcast is a pre-recorded bi weekly show geared towards supporting former and currently incarcerated people and their families in Wisconsin.
Human Powered: Podcast by Wisconsin Humanities focusing on the humanities in Wisconsin’s Prisons.
Higher Education in Prison Research:
Higher Education and the Prison Population: This literature review looks at the prison population and the transformative potential of education. It also carves out potential research and evaluation questions in the field.
Pell is Not Enough: Exploring the Experiences of Participants in Second Chance Pell: A series of twelve research brief resulting from a mixed methods research study examining the implementation and facilitation of the Second Chance Pell Experiment.
Higher Education in Prison Research compiles a database of higher education in research.
Prison Research and Innovation Initiative (PRII) publishes a series of briefs to support prison transformation via research.
Prison Writing Projects:
American Prison Newspapers is an Open Access collection of newspapers housed under JSTOR. This webinar “Teaching with American Prison Newspapers” provides some guidance about using the collection for education purposes.
Prison Journalism Project mentors incarcerated folks in journalism and invites them to contribute writings for publication online. In summer 2021, they launched PJP J-School, a correspondence-based journalism course tailored for prison writers with a cohort of 15 students around the country. The website also contains a glossary of prison jargon.
Prison Writers pay prisoners for writing articles, which get published on the website.
Prisons Foundation publishes books written by or about prisoners.
The American Prison Writing Archive is a digital archive of non-fiction essays by prisoners, prison employees, and prison volunteers. Can search by author’s name or state.
PenAmerica organizes a prison-writing contest and mentoring program; The mentoring program pairs a writing mentor with an incarcerated writer, who has a minimum of three correspondence. Mentors will not only forward comments, but also resources to help improve specific writings.
Three Cs of Stateville: A Writing Center in Prison describes a writing center staffed by former students as writing assistants was established in Stateville.
Second Chance Month Essays is a collection by JSTOR lab featuring creative works by people with lived experience inside jails and prisons that address education and Second Chances.
Programs/network that support education/career of Formerly Incarcerated Students:
Formerly Incarcerated College Graduate Networks (FICGN)
From Prison Cells to PhD supports formerly incarcerated folks through advocacy, mentoring and policy change.
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.
Rising Scholars Network serves California’s Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Community College Students.
Innovative Prison Education Programs:
Sustainability in Prisons project works on environmental education, species conservation project, community partnership program, and gardening in the state of Washington.
Insight Garden Program provides curriculum and hands-on experience in gardening and landscaping in prisons, using the ‘inner’ and ‘outer’ gardening approaches.
The Wordsuncaged Project publishes prison journals and brings lectures inside prison.
The Prison Mindfulness Institute provides mindfulness based interventions to students in prison.