In our society of overcrowded prisons and drastically cut funding for prison education, it is hopeful to see an organization whose mission is to support successful reentry into society and to promote alternatives to prison incarceration. Many inmates who are incarcerated have made mistakes in the past and have paid for their mistakes by serving
The P.E.T.S (Pawsitive Education Training Solutions) Program, also known as the Cell Dog Program–is to say the least–heart-warming and life-changing. I challenge you to watch the video and not feel tears of warmth, joy, hope and happiness as you watch the stories of both dogs and man realize they have a second chance in society.
San Quentin State Prison is known for hardened criminals. Sitting on a point overlooking the lovely skyline of San Francisco in California, San Quentin has a long history. And yet within these prison walls is the Prison University Project. The mission of the Prison University Project is “to provide excellent higher education programs to people
Being incarcerated can be an emotional whirlwind, and if left unchecked with no calm way to release stress, inmates can often release pent-up stress and frustration in violent ways. Prison SMART is an organization that works with probation departments, family and juvenile court systems, administrators, and correctional officers of penal institutions and law enforcement departments.
Imagine that you are an at-risk young woman, or have been involved in gangs and are given the opportunity to become a contributing member of society instead of being incarcerated? This is exactly what Homegirl Cafe & Catering accomplish. In 1981 Chef Patricia Zarate left her homeland on Guadalajara, Mexico and moved to Southern California.
The image of a hardened and tattooed prison inmate riding a semi-wild Mustang horse in the deserts of Nevada certainly is not what you would expect to see. Yet, through the Stewart Conservation Camp Saddle Horse Training Program and the Northern Nevada Correctional Facility, this unlikely pairing of hardened, imprisoned human and horse are providing
The Center for Prison Outreach and Education is an extension of the College of New Jersey. The program is designed for local prison populations. Faculty members from the college teach classes to inmates in order to improve their lives and reduce the possibility of recidivism. As the program’s website asserts, “Research indicates that inmates who
In a daring experiment, the very elite Connecticut University, Wesleyan University, has created a fledging, privately funded college prison education program held at the high-security Chesire Correctional Institution located in Connecticut. One of the reasons that The Center for Prison Education program is unique among other inmate programs, is the rigorous application process. Only fifteen
Women incarcerated at the Washington Corrections Center for Women have united together to create a community with the prison called The Womens Village. The idea for The Womens Village came about as both women inmates and staff wanted to create a more positive community environment, help incarcerated women change their thinking, and help create a