Justice initiatives
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The Tennessee Higher Education Initiative (THEI) rejects the idea that incarcerated students should accept “whatever is available.” Instead, their Navigating Forward project is built on the belief that learners inside deserve excellence—resources that are not only functional but dignifying.
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In this deeply personal reflection, Ryan McCarthy of JSTOR Labs shares his experience visiting Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP) alongside Chemeketa Community College’s prison education team.
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Explore highlights from the first HBCU Prison Education Summit, where educators, advocates, and tech leaders gathered to advance higher education in prisons. Learn how HBCUs, digital tools like JSTOR, and secure technology are transforming access and equity for incarcerated learners.
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It is with deep respect and sorrow that we acknowledge Helen Farley’s passing. Helen will be remembered here as a visionary advocate for equitable access to education and a cherished partner in the JSTOR Access in Prison initiative.
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At the beginning of 2025, we launched The Catalyst, a JSTOR Access in Prison newsletter that showcases people and projects working on prison education initiatives. We are now launching a new blog series, Inside & Connected, to build even more community connections in these liminal spaces.
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In this closing post of JSTOR’s Second Chance Month series, Elizabeth Shatswell reflects on the transformative power of education, community, and creative expression in the lives of incarcerated individuals.
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Incarcerated writer Shane Bell challenges assumptions about prison education and rehabilitation, arguing for access to learning as a transformative force—even for those who may never leave prison. His powerful essay, part of JSTOR’s Second Chance series, calls for purpose, service, and dignity behind bars.
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This moving reflection traces the enduring bonds formed in prison classrooms and the profound impact of educational journeys shared by incarcerated women. Through the story of Phiengchai Sisouvanh, we see how learning, friendship, and community transcend confinement and continue to transform lives long after graduation.
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In this powerful series of personal essays, incarcerated authors reflect on how education has become a catalyst for self-discovery, healing, and community restoration. Their stories underscore the transformative potential of learning, even behind prison walls, as a lifelong commitment to growth and redemption.
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In this compelling essay, Ignacio Carrillo challenges traditional definitions of rehabilitation and advocates for animal-assisted programs in prisons. The author explores the role of animals in fostering humanity, dignity, and systemic change within carceral spaces.
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Incarcerated writers dave rich and Danny Thomas reveal how education becomes a radical act of resistance within the prison system. Confronting systemic injustice, they transform long sentences into opportunities for mentorship, advocacy, and self-liberation.
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Poet Matthew Feeney crafts language that cuts through the noise of modern life, offering distilled expressions of humanity shaped by incarceration, identity, and introspection. His evocative work—layered with metaphor, symbolism, and emotional precision—reminds us to write as if our lives depend on it
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In this reflection on education and transformation, Elizabeth Shatswell introduces two powerful Second Chance Month essays by incarcerated scholars Juan Portieles and Brian Newman. Their stories, shared through JSTOR Access in Prison, explore education as a path to optimism, purpose, and freedom—with lasting ripple effects across their communities.
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In this JSTOR’s Second Chance Month essay, Michael Munro draws powerful parallels between the structure of roguelike games and his journey through trauma, incarceration, and personal reinvention.
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Through the transformative power of prison-based arts education, Wyatt Reed shares his journey of reclaiming a lost identity, confronting addiction, and rediscovering purpose through creative expression.
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In this Second Chance Month essay, Alexander Bolling reflects on his journey from strategic silence to confident speech, tracing how education, community and persistence helped him claim and share his voice.
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When Alazaron “Laz” Sargeant discovered the poetry of Mahmoud Darwish through a library brought into his prison unit, it sparked a deeper search for meaning—and a powerful wave of creative expression.
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In this Second Chance Month essay, Allen Ivanov reflects on the liberating and isolating power of education in prison, exploring how knowledge—through Shakespeare and critical inquiry—becomes both a burden and a path to self-reclamation.
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In this essay for Second Chance Month, Shane Moffat reflects on early school experiences, the sensory memories of his bus rides, and his enduring love for education, demonstrating the power of access, equity, and memory—even behind prison walls.
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Vy Thang’s reflection on education challenges idealized notions of utopia shaped by historical trauma and incarceration. His story illustrates how liberal arts learning becomes a powerful act of self-discovery, resistance, and community building.
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This is JSTOR’s third year of publishing essays, poetry, and artwork from people impacted by incarceration. These stories, as diverse as America itself, remind us of the dreams, aspirations, and connectedness we all share.
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Amplifying marginalized voices through crowdfunding and crowdsourcing in digital archives and libraries. Learn how Reveal Digital’s initiative uncovers underrepresented histories with open access collections hosted on JSTOR.
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The “Second Chance Mentality: First Chance Reality” series, facilitated by JSTOR Access in Prison, provided a platform for voices from those with incarceration histories to be heard.
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Explore Phillip Vance Smith II’s journey through the carceral system, shedding light on the impact of mandatory minimum sentencing and the challenges faced upon reentry into society.
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Discover one woman’s inspiring journey from prison to college graduation, highlighting the impact of mentorship and the challenges faced by individuals with convictions on-campus.
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Striving to overcome a challenging past, Elisha shares her journey from a jail cell to pursuing a dream of becoming a pilot. Embracing hope and resilience, this story sheds light on the transformative power of second chances.
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Struggles of reintegration post-incarceration are examined through personal experiences in this essay, highlighting challenges in navigating systemic barriers, including conflicts faced in a work release program. An individual shares insights on leveraging prison education amidst the complexities of reentry.
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I was faced with a choice early on with my incarceration: allow violence dominance over my life, giving prejudice exactly what it wanted, or change, showing that violent offenders are more than lost causes. I chose the latter, and education would be my cure to cleanse me of this leprosy.
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“Second Chance Mentality: First Chance Reality,” presented by JSTOR Access in Prison, is our 2024 contribution to Second Chance Month. Each week we will offer a direct portal into the minds and hearts of experts on incarceration who we hear about, but not from. I hope to foster a deeper understanding and human connection through…
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Learn how JSTOR Access in Prison has expanded to 1,000 sites, reaching nearly 500,000 incarcerated individuals worldwide. Join us on this audacious journey of education and empowerment.
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