Resources: Educational Resources

PARC corresponds with and mails a directory of these resources to prisoners, their friends and family members. We are often the first point of contact for people to connect with prisoners' rights organizations, community organizations, prison literature and arts projects, family and visiting resources, health care and legal resources, parole and pre-release resources, and the prison abolition movement.

Download a PDF copy of the 2023 edition linked here.

Resource Category
Adams State University Prison College Program

Take courses and earn a degree through print-based correspondence! ASU-PEP offers Associates's, Bachelor's, and Masters's degrees. Courses through ASU-PEP are $264 per credit hour and the MBA degree is $350 per credit hour. Print-based courses offered as part of the Paralegal I & II, and advanced Paralegal certificate programs have a tuition rate of $948 and are offered in collaboration with the Center of Legal Studies (CLS). Other courses offered through CLS follow the undergraduate tuition rates. Please note tuition rates do not include the cost of books. Write for course catalog and application information. Serves people nationally.


Educational Resources, College and Higher Education Courses
Addictionresource.net

This is a web-based service with reliable information on addiction and rehabilitation, substance abuse, mental health, and treatment. Lists top facilities by city with rigorous research. No facility can submit themselves or pay to be on a list. Includes types of treatment may be most helpful and effective.

 


Educational Resources, Rehabilitation Programs
Aleph Institute

The Aleph Institute is a non-profit Jewish organization dedicated to assisting and caring for the wellbeing of members of specific populations that are isolated from the regular community, including prisoners and people institutionalized or at risk of incarceration due to mental illness or addictions. Aleph addresses their religious, educational, and spiritual needs, advocates and lobbies for their civil and religious rights, and provides support to their families at home left to fend for themselves. Jewish prisoners may write to receive free books, regular monthly literature, holiday offerings, and family programs.


Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources
American Bible Academy

Free English and Spanish Bible correspondence courses for prisoners. All courses are 120 pages in length. Info also available from www.abarc.org


Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources
Anthroposophical Prison Outreach Project

Do you, as a prisoner, feel that there must be some meaning in your prison experience that is still to be discovered? Or that you can give it meaning? If so, you might be interested in Anthroposophy — the path from the spirit in man to the spirit in the universe. Anthroposophy embraces a spiritual view of the human being and cosmos, but its emphasis is on knowing, not just faith. It is a path in which the human heart and hand, and especially our capacity for thinking, are essential. You may write to receive an initial package of literature containing a booklet titled Self-Development In The Penitentiary, as well as other articles and meditation exercises.


Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources
Ashland University Correctional Education

Ashland University serves over 1,000 incarcerated students annually with college curriculum.  The programs are offered to adult prisoners in the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, and juvenile prisoners in the Ohio Department of Youth Services.  A recent emphasis has been placed on the development and delivery of online courses for the correctional programs which do not require live internet access. Serves Ohio only.


Educational Resources, College and Higher Education Courses
Association For Research and Enlightenment

Books about the life and work of Edgar Cayce, prayer, meditation, ancient mysteries, dreams, death and the afterlife, reincarnation and karma, the Bible, universal laws, self-transformation, and prophecy. Prisoners are limited to one book every two months.


 


Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources
Bard Prison Initiative

The Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) creates the opportunity for incarcerated men and women at Bayview, Eastern, Elmira, Green Haven, and Woodbourne Correctional Facilities to earn a Bard College degree while serving their sentences. BPI enrolls nearly 300 incarcerated men and women across a full spectrum of academic disciplines, and offers over 60 courses each semester. To apply, one must have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Admission to BPI is highly competitive — typically there are ten applications for each available spot. Many gain admission after more than one application. The admissions process involves both a written exam and a personal interview. Only serves individuals in select New York State prisons.


Educational Resources, College and Higher Education Courses
BBI Media

Offers free subscriptions to prison chaplains and prison libraries at women's facilities. Requests must be submitted on official prison letterhead. Publishes Witches & Pagans and SageWoman.


Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources
Blackstone Career Institute

Blackstone’s accredited Paralegal Certificate Program enables students to learn about the law and the paralegal field by studying at their own pace and at their facility. It can be completed in less than a year and provides information that can be put into practice while incarcerated and once released. No computers, proctors, or facility instructors are required. Soft-covered books and materials are used for ease of entry into most institutions. Their Paralegal certificate program includes the 900 clock hours of coursework needed to sit for the Accredited Legal Professional (ALP) exam and/or the Professional Paralegal (PP) certification, or the Certified Legal Assistant/Certified Paralegal (CLA/CP) exam. Write for enrollment information. Currently serves all states.


Educational Resources, College and Higher Education Courses
Chuang Yen Monastery

Our organization sends free Buddhist books to prisoners who request them, answers questions regarding Buddhist beliefs and practice that prisoners may have, and sponsors a free Buddhist Correspondence Course for prisoners. Sends nationally. Expect delays due to covid.


Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources
Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants (CURE)

CURE organizes prisoners, their families and other concerned citizens to achieve reforms in the criminal-justice system, and has a presence in 24 states. Write for complete listing or addresses of state chapters. Serves people nationally.


Educational Resources, Rehabilitation Programs
College Guild

Grassroots education nonprofit providing free correspondence courses to incarcerated people covering subjects in science, writing, history, art, and culture.  send name, ID number, and mailing address with a request to be put on the waiting list.


Educational Resources, College and Higher Education Courses
Compassion Prison Project

Compassion Prison Project (CPP) creates trauma-informed prisons and communities. We do this through trauma-awareness education and programming. CPP’s Trauma-to-Transformation day-long workshop kicks off a powerful 16-week compassion-based curriculum entitled Trauma Talks. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are addressed and tools are given to support the healing process. Both outside volunteer and in-prison peer-to-peer facilitation reinforce our work. Write for information if you want to receive an ACE information packet, support getting a program into your facility or if you’d simply like to get on a waiting list for a non-romantic correspondent who can provide support and encouragement. We believe in you.


Educational Resources, Rehabilitation Programs
Compassion Works For All

Provides monthly Dharma Friends newsletters, and also the following resource lists; Personal Health and Nutrition, 12 Step and Buddhism, Buddhist Resources, Christian Spiritual Resources, Hindu and Yoga Spiritual Resources, Other Spiritual and Psychological Healing Resources, Todd Fletcher's Buddhist Resource List, Ani Tendron's Recommended Buddhist Readings.


Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources
Cornell Prison Education Program

The Cornell Prison Education Program brings together Cornell faculty and graduate students to teach a free college-level liberal arts curriculum to a select group incarcerated at several correctional facilities near Cornell University. New York State only. 


Educational Resources, College and Higher Education Courses
CURE-SORT

CURE-SORT (Sex Offenders Restored through Treatment) has information, resources, contacts, and support to individuals, families, treatment providers, and professionals who work with issues of sexual abuse and its prevention.  CURE-SORT is an issue chapter of Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants (CURE). Provides info nationally.


Educational Resources, Rehabilitation Programs
Education Justice Project

The Education Justice Project (EJP) is a comprehensive college-in-prison program at Danville Correctional Center in central Illinois. Students earn transferable University of Illinois credit. EJP publishes two reentry guides, Mapping Your Future: A Guide to Successful Reentry in Illinois and A New Path: A Guide to the Challenges and Opportunities After DeportationMapping Your Future focuses on Illinois resources, but much of the information it contains is useful to people in other states. Hard copies are available for free from EJP and it is available for download. A New Path is a guide for people getting deported to Mexico and Central America. It is also available for free and online. Both are published in Engligh and Spanish.


Educational Resources, College and Higher Education Courses
Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison

Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison provides college educations, life skills and re-entry support to incarcerated men and women incarcerated in NY state correctional facilities. Hudson Link also provides wraparound alumni services. Through Hudson Link, degree-granting college programs are offered to prisoners at Fishkill, Sing Sing, Greene, Shawangunk and Sullivan Correctional Facilities for Men and Taconic Correctional Facility for Women, with the following degrees offered: Associates Degree in Liberal Arts, Associate and Bachelor’s Degrees in Behavioral Science, and Bachelor Degree in Organizational Management. Serves New York state only.


 


Educational Resources, College and Higher Education Courses
Human Kindness Foundation Prison-Ashram Project

The Human Kindness Foundation's Prison-Ashram Project sends free books and newsletters to people in prisons and jails all over the U.S., including We're All Doing Time by the late Bo Lozoff. HKF encourages a way of life based upon three common principles taught by the great sages of all religions: Simple living, a dedication to service, and a commitment to personal spiritual practice. Write to request materials in English or Spanish. Limited materials also available to addresses outside the U.S.


Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources
Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program

Organization supporting education model that brings together campus-based college students with incarcerated students for a class held inside jail or prison. this is a training center for Inside-Out education programs all across the country. it does not directly teach students. Write to find out if there is an inside-out program in your state.


Educational Resources, College and Higher Education Courses
ISKCON Prison Ministry

Sends free material about bhakti-yoga study and practice; books, prayer beads, CDs, MP3s, and incense. We need to know: 1) Which items you are allowed to have, 2) Are you allowed hardbound or only softbound books? 3) Which items can be sent to you directly and which only through the chaplain? The books cover reincarnation, karma, and how to live a simple, godly life, and find internal peace and joy no matter what your circumstances. 


Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources
Islamic Society of North America

ISNA's vision is to be an exemplary and unifying Islamic organization in North America that contributes to the betterment of the Muslim community and society at large. Sends Qurans and other introductory books on Islamic study to prison libraries and inmates. Ability to send books depends on the prison’s policies. Also publishes a bi-monthly magazine, Islamic Horizons for $24/year. Serves people nationwide.


Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources
Jewish Prisoner Services International

JPSI is a Jewish chaplaincy organization that strives to fulfill the Talmudic obligation of all Jews being responsible for each other, along with other religious mandates of their faith. JPSI strives to insure that Jewish prisoners are permitted to practice their faith by providing the advocacy and religious materials to further that goal. Write for a prisoner info form. Serves Jewish prisoners nationally; expect delay in response.


Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources
Level

Level provides free printed educational, job training and personal development guides for people in prison anywhere in the US. Send a letter to request content.

 


Educational Resources
Maoist Internationalist Ministry of Prisons

Maoist Internationalist Ministry of Prisons, MIM(Prisons), is a revolutionary anti-imperialist group fighting criminal injustice, helping prisoners to organize and educate themselves. Sends books to prisoners, and offers prisoners a free subscription to their newspaper. Write to MIM(Prisons) for a free prisoner subscription and to get involved in revolutionary organizing and education projects.


Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources
Masjid Sunnah Grand Rapids Inmate Assistance Program

Write for free Qur'an, prayer rugs, and kuffis as well as other books on Al-Islam. Conducts visits in Michigan. Nationwide services.


Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources
Mother Earth Ministries

Wiccan clergy are available to counsel, teach, provide information, and answer questions, by mail and sometimes in person, to incarcerated individuals. We provide assistance to inmates wishing to make Wicca their official religion. Copies of the book, Enchantment Encumbered, are available for $20 (including shipping, and we accept stamps as payment).


 


Educational Resources, Religious Programs / Spiritual Resources
Mount Tamalpais College

Mount Tamalpais College is an independently accredited liberal arts college inside San Quentin State Prison. We offer a 61-unit Associate of Arts degree in liberal arts as well as a college preparatory program in math and writing. We offer 20 college courses each semester, allowing students to complete the coursework necessary for transfer to any California State University or University of California campus. The sole requirement for participation is a high school diploma or GED. No student is excluded based on age, length of sentence, commitment offense, or time left to serve. We charge no fees or tuition and provide all the necessary textbooks, course readers, and school supplies. We only provide education to people based in San Quentin State Prison in California.


Educational Resources, College and Higher Education Courses
Narcotics Anonymous

NA publishes a wide variety of materials concerning drug addiction and recovery, some of which are expressly produced for persons currently incarcerated, including Behind the Walls. Offers services in many different languages. También ofrece literatura en español, incluyendo Entre Rejas. Has many pamphlets and booklets available for free download from the internet. Ask friends or family to print and send to you directly. If you are looking for meeting locations for parole plans, ask a friend or family member to look on website for listings: http://www.na.org. Provides information nationally. Expect delays due to covid.


Educational Resources, Rehabilitation Programs

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