Inside Literature works exclusively with an underserved population of pre-trial inmates.

• Approximately 20% of all prison and jail inmates in the United States are currently awaiting trial

• Frequently those who are incarcerated pre-trial are unable to pay their bail and are incarcerated because of poverty

• The typical American defendant earns less than $7,000 in the year prior to arrest

• Less than 50% of pretrial inmates are able to post bail, even when bail is set at $5,000 or less

• 11.5 million Americans are currently cycling in and out of our jails annually

At the core of our mission is the conviction that the benefits of providing the most educationally underserved members of our community with an opportunity to explore and discuss the greatest works and most poignant ideas found within the world literary canon extend not only to our students but also to corrections officers at these facilities and to the wider community.

Community

Inside Literature affects positive change by addressing an issue in our community—crime—with a unique approach. Research shows that education reduces recidivism, and so it follows that providing opportunities to those incarcerated pre-trial could lead to a reduction in pre-trial post-disposition recidivism. This means that more community members would reintegrate positively, reducing crime and building bridges within our community. Maintaining a sense of the importance of being part of a community while incarcerated is essential to reentry, so a focus on the importance of community in our approach is essential.

Students

Inside Literature enhances students’ ties to the community while they are incarcerated and provides educational opportunities to develop reading, writing, & critical thinking skills. The collective study of the Humanities helps to reduce feelings of isolation and increase a sense of community among inmates. As one student put it, these courses give them “something else to talk about” as well as a new way to relate to each other via the shared experience of reading and writing. The learning community developed in the classroom extends beyond it, as students help each other with their work and engage with the material together outside of class, which is also a way that they work on their social skills. Students report that these courses are boost their confidence and self-esteem in addition to their reading, writing, and analytic skills; the courses also encourage students to pursue educational opportunities outside of the correctional facility. The ties to the wider community are enhanced by interacting with community members who are committed to their learning goals.

Instructors

Teaching for Inside Literature enables educators to have a unique pedagogical experience, one that cannot otherwise be had in a university setting. Further, provides them with an opportunity to not only hone their pedagogical skills but also with access to firsthand knowledge as to the importance of education in a social justice setting. One of the goals of our program is to challenge participating instructors’ pre-conceived notions about incarcerated persons. Instructors have reported changes in their attitudes toward incarceration, deepening their own connections to their community.