Reporter Emily Hays spent the last two years talking to incarcerated people in search of a better life through learning. They told her about their frustrations with limited access to classes, technology and the ballot box.
She also asked how peer education programs have affected them. They said the mentorship allows “a softness” to settle in, giving them a chance to build stronger relationships, find joy in tough situations and be better prepared for life after prison.
This niche card game has a loyal following in an Illinois prison
Danville Correctional Center reversed a ban on Magic: The Gathering cards last year. Since then, the game has been a source of community and joy.
Illinois prisons are confining the incarcerated to their cells more often than during the pandemic. Can peer education help?
Prison lockdowns cut incarcerated people off from educational opportunities, and they often occur due to staff shortages. Experts say peer mentorship could help fill the gap.
‘There’s a softness that starts to settle in’: peer educators incarcerated at Danville Correctional Center describe their teaching journey
Danville Correctional Center has led the state in experimenting with peer education programs. Men serving long sentences there have transformed themselves, through learning and teaching, into community pillars at the prison.
How one prison is helping incarcerated men navigate transfer culture shock through peer education
Danville Correctional Center’s peer education program helps men transition from maximum to medium security environments, addressing the culture shock and overstimulation of increased freedom and social interaction.
A Debate Class Could Change the Future of Parole in Illinois
An innovative debate program in Illinois prisons is providing incarcerated individuals with critical communication skills that could impact their rehabilitation and parole prospects.
After Stateville closure, some students may never speak with their professors again
Incarcerated students at Stateville Correctional Center face an uncertain academic future after the facility’s abrupt closure disrupted vital educational programs.
One group of Illinoisans can’t vote this November – those serving felony convictions
In Illinois, people serving felony convictions remain unable to vote, a policy that advocates argue silences affected communities and disproportionately impacts Black residents.
State breaks up classes in Stateville prison closure
The closure of Illinois’ Stateville prison has disrupted Northeastern Illinois University’s classes for incarcerated students, with many now lacking access to education.
Explore a previous report highlighting the challenges of limited access and long waitlists for education in Illinois prisons.