Prison Scholars at the D.C. Jail

The Prison Scholars Program at the D.C. Jail offers credit-bearing and non-credit classes year round, as well as a weekly lecture series with distinguished guest speakers. The program has reached over 374 students since its start in 2018. Students have earned a combined 1,985 credits through courses taken.

The program recently added a web design course that partners with MIT through Brave Behind Bars to teach coding and technological skills to students. The course’s popularity in and outside the program has made national news, receiving coverage from CNN, MSNBC, and the Washington Post. For the final project, one student created the website The PinkPrint to advocate for women in carceral spaces. For more course information, visit the page below.

The program also features lecturers and guest lecturers from Georgetown University and the surrounding area. Since the program’s founding in 2018, 61 different educators have taught courses or guest lectures in the program. Scholars also hear from guest speakers at their end-of-semester celebrations that highlight students’ hard work and completion of coursework.