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Prison Education

A Black man wearing a green shirt and pants against a blue background sits with a notebook in his hand. Behind him, from left to right, a man in orange wears blue headphones covers his face, a woman with blonde hair sings, and a person in olive green plays the violin. There is also a gray Walkman with orange headphones on the left and an orange keyboard on the right.
Life Inside April 18
How I Became an Opera Composer in a Maximum Security Prison
I learned music theory through workshops at New York’s Sing Sing prison. I earned my stripes by singing for boisterous crowds of incarcerated critics.
By Joseph Wilson
An illustration depicts Bobby Bostic, a Black man wearing glasses, a yellow flannel shirt and a gold watch, speaking into a mic at a podium. There are yellow waves and an orange glow surrounding Bobby in the background.
Life Inside November 15, 2024
This Motivational Speaker Faced Down a Tough Crowd: Fellow Lifers
Over 27 years behind bars, Bobby Bostic learned to inspire people in dark places. It all started with the “complete failure” of his first big speech.
By Bobby Bostic
An illustration shows a man, wearing a cap and a tan prison uniform, holding onto a leash as he walks his yellow Labrador retriever. A label is near the dog that reads "Lexi." In the background, one panel shows an image of a person smiling as they face a black puppy with the label that reads "Lee." Another panel shows a close-up image of a black puppy with the label "Annie."
Life Inside May 10, 2024
A Rare Bright Spot for a Canine Lover Doing Time: Raising Puppies to Become Service Dogs
Adam Roberts reflects on the highs and occasional lows of training Labrador retrievers for the Puppies Behind Bars program.
By Adam Roberts
An illustration shows a portrait of a Black man, wearing glasses, a white cap with the letter "B," a silver chain necklace and white shirt. In the background, a book is floating, with portraits of male teenagers in blue uniforms on several pages.
Life Inside October 20, 2023
Here’s How I Use My Story to Teach Incarcerated Kids That Writing Matters
At 18, Bobby Bostic was sentenced to 241 years in prison. Now out on parole, he’s sharing the healing power of writing in juvenile detention centers.
By Bobby Bostic
A photographer takes a picture of an incarcerated man, wearing a graduation cap, gown, a Mexican sarape print stole and a green stole that reads, "T.O.P.S.S." in front of a gray backdrop. The picture was taken outside on a lawn surrounded by barbed wire fences.
Closing Argument July 8, 2023
Students Behind Bars Regain Access to College Financial Aid
Restored Pell Grant eligibility means about 760,000 people in prisons could eventually afford higher education.
By
A portrait of a White man smiling and wearing a tank top is mounted inside of a picture frame.
Inside Story February 23, 2023
Police Shootings in Rural America
We investigate police shootings in rural areas and speak with music executive Jason Flom about his work with people who were wrongfully convicted.
By and
A Black man stands amid cameras and other equipment on the set of a TV show called Inside Story.
The Marshall Project Inside January 30, 2023
The Marshall Project and VICE News to Launch Inside Story Show
Developed by formerly incarcerated people, the video series brings news, interviews and profiles into U.S. prisons and jails.
By and
The Marshall Project Inside January 27, 2023
Giving Incarcerated People What They Want — Better News Access
The Marshall Project explains its decision to offer free news to incarcerated people on tablets that otherwise charge users.
By
A Black man in an orange prison uniform steps out of a human-sized iPhone, and into a desert. In the background, there is a purple and orange sunset.
Life Inside January 20, 2023
How an Illicit Cell Phone Helped Me Take College Courses from Prison
“I didn’t want to give any type of indication that I am in prison, because I didn’t want to be kicked out.”
By Anonymous as told to Charlotte West
An illustration shows a Black man next to a Black power symbol in a blue graduation cap and gown, holding an orange diploma cover, as paper cranes fly around him.
Life Inside September 2, 2022
My Wild and Winding Path to a College Degree Behind Bars
Rahsaan “New York” Thomas was proud to finally earn his associate’s degree in San Quentin State Prison. But repeated COVID-19 lockdowns turned his graduation ceremony into a two-year ordeal.
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