Several years ago, a team of scientists from MIT and the University of Massachusetts at Lowell created and launched a unique web programming course for incarcerated individuals in various correctional facilities. The program, Brave Behind Bars, uses virtual classroom technology to teach web design to students in prison. It brought together men and women from gender-segregated facilities to learn the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, enabling them to create websites that address social issues of their choice.
The program is accredited by three universities: Georgetown University, Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology, and Washington County Community College. In a new open-access paper about the project, the team analyzed its impact using a multi-faceted approach. They gathered insights through detailed surveys with participants, using both yes/no and open-ended questions. The results showed a strong increase in self-confidence—a key factor for successfully reentering the workforce and society—among the incarcerated learners.
"Education has long been seen as a key factor in reducing repeat offenses and supporting successful reentry," says Martin Nisser, an MIT PhD candidate in electrical engineering and computer science (EECS), an affiliate of the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), and the lead author of the paper. "By providing incarcerated learners with essential digital skills and increasing their confidence, our program aims to develop the abilities needed to succeed in today's tech-focused world."
The success of Brave Behind Bars is clearly shown through the impactful websites created by the students. One project, "End Homelessness Statewide," offered important resources to help homeless individuals find temporary and permanent shelter. Another website, "The PinkPrint," tackled the unique challenges faced by incarcerated women, serving as a "blueprint" with educational resources and gender-responsive support. Equally impressive was "No Excuse for Domestic Abuse," which raised awareness about domestic violence and offered support to victims seeking help.