The Ripple Effects of College Prison Programs

Following the experiences of 13 incarcerated or formerly incarcerated men, who earned their bachelor’s degrees in prison, this book traces their earliest experiences with education, the circumstances that led to their life-crime, and the unimaginable impact a college education has had on their life’s trajectory. Thirteen men sentenced to die by incarceration at a maximum-security prison pushed themselves to enroll in the first face-to-face bachelor’s degree completion program for incarcerated students in the state of California. Sentenced to life without possibility of parole, they pursued higher education as the path toward rehabilitation and transformation, changing the trajectory of their lives. Based on in-depth interviews, each journey is at times heartbreaking, infuriating, and deeply inspiring, as the men work through early childhood traumas, learning disabilities, failures, and guilt. Author Taffany Lim also explores her own growth and evolution as a result of years of investment in each student’s personal success.Learn more at