Closed Book: The Next Chapter Project Makes Strides in Correctional Education

The first time I visited a prison, I was stunned by how cold it was. 

It’s hard to see past the people pacing like caged tigers in cramped pens. To stick by your staunch bad-people-do-bad-things-and-deserve-punishment mentality when a guard shrugs off a man’s wail of pain is impossible. 

When that same guard laughs about needing to let go of the prison’s teachers, their GED program, their resident psychiatrist, and one of their doctors, you start to become radicalized.

As the inherent panic of being trapped sets in, the harsh fluorescents and mold climbing up the cracks in the cinder block walls do nothing to make you feel safe.

I had the reassurance of knowing I was leaving within the hour, but the sense of hopelessness settled in fast. I remember gasping for air when I stepped outside.

But this is the everyday reality for over 2 million Americans, adults and children alike. 

According to the Department of Justice, 1 in every 100 will be incarcerated at some point in their lifetime. As brutal as it is, we are all destined to be affected by the corrections system, whether it’s us or someone we love behind bars.

Once there, the dire situation has few silver linings, with the exception of educational opportunities. 

To be clear, this is a luxury that’s hard to come by in correctional facilities, despite its undeniable potential for empowerment. Incarcerated Americans who participate in educational courses are 57% more likely to be employed upon release, and 61% less likely to be reincarcerated, as stated by the DOJ.

But between a severe lack of resources and funding coupled with restrictive legislation, particularly in privately owned prisons, this isn’t an option for most. 

Per the DOJ, a mere 32% of incarcerated Americans are approved to take classes or training programs.

In most facilities, inmates with disabilities are automatically barred from even applying for these courses.

When I visited that first prison through a specialty criminal justice program at Stockton University my sophomore year of high school, I immediately knew I had to do something to contribute to the resolution of this crisis. 

I dove into my research, and the following year I developed the Next Chapter Project, a correctional education initiative that collects and distributes books to jails and prisons throughout New Jersey. 

This October, I had the opportunity to bring this book drive to Centenary.

Thanks to the enthusiastic support of Kathy Greco, the director of student leadership and engagement, the Taylor Memorial Library team, Hackettstown public library, fantastic friends and volunteers, and the Cyclone community, we were able to bring 378 books to Warren County Correctional Facility on the morning of President Caldwell’s inauguration. 

Amanda Nechay, the facility’s social worker, emphasized the need for contributions to literacy programs, stating,  “I know these books will be put to good use because our library could use a good updating.” 

At the drop off, correctional officer Ackerman concurred, emphasizing that most of the inmates spend all of their free time reading, and that the practice helps them stay centered. 

In a climate of rapid and relentless recidivism, having a well-stocked library and ample opportunities for education can be the difference between becoming a repeat offender and rebuilding a life.

Education bridges the opportunity gap and is a fundamental human right. 

Although this problem seems insurmountable, there are many ways to make a direct contribution. Many facilities, like WCC, have volunteer programs and are always eager for help. 

There’s room for creativity, too. In the coming weeks, I will be teaching an eight-week writing skills workshop series using curriculum that I developed. 

If you have the passion, you can enact effective change. 

One class, one book, one word can change everything. 

You don’t even have to leave campus to be a part of the solution. The Next Chapter Project will be hosting another book drive this spring, and we welcome all softcover donations!