California inmates can take college classes, but often with no internet and limited tech

"What they haven't all done, however, is create a learning environment that supports college-level study. Some states still ban inmates from almost all technology, leaving students to get by with textbooks and paper assignments. Others don't give students computers, forcing them to write term papers on tablets that lack external keyboards. When students have the right technology, internet access becomes the barrier, as safety risks surrounding how people might abuse it outweigh educational opportunity."

"Getting a degree is one of the best ways to reduce the chances of ending up back in prison after release. Some researchers have clocked precipitous drops in the recidivism rate, as this metric is called, because of educational progress and its connection to landing a good job. But the United States' punitive approach to incarceration clashes with the promise education holds for lower recidivism."

Since Pell Grants became available to people pursuing degrees from prison, every state and the Federal Bureau of Prisons has tried to expand access to higher education. Many prisons still lack learning environments that support college study: some ban nearly all technology, others provide only tablets without keyboards, and internet access is often restricted due to safety concerns. Earning a degree substantially lowers recidivism by improving employment prospects. The United States' punitive incarceration model contrasts with restorative models like Norway's, where prisons prepare residents to rejoin communities. Slow implementation has forced programs to rely on paper, peer library runs, and limited classroom desktops.

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