Books, Articles, & Videos
The resources below are ones that we believe are essential to understanding and expanding our thinking around mass incarceration and prison education. Are we missing something? Let us know!
Abrams, Eve. “The Human Stories Behind Mass Incarceration.” TED: Ideas Worth Spreading, Nov. 2017,
Alexander, Michelle. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. New Press, 2010.
Boyle, Greg. Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion. Free Press, 2011.
Coates, Ta-Nehisi. “The Black Family in the Age of Mass Incarceration.” The Atlantic, October 2015.
Coates, Ta-Nehisi. “The Case for Reparations.” The Atlantic, June 2014.
Davis, Lois, and Doug Irving. “The Case for Correctional Education in U.S. Prisons.” RAND Corporation, 3 Jan. 2016.
Davis, Lois, et al. How Effective Is Correctional Education, and Where Do We Go from Here? The Results of a Comprehensive Evaluation. RAND Corporation, 2014.
“Mass Incarceration Visualized” Youtube, uploaded by The Atlantic, 2 October 2015.
Alexander, Michelle. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. New Press, 2010.
Boyle, Greg. Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion. Free Press, 2011.
Coates, Ta-Nehisi. “The Black Family in the Age of Mass Incarceration.” The Atlantic, October 2015.
Coates, Ta-Nehisi. “The Case for Reparations.” The Atlantic, June 2014.
13th. Directed by Ava DuVernay, Netflix Studios, 2016. Netflix.
Davis, Lois, and Doug Irving. “The Case for Correctional Education in U.S. Prisons.” RAND Corporation, 3 Jan. 2016.
Davis, Lois, et al. How Effective Is Correctional Education, and Where Do We Go from Here? The Results of a Comprehensive Evaluation. RAND Corporation, 2014.
Kaufman, Kelsey. Prison Officers and their Worlds. Harvard University Press, 1988.
“Mass Incarceration in the US” Youtube, uploaded by vlogbrothers, 4 April 2018.
Menakem, Resmaa. My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies. Central Recovery Press, 2017.
Morris, Monique. Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools. The New Press, 2018.
Sered, Danielle. Until We Reckon: Violence, Mass Incarceration, and a Road to Repair. New Press, 2019.
Stern, Kaia. Voices from American Prisons: Faith, Education and Healing. Routledge, 2015.
Stevenson, Bryan. Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. Spiegel & Grau, 2015.
Tapia, Nneka J. “Incarceration and Families: What is the Toll on Children?” Youtube, uploaded by Discovery Museum, 3 Nov. 2023.
Tatum, Beverly Daniel. Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? Basic Books, 2017.
Tran, Nguyen Toan, et al. “Words Matter: A Call For Humanizing and Respectful Language to Describe People Who Experience Incarceration.” BMC International Health and Human Rights, vol. 18, no. 1, 16 Nov. 2018.
Wilkerson, Isabel. The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration. Random House, 2010.
Western, Bruce. Homeward: Life in the Year After Prison. Russell Sage Foundation, 2018.
“Mass Incarceration Visualized” Youtube, uploaded by The Atlantic, 2 October 2015.
“Slavery to Mass Incarceration.” YouTube, uploaded by Equal Justice Initiative, 7 July 2015.
Inside Voices
Ear Hustle:
This is a podcast that is produced and recorded at San Quentin Prison in California. It explore the lives of incarcerated men as well as shares stories of men who have been recently released from the prison. Listen here.
Life on the Inside:
Michigan’s NPR station, Stateside spent time in Lakeland Correctional Facility where more than 40% of the men inside will be released. These episodes give listeners a glimpse into life on the inside and grapple with society’s wish to punish versus acknowledging that people who commit serious crimes have the ability to change.
Uncuffed:
This show is made by people behind bars in California prisons who share intimate stories of their struggles and triumphs, and of the heartache and forgiveness taking place within these walls. Uncuffed is vulnerable and personal. If you can see the humanity in them, you can see the humanity in everyone
Related Organizations
These are organizations that inform and complement CPO’s work and share in elements of our mission or approach.
Equal Justice Initiative: Founded by Bryan Stevenson, Equal Justice Initiative is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.
Vera Institute of Justice: The Vera Institute of Justice aims to build and improve justice systems that ensure fairness, promote safety and strengthen
