Washington University’s Prison Education Project (PEP) hosted Marisa Omori, Ph.D., to speak about how the development of artificial intelligence, specifically facial recognition technologies, may impact racial inequality in the criminal […]

The Washington University Prison Education Project (PEP) held a panel discussion on the public health crisis posed by mass incarceration in Missouri and the United States on Oct. 16.

Adorned with a study hall, computer lab, and multiple whiteboards, the Education Annex might be indistinguishable from an average American college, if not for the facility’s barren surroundings and the presence of armed security. 

After receiving a $980,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation leaders of WU’s Prison Education Project plan to expand the program.

In a normal year, PEP instructors make the 35-minute drive southwest to Pacific, Mo. where they conduct in-person class, put together study hall sessions and even organize clubs. But when COVID-19 hit, the prison completely shut down. The students couldn’t see their families, let alone teachers from PEP.

The devastation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has been deeply felt in every corner of society, prompting students across the country to get involved with helping their community members.

The Chancellor claims to be “for” St Louis and increased educational access, but how can you tote this credo if you are not helping the people that come from the community? It is time that members of the Washington University community ask him this question.

While many Washington University students may be interested in getting involved with social justice causes such as mass incarceration and education, it is often unclear how to get one’s foot in the door.

My name is JonPaul Heinz, most who know me or who have known me well will call me J.P. Inside these walls, though, I go by another name: Inmate number 1267946.

Since 2014, the Prison Education Project (PEP) has given inmates at Missouri Eastern Correctional Center (MECC) the opportunity to enroll in any of five to six courses taught by Washington University faculty each semester, covering topics ranging from Macroeconomics to Japanese Civilization.