Equipping incarcerated individuals with tech skills not only allows for better outcomes upon release; it also provides a new talent pool for employers looking for motivated, committed candidates. On both these fronts, LaunchCode’s programs have been a success.
Moving from Incarceration to Careers in Tech
According to the Missouri Department of Corrections, nearly half of all individuals released from prison return within five years. Many incarcerated adults lack access to postsecondary education in prison. And what little programming exists is often costly to the institutions and disconnected from career opportunities. Equipping incarcerated individuals with tech skills not only allows for better outcomes upon release; it also provides a new talent pool for employers looking for motivated, committed candidates.
In 2020, as part of our efforts to expand postsecondary education in prison, we supported The LaunchCode Foundation in expanding its JusTech foundational coding and web development training and employment program for incarcerated students nearing release in several Missouri prisons. Through this program, students develop the tech skills and industry knowledge that will serve them upon release, when those that finish the course are eligible for apprenticeships. The goal: to increase workforce training opportunities and improve employment outcomes for incarcerated adults while providing a pathway to further education.
In 2022, the program produced its first three graduating classes. These graduates leave prison equipped with a level of digital literacy and coding skills that will allow them to overcome one of the most challenging elements of culture shock facing long-term incarcerated individuals. Additionally, LaunchCode has been building a network of hiring partners and has had more than 20 technology employers visit its programs across two facilities.