Coding school pushes envelope on tech access inside prisons

Incarcerated people often have limited access to technology and pay exorbitant rates for even basic communication tools, like phones. The Last Mile, a nonprofit organization established more than a decade ago to teach entrepreneurial skills to those in correctional facilities, pivoted to web development classes in 2014 because it found those skills were most effective in helping people find jobs after their release. The program says the laptops allow participants to spend more time learning and ensure their studies won't be disrupted by quarantines or lockdowns. The Last Mile is one of a growing number of projects using technology as a means of reducing recidivism and improving economic outcomes for those who are incarcerated. Despite challenges due to staff shortages, students could still access the curriculum thanks to their laptops. The Last Mile aims to broaden its work to cover a wider range of people by offering more than just coding skills.