Our program of correspondence classes was created by and for incarcerated people.  We have about 30 different classes and several more are on the way!  About one third of these classes were created by incarcerated people.  These courses are for people who want to learn and grow while in prison.  Although they are not pen pals, we attempt to connect each student with an “outside partner” who provides feedback, encouragement and shares their experience with the class content.

The JW! ROOTS program provides incarcerated people opportunities to: 

We now have thirty different classes available for incarcerated people. Our ROOTS classes are taken through the mail. That way, if an incarcerated person gets transferred to a different facility or if they go to the hole, their personal educational goals can continue!

Here's how it works. The incarcerated person sends us a letter telling us that they want to take a class. We have an "each one, teach one" requirement. That means that the incarcerated person will be asked to pass along what they are learning to another incarcerated person who many not be as comfortable with reading or writing. The student will also have an outside "partner" to work with then on this class. At the end of each lesson, they are asked to write an assignment and a description of their "each one, teach one" conversation. They will mail this to JW!. JW! will forward the student's assignment to the outside partner. The outside partner will then send their comments on the assignment back to JW! who will send it back to the student along with the next lesson. When the student completes all the lessons, they will receive a JW! ROOTS Certificate of Completion.

• As a JW!  ROOTS outside partner, I agree to:

• Do my best to review one lesson per week.  My written review will be mailed to the JW! PO Box above.  JW! will forward it to my student.

• As I am able, send a stamp with each returned lesson.

• Neither provide nor request personal contact information.

• Not request personal favors.

• Continue the communication until completion of all the lessons in the class.

• Read the Justice Works! founding principles and value statements and work within these principles and values. In particular, I understand that in the JW! community, all people are considered teachers and all are students.  And, I will do my best to be respectful, honest and kind to my student.

Access to Roots Outside Partner Volunteer Forms & Documents.