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“When people leave prison after decades inside, they’re not just re-entering society, they’re entering an unfamiliar digital world.
“From smartphones and email to QR codes and online job applications, everyday technology can become an unexpected barrier to freedom for people returning home after long periods of incarceration. For many, the world they left behind no longer exists, and the rules of daily life have changed without explanation.
“‘Imagine coming home after 15, 20 years. The advances in technology are so wide,’ said Cecilia Zavala [Leading with Conviction™ 2023], executive director of Nation Outside, a Michigan-based nonprofit led by people with direct experience with incarceration.
“‘It became apparent that our peers really just felt like they were coming home to an alien world.’
Our peers really just felt like they were coming home to an alien world.
“That sense of disorientation is exactly why Nation Outside is creating peer-led digital literacy courses designed specifically for people returning home after incarceration.
“Before kick-starting the courses, they held a peer navigator training meeting where they decided which skills to teach students. Things that come naturally to many people are things they have to explain in full detail, from how to turn off a laptop to how to spot scams online.
“Many of the instructors were once incarcerated themselves, entering the world unaware of how much had changed. Now, they’re the ones teaching others how to navigate this unfamiliar digital landscape. …
“Still, access to technology varies. Zavala says there’s still work to be done.
“‘They (MODC) have to change some of their policies to make technology more accessible and to be a tool for learning. I think they’re moving in that direction, but it still has a way to go.’
“At Nation Outside, Zavala says the challenge isn’t just learning new technology, it’s learning how to live in a world that moved on without you.
“‘Technology is a part of our everyday life. Before, internet access was seen as a privilege. Now, it’s a survival skill. And if you’re going to succeed, you have to learn how to use it.’”
Thank you so much for supporting our mission here at JLUSA! Your donation helps to support our network of leaders working to dismantle oppressive systems and uplift people and families impacted by mass incarceration across the country.
All charitable donations made to JLUSA are fully tax deductible, as allowable by the IRS.
