National Prison Braille Network

There are currently 35 braille production facilities in prisons across the U.S. Inmates learn braille and transcribe print materials into braille for blind people. Inmates learn valuable job skills and prepare for reentry as braille transcribers or in other career fields.

Quick Facts:

Focus of initiative/program:
  • Children and Families
  • Education
  • Employment/Job Training
  • Mentoring
  • People who are blind and visually impaired
Inititative/program name:
National Prison Braille Network
Year Established:
Network established 2001
Lead agency/organization name:
American Printing House for the Blind
Population served by initiative/program:
  • Returning from prison
  • Not under community corrections supervision
  • Under community corrections supervision (parole or probation)
  • Adults
  • Men
  • Women
  • People convicted of a violent offense
  • People convicted of a non-violent offense
  • Braille readers

National Prison Braille Network

Contact:

Nancy Lacewell
Director of Government and Community Affairs
American Printing House for the Blind
Phone: 800-223-1839 ext. 339
1839 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, Kentucky 40206
nlacewell@aph.org

www.aph.org/pbf

National Prison Braille Network

Initiatives and Programs

Focus of initiative/program:
  • Children and Families
  • Education
  • Employment/Job Training
  • Mentoring
  • People who are blind and visually impaired
Inititative/program name:
National Prison Braille Network
Lead agency/organization name:
American Printing House for the Blind

Funding

Funding sources for initiative/program:
Most prison braille programs are partnerships funded via state corrections, individual prisons, agencies serving the blind, and sometimes correctional industries.

Partners in the reentry initiative/program

Informal Agreement Formal Agreement
(e.g., a written contract or an MOU) with this partner.
Community- and faith-based services providers:
X
Education and training providers (e.g., local public school officials, vocational instructors):
X
Institutional corrections (e.g., DOC, jail, prison):
X
Other criminal justice agencies (e.g., prosecutors, judges):
X
Work force development and employment agencies (e.g. business associations, unions):
X

Participants

Population served by initiative/program:
  • Returning from prison
  • Not under community corrections supervision
  • Under community corrections supervision (parole or probation)
  • Adults
  • Men
  • Women
  • People convicted of a violent offense
  • People convicted of a non-violent offense
  • Braille readers
Total number of people who have participated in initiative/program to date:
1,500 estimate
Total number of people currently participating in initiative/program:
825
Total number of people who can be served at one time:
unlimited nationwide
If your initiative/program serves people under community corrections supervision, how does your organization work in partnership or work in collaboration with participants’ probation or parole officers?
Close communication between parole officers and braille mentors.

Data Collection

Does your organization collect demographic data on participants?
Yes
If "yes", what kind of data? And what results has this data yielded?
Nationwide, there are currently about 825 inmates in prison braille programs: 620 men and 205 women. Most are serving long sentences, since acceptance into a program requires a minimum of 5 years remaining on sentences.
Does your organization collect data about the process of your initiative/program?
No
Does your organization measure and/or track the outcome of participation?
No

Activities

What, if any, activities does your initiative/program include for people while they are incarcerated and how do these activities differ from those offered to the general population?
Inmates learn braille and transcribe print materials into braille, usually full time, preparing them for careers on the outside as either braille transcribers or in technology/office jobs.
What activities does your organization engage in post-release and how do these activities differ from those offered to the general population?
The network has applied for a federal grant through the Second Chance Act to providing mentoring and braille transcription equipment.
How are people placed into your program?
Inmates must complete applications, fulfill job requirements, and have the recommendation of prison officials.
Explore the Justice Center’s Websites
CSG Justice Center Criminal Justice / Mental Health Consensus Project Justice Reinvestment National Reentry Resource Center Reentry Policy Council