Research & Learning Program

Knowledge is a right, not a privilege — and the price tag should never be the barrier.

I was incarcerated at sixteen years old. I never imagined I would ever be released. After serving twenty years, I finally returned to society — and I was completely unprepared. I hadn’t used my time wisely. I hadn’t learned what I needed to know. I didn’t even understand the depth of what I didn’t know.

At one facility, they offered college courses, but I couldn’t afford them. A friend paid for a $400 mail‑in correspondence course, so I could show the parole board I was trying to better myself. It was a very expensive certificate for a non-accredited class. I had taken every group the facility offered, which was very limited. After that, I stopped investing in my education.

After fifteen years with almost no educational opportunities, I was transferred to another facility — and I was astounded to discover they offered free college courses. I enrolled immediately. For five years, I participated in Three Rivers Community College and took courses through Wesleyan. That was the beginning of my understanding that education could transform not only my mind, but my soul. I realized that all people — especially incarcerated people — need opportunities to expand their minds and pursue learning.

ConPassion Correspondence was built on a straightforward belief: every person, regardless of where they are, deserves affordable access to current, meaningful information. Whether you are exploring a career you want to pursue after release, diving into a subject that has always fascinated you, or building real, documented skills — we exist to make that possible.

Through my own experience, I also came to understand that education must include practical, real‑world information, not just academic or recreational content. And this information should never be withheld simply because someone cannot afford expensive programs. I should have been studying a driver’s manual, basic financial literacy, housing options, and career paths that were actually available to someone with my charges.

This is the foundation of our certificate program. We provide information that each individual truly needs, not a one‑size‑fits‑all curriculum.

We are here to help you.

We offer multiple payment tiers to make this knowledge accessible. We believe that completing specific lessons — and earning a certificate — matters. It shows others the progress you are making.

The idea that incarcerated people are not trying to better themselves is a fallacy. The truth is that opportunities for incarcerated people to grow are limited. ConPassion Correspondence exists to change that.

Our service is simple. You tell us what you want to learn about. We research it thoroughly, compile current, relevant material, and mail it directly to your facility. No hidden fees, no fine print.

For those who want to go further, we offer the option to turn your research into a structured course with a formal certificate — a documented achievement you can include in your parole packet, present to employers, or simply keep as a record of what you accomplished. And for those with a story to tell, our free book publishing service helps you take your writing from handwritten pages to a published work.

This program is open to any incarcerated individual in the United States. Family members, friends, and pen pals can request and pay on your behalf. There are no enrollment prerequisites and no prior education required.