UChicago Crime Lab Launching Virtual High School Program

The University of Chicago's Crime Lab is collaborating with the President's Digital Promise Initiative to launch a Virtual High School Program for youthful offenders ages 17 - 24. They are contracted with six Juvenile Detention Centers in Cook County and surrounding areas to serve as pilot sites for implementation of this exciting project. I spoke with two researchers associated with the project on a conference call and discussed the possibility of using the COEP system as a platform for this project. Up to this point, the project has been based in Sheriff's Offices and County Jails, where access to internet is more acceptable as security risks are less of an issue, but as the project moves into prisons and secure detention centers the need for an off-line option like COEP will increase. I look forward to learning more about the program and to the possibility of COEP serving as a platform for such a worthwhile project.

Here is a link to the University of Chicago Crime Lab web site:

http://crimelab.uchicago.edu/

Mt. Pleasant Correctional Facility Marks WiderNet Prison Project’s 3rd Iowa Corrections Contract

I am quite happy to announce the Mt Pleasant Correctional Facility has purchased a 4 terabyte eGranary/COEP system for installation in their education lab. We have contracted to supply both a server as well as several customized re-entry skill building class modules for use in their curriculum. We are so very happy to have them on board and look forward to a long and mutually-beneficial relationship!

Prison Project to Present at Corrections Education Association Annual Conference in July

I’ll be attending the Corrections Education Association’s 67th Annual Conference, held in St. Paul, Minnesota at the end of July to present a demonstration of the Corrections Off-line Education Platform at a breakout education session for attendees. It’s an exciting prospect as the conference will give us a chance to reach out to many different educators all in one place all at one time. I am hopeful that we will have an interested and attentive audience with many questions and suggestions. This is how we make the COEP a better and more useful tool for corrections educators everywhere.