The Last Mile graduates six from prison coding program in Massachusetts
Updated
Updated · MassLive.com · Apr 26
The Last Mile graduates six from prison coding program in Massachusetts
14 articles · Updated · MassLive.com · Apr 26
Six incarcerated individuals at MCI-Shirley graduated on March 23, bringing the program’s total to 10 graduates and 50 participants in Massachusetts since 2024.
The Last Mile teaches coding, web development, and AI skills without internet access, aiming to reduce recidivism and improve post-release employment, with a reported recidivism rate below 5% among participants.
The nonprofit, now expanding to Connecticut, also offers scholarships for alumni’s children and is adding skilled labor classes. Graduates have found jobs with major employers, highlighting the program’s broader social and economic impact.
What makes formerly incarcerated individuals uniquely effective as tech instructors for those still inside?
With a 5% recidivism rate, why isn't this tech training mandatory in every US prison?
How does teaching AI without internet prepare inmates for a hyper-connected tech industry?
Can one successful program redeem a prison system facing a suicide crisis and federal oversight?
Are we training inmates for AI-era tech jobs that are already starting to disappear?
Beyond training, how does the program overcome the deep-seated stigma of a criminal record in hiring?
The Last Mile’s Tech Education Cuts Recidivism Below 5% and Boosts Employment to 75%
Overview
Since launching in 2024, The Last Mile program at MCI-Shirley prison has empowered over 50 incarcerated individuals, producing 10 graduates by March 2026. The program uses a unique, secure teaching approach with purpose-built classrooms and air-gapped networks to deliver rigorous web development training, supported by peer mentorship. This education, combined with personalized reentry support and partnerships with Fair Chance employers, leads to a 75% employment rate within six months of release and a recidivism rate below 5%, far outperforming national averages. Ongoing investments and curriculum updates, including AI skills, aim to expand this scalable model and break cycles of incarceration for individuals and their families.