Justice Champion Spotlight: Cisco

For this month’s Spotlight, we are profiling the great work our partner Cisco is doing to give incarcerated people skills they can use to rebuild their lives on release and to succeed in the rapidly changing digital economy. 

The Cisco Networking Academy program is a global IT education program that aims to empower all individuals to maximize their professional potential. By connecting people to the courses, tools, resources in Cisco’s network - whoever they are and wherever they come from – they are transforming the lives of learners, educators, and communities through the power of education. 

Launched in 1997, Networking Academy was originally designed for mainstream education institutions, but was quickly adopted by prison services in countries around the world (including Brazil, Ecuador, Italy, Nigeria, UK, and USA). In the UK for example, the Prison ICT Academy has grown from 8 pilot programs to nearly 20, and to date has provided over 5000 inmates with a technology education. They have made technology education an important part of prisoner rehabilitation and re-entry into society. 

A few years ago, the Rand Corporation published a report which found that inmates who participate in education programs have a 43% lower chance of recidivating than those who do not. By providing these valuable skills (and the employment opportunities that accompany them), Networking Academy reduces the likelihood that students will be reincarcerated. For example, about 120 students participate in the Networking Academy program at six prisons in Italy each year, and the results are striking. Italy’s overall recidivism rate is 65%, but for inmates who take Cisco Networking Academy courses, it’s 0%.  

Their program in the United States has enjoyed similar success. The Colorado State Department of Corrections was not only one of the first U.S. state prison systems to offer the program, it was also the first to offer it women inmates. One of their workers recalls: “Cisco courses have given these women hope, encouragement, and greater self-esteem, and provided a bridge to successful re-integration.” Similar programs have now been successfully developed in Massachusetts, Minnesota and New Jersey. 

RBIJ is proud to be working with Cisco as they help provide second chances and reduce crime by delivering digital education in our prisons.