Justice Through Code - Free Coding Program

Addressing Barriers to Re-entry: The Justice Through Code Initiative

Individuals with prior incarceration often encounter significant obstacles when seeking stable employment, adequate housing, and access to essential financial services. These impediments represent a primary factor contributing to recidivism, impacting the over 600,000 people released from prison annually. Data from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics indicates that approximately 68% of individuals released in 2005 were re-arrested within a three-year period. Furthermore, within nine years, the re-arrest rate climbed to 83%.

Introducing Justice Through Code

Justice Through Code, an intensive semester-long program hosted at Columbia University, offers an alternative pathway for individuals re-entering society. The program focuses on both coding proficiency and the development of crucial interpersonal skills.

Curriculum and Skill Development

Throughout the program, students gain a foundational understanding of Python and other core computer science concepts. In addition to technical training, participants receive comprehensive career guidance, public speaking instruction, and training in negotiation tactics and effective resume writing.

Career Placement and Partnerships

Upon completion, Justice Through Code facilitates connections with its network of partners, leading to paid internships and job opportunities. The program’s inaugural cohort, comprising over 30 students, demonstrated significant success in this area.

Program Outcomes and Success Stories

According to Aedan Macdonald, founder of Justice Through Code, over 80% of the first cohort’s graduates who sought employment or internships secured relevant positions within six months of program completion.

Antwan, a program graduate, exemplifies this success. He currently holds a full-time internship within Columbia University’s IT department, beginning in December.

“Discovering the Justice Through Code flyer on Facebook and subsequently securing an internship at Columbia within a year has been truly remarkable,” Antwan shared. “The experience has been one of continuous learning.”

Prior to his role at Columbia, Antwan gained valuable experience at Emergent Works.

“This provided my initial opportunity to apply the theoretical knowledge acquired during the program in a practical work environment,” Antwan explained.

Industry Support and Collaboration

Justice Through Code benefits from the support of several key technology partners. Amazon Web Services provides laptops to students in need, while representatives from Google, Slack, and Coursera share their industry insights and experiences with the students.

Although Amazon Web Services has not yet directly hired graduates, a company spokesperson expressed enthusiasm for future hiring prospects.

“We are committed to providing opportunities for individuals completing this program,” the spokesperson stated.

Future Expansion and Application Process

Applications are currently being accepted for the program’s third cohort, with Macdonald aiming for a class size of up to 60 participants. While prior coding experience is not a requirement, applicants should demonstrate basic computer literacy.

Assessing Aptitude for Learning

The application process also evaluates an applicant’s capacity to navigate the challenges inherent in learning to code.

“A significant aspect of coding involves embracing a state of incomplete knowledge,” Macdonald noted. “This can be frustrating, and we assess how applicants approach problem-solving. Our interviews include logic problems presented in pairs. We observe not only whether an applicant arrives at the correct answer, but also their process when guided through a solution and their ability to apply the same logic to a subsequent, related problem. We are looking for curiosity, a drive to succeed, and a positive response to a learning environment.”

Broader Initiatives and Impact

Justice Through Code is part of a growing movement of programs dedicated to supporting individuals impacted by the criminal justice system. The Last Mile, for example, provides business and coding skills training to incarcerated individuals, also establishing partnerships with tech companies for job placement.

A Vision for Change

Macdonald, himself a formerly incarcerated individual, envisions Justice Through Code as a catalyst for dismantling “the negative stereotypes surrounding the formerly incarcerated, challenging the assumption that their future is limited to minimum wage employment.”