Software Engineering & Cybersecurity Training in Prisons

Script Kitty Foundation is building a prison-based software engineering and cybersecurity education initiative designed to transform lives, strengthen communities, and reduce recidivism through access to meaningful, modern work.

This program is grounded in evidence, economic reality, and a belief that opportunity paired with accountability creates lasting change.

The Problem We Are Solving

Across the United States, nearly half of incarcerated individuals are rearrested within eight years of release. At the same time, the technology sector faces a persistent shortage of skilled workers, particularly in software engineering and cybersecurity.

These two problems are deeply connected.

Many people leaving prison return to society with limited job prospects, little savings, and significant barriers to employment. Without access to stable, living-wage careers, the risk of reoffending remains high. Meanwhile, thousands of technology roles remain unfilled, not because of lack of demand, but because access to training and opportunity is unevenly distributed.

This program bridges that gap.

Our Approach

Script Kitty Foundation proposes a structured, ethics-focused education model that provides incarcerated individuals with real, marketable skills before release.

Participants receive instruction in:

• Software engineering fundamentals
• Secure coding practices
• Cybersecurity concepts and defensive security
• Problem solving, logic, and systems thinking
• Team collaboration and technical communication

Advanced participants may engage in supervised, real-world project work that mirrors modern development environments and emphasizes responsibility, accountability, and professional standards.

This is not theoretical training. It is practical, skill-based education designed to prepare individuals for legitimate employment and successful reentry.

Outcomes for Incarcerated Individuals

Employment and Financial Stability

Technology roles are among the most stable and well-compensated careers in the modern economy. Entry-level cybersecurity and software engineering positions regularly exceed national median wages.

Individuals who complete technology education programs are significantly more likely to secure employment after release and earn higher wages than those without access to education. Some prison-based coding programs report near-universal job placement among graduates.

Stable employment reduces financial desperation, supports family reintegration, and provides a lawful path forward.

Restitution and Responsibility

Where permitted, participants may earn wages through supervised technical work. This allows individuals to:

• Contribute directly to victim restitution
• Save funds for housing and transportation upon release
• Support family members while incarcerated

Earning income through skilled labor reinforces responsibility and accountability while reducing the financial shock of reentry.

Reduced Recidivism

Education is one of the most effective tools for reducing reoffending. Large-scale studies show that incarcerated individuals who participate in education programs have substantially lower recidivism rates.

Technology-focused programs report some of the strongest outcomes, with several initiatives demonstrating single-digit or near-zero recidivism among graduates.

Preparing individuals for real careers addresses the root causes of repeat incarceration rather than treating the symptoms.

Mental Health, Discipline, and Self-Worth

Learning complex technical skills builds confidence, patience, and self-efficacy. Participants gain a sense of purpose and identity rooted in competence rather than past mistakes.

Correctional facilities that offer education programs consistently report improved behavior, fewer disciplinary incidents, and safer environments for both staff and incarcerated individuals.

Benefits to Communities and Taxpayers

Safer Communities

Every person who successfully reenters society without reoffending represents fewer crimes, fewer victims, and reduced strain on the justice system.

Lower recidivism strengthens public safety and breaks cycles of intergenerational incarceration.

Economic Return on Investment

Incarceration is expensive. Education is not.

Research shows that for every dollar invested in prison education, multiple dollars are saved in reduced incarceration costs. Successful reentry means fewer repeat sentences and lower long-term public expenditures.

Formerly incarcerated individuals who secure employment become taxpayers, consumers, and contributors to the local economy.

Workforce Development

Cybersecurity and software engineering are critical to national infrastructure, public safety, and economic competitiveness. Training justice-involved individuals helps address workforce shortages while expanding access to talent that is often overlooked.

Employers who participate in these programs consistently report high retention, strong work ethic, and loyalty among program graduates.

Family and Generational Impact

Nearly half of incarcerated individuals are parents.

When a parent returns home with stable employment, savings, and a sense of purpose, children experience improved outcomes across education, health, and long-term stability.

Breaking cycles of incarceration strengthens families, reduces reliance on public assistance, and creates opportunity for the next generation.

Why Script Kitty Foundation

Script Kitty Foundation brings together technology expertise, open-source values, and a deep commitment to rehabilitation through skill development.

Our approach emphasizes:

• Skills over credentials
• Responsibility over punishment
• Opportunity paired with accountability
• Long-term community benefit

We aim to work in partnership with correctional institutions, educators, industry leaders, and policymakers to responsibly expand access to technology education where it can have the greatest impact.

How You Can Help

This program requires investment, collaboration, and trust.

Support enables:

• Curriculum development and instruction
• Secure learning environments and equipment
• Mentorship and reentry preparation
• Program evaluation and responsible scaling

Donors, foundations, and corporate partners play a critical role in transforming lives while strengthening public safety and the technology workforce.

A Proven Path Forward

Education changes outcomes.

Technology education changes trajectories.

By investing in software engineering and cybersecurity training for incarcerated individuals, we invest in safer communities, stronger families, and a more inclusive economy.

This is rehabilitation that works.