PEP volunteers teach 60-90 minute classes inside California correctional facilities and via Zoom, covering topics like Soft Skills, Financial Literacy, Psychology, Creative Writing, and Astronomy. Each volunteer commits to one session per week for seven weeks across Fall, Spring, or Summer semesters. Members gain direct teaching experience with incarcerated adults and youth, contributing to what PEP calls a "Prison-to-School Pipeline." About 25% of courses are taught virtually, so some volunteers can participate without traveling to a facility.
1
60 - 90 minute session per week for seven weeks
3
Semesters per year (Fall, Spring, and Summer)
~25%
Percentage of courses taught virtually
5,000
Total university student and faculty volunteers (since founding)
~17,000
In-custody students served since 2011
60
Correctional facilities served
Events They Host
PEP-CPOC-OYCR Forum
Annual forum held at Cal Poly Pomona's Kellogg West Conference Center, bringing together justice-involved organizations, probation departments, universities, and formerly incarcerated students to discuss best practices and progress on SB 823. Forums have been held in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2026; the next is scheduled for March 3, 2028.
PEP-Hawaii Roundtable Forum
Forum held at the Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki on June 14, 2024, convening Hawaii correctional, education, and rehabilitation stakeholders to discuss higher education and employment opportunities for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people in Hawaii.
Member Experiences
Mandatory Volunteer Orientation
Required orientation session for new volunteers at the start of each PEP semester. The Fall 2026 orientation is scheduled virtually on Sunday, August 23rd at 2:00 p.m.
In-person teaching visits to correctional facilities
Volunteers travel to facilities such as San Mateo County Juvenile Hall or state prisons to teach 60-90 minute sessions. PEP volunteers also traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland (Summer 2019) and Honolulu, Hawaii (July 2023 and June 2024) for in-person teaching intensives.