Freedom Education Project Puget Sound

Freedom Education Project Puget Sound (FEPPS) provides a rigorous college program for incarcerated women, trans-identified and gender nonconforming people in Washington and creates pathways to higher education after students return to community from prison. FEPPS offers an Associate of Arts degree accredited by Tacoma Community College, and a Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree accredited by University of Puget Sound. Most women enter prison with significant challenges, which only become greater after release. Many have had minimal access to education, come from impoverished backgrounds, and never finished high school. A majority have survived domestic or sexual violence, and will be a caretaker of children upon release. Once released, most women have accrued significant debt, carry the stigma of incarceration, and are barred from many housing and employment opportunities. Children of incarcerated parents have higher rates of arrest, incarceration, poverty, and mental and physical h...