Jessica Hicklin served 26 years in a maximum security prison for murdering someone when she was 16-years-old. While incarcerated, Hicklin taught herself to code and worked on building skills she could use outside of prison. Now, nine months after her release, she's excited to bring that same opportunity to others with UnLocked Labs, which she co-founded with Haley Shoaf.
At the Missouri Easter Correctional Center, inmates can learn full stack web development and coding through tech nonprofit LaunchCode’s "JusTech" program, with the idea that they can build skills to work in the tech industry after their release.
About half of all people released from prison in Missouri return within five years. But decades of research has shown prison education programs can help break the cycle.
About half of all people released from prison in Missouri return within five years. But decades of research has shown prison education programs can help break the cycle.