Our Programs

Our Programs

Empowering transformation through education

Empowering transformation through education

My wife and I began the Prison Professors Charitable Corporation as a public benefits corporation to help all justice-impacted people. We create educational content and training programs to help people prepare for law-abiding, contributing lives. We strive to stop intergenerational cycles of recidivism by showing people how they can recalibrate while incarcerated.

Further, we advocate creating programs that will incentivize excellence, and encourage people to work toward earning freedom through merit.

Transformative Education Programs

Michael Santos creates self-directed programs to help people in prison prepare for law-abiding, contributing lives upon release. Because he served 26 years in federal prison, and he built successful businesses after he finished his term, many people in prison view him as an authority figure and someone from whom they can learn to emulate his success.

The Bureau of Prisons, the California Department of Corrections, and other agencies purchase the rights to use some of the courses that Michael creates. Our nonprofit also works closely with the Edovo platform to distribute our courses to more than 300,000 people in jails and prisons each year.

With that scale, the nonprofit receives requests from both administrators and people serving sentences for supplemental courses. Consistent with the by-laws of the PPCC, our nonprofit creates courses, books, and supplemental content that the nonprofit distributes without charge to institutions and to justice-impacted people.

To improve outcomes of America’s prison system, PPCC needs a pathway to raise more resources until it becomes a self-sustaining entity.

Reentry Success

An officer changed my life when he provided me with a biography of Frederick Douglass’ biography. By reading that story, I got inspired. I read about Socrates, Nelson Mandela, and Mahatma Gandhi. They helped me learn how to work toward living as the change I wanted to see.

Thanks to leadership in the criminal justice system, opportunities opened to reconcile with society. By collaborating with others, we changed laws and policies.

Don’t just take our word for it

  • Dear Prison Professor, I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for all the support and assistance you have provided me with. Your organization has been instrumental in helping me secure funding to pursue education and training, particularly in the field of computer science. With your help, I am now working with Michael at Prison Professors to prepare a package aimed at obtaining funding for certifications as a NCCER Level 1 and 2 heavy equipment operator. I firmly believe that these certifications will not only enhance my skills in heavy equipment operation but also open up opportunities for me to establish my own business upon reentering society. Having spent a significant amount of time in prison, I understand the importance of continuous learning and skill development in ensuring a successful transition back into the community. Your assistance has been invaluable in providing me with the resources and support needed to pursue these goals. I am truly grateful for everything Prison Professor has done for me, and I wanted to share this testimonial to express my heartfelt appreciation. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to supporting individuals like myself in their journey towards rehabilitation and reintegration. Sincerely, Justin Norcutt

  • My name is David A, I pled guilty to wire fraud and I’m facing prison time. Prison Professors’ content has helped me through my legal journey. They are the reason I have a better understanding of the transition from pretrial to pledging guilty to sentencing to BOP to RRC and finally coming back home. Prison Professors made me understand how to take responsibility for my conducts and how to document my progress through book reports and programs report, for stake holders I would be meeting throughout my legal journey. The goal is to stand out in prison and be the best candidate for relief when the opportunity presents itself. Prison Professors is truly changing the prison landscape for the better through their advocacy works and preparation of justice impacted people for the journey ahead.

  • Hello, my name is Tori Carter, and I have a close family member who is currently incarcerated in the BOP. Two years ago, this family member was arrested and the nightmare began for our family. I was absolutely devastated and so were the other members of my close-knit family. This was our first and only experience with the federal justice system and we were absolutely blindsided. The system is so incredibly confusing and difficult to understand. My mother and I immediately immersed ourselves in research, grasping at anything we could find to help. In our extensive research, we found Prison Professors, and the founder, Michael Santos. He has been a God-send. You really don’t understand the feeling of desperation and hopelessness that the federal justice system brings unless you have experienced it in your own family. Michael Santos has experienced it, and has extensive knowledge to help everyone affected. We sent our family member Michael’s books, which helped tremendously with the fear and uncertainty he was feeling. We also read the books and researched the Prison Professors website for any and all information we were seeking at all legal stages. The information is invaluable for many reasons, not the least of which is cultivating an attitude of positive change and meaningful adjustments for the incarcerated. The Prison Professors content absolutely supports the whole idea of positive reintegration and lowest possible recidivism, which should be the goal of corrections in the first place. I recommend Prison Professors to anyone who is seeking help navigating the justice system as it is the best, most comprehensive site I have found, hands down.

  • I was already sentenced when I came across prison professors. They helped me to understand the new world I was entering, because I didn’t know the rules or spoke the language, I was very apprehensive. Their daily webinar services are an invaluable way to ask the new questions that are generated as you learn more about prison. The one on one services are invaluable on refining your release plan, as well as your mental health. I highly recommend prison professors to anyone involved in the justice system as well as their families.

  • Excellent advice. I recommend it

Advocacy and Volunteer Opportunities

We invite others to join our efforts by making a tax-deductible contribution to support our advocacy, the mission of the PPCC, helping justice-impacted people, and ending intergenerational cycles in recidivism.