Unlocking the human potential in America’s prisons.
95% of those incarcerated will return to our communities.
Many of those in prison want to prepare to do that well.
For more than two decades, we have been providing innovative, evidence-based reentry programming that transforms the lives of participants and prison environments, resulting in lower recidivism, better neighbors, and stronger communities.
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Colby Braun
Director of Facility Operations / North Dakota DOCR
“Shining Light delivers a service that helps many of our residents put knowledge into action. Our work is to help people be better neighbors when they leave prison for a safer North Dakota. Shining Light is committed to working alongside our team members and residents to accomplish this.”
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Jeremy
Academy Graduate & Academy Assistant / JRCC
“The Academy fundamentally changed how I perceive and interact with the world around me. This makes you a more engaged, interactive human, a more engaged person. It increased how forthcoming I would be and transparent in my life.”
Our work with thousands of incarcerated people
across the United States has shaped our mission & core philosophy:
By helping individuals in prison to thrive - by giving them the tools, motivation and support that every human being needs to become the most productive, resilient, hopeful version of themselves - we can have a profoundly positive impact on individual lives, families and extended communities.
A Track Record of Success:
United States
Reincarceration Rate:
*BJS 2021 5 Years Post-Release
Shining Light
Reincarceration Rate:
<9%
*Based on +300 released program
participants, 2016-2020
“The impact that you and your team had upon the men they worked with during the many workshops was truly impressive. Several of the men communicated that the experience was one of the most impactful experiences of their lives. They spoke of being committed to something for the first time in their lives and how their families see them differently now.”
— Warden Tim Buchannan / Noble Correctional Institution / Caldwell, Ohio
Our programs motivate and equip people for success in educational, vocational, and relational opportunities, preparing them for their return to society.
Offering programming in prisons since 1999
Served +60,000 Incarcerated People in 32 States
Coordinated +50,000 Volunteer Hours
Invested $5,500,000 in Program Development and Services since 1999
“Shining Light’s Character Strengths Video Series is probably the greatest (most well-done) character strengths ‘creation’ for the correctional facility setting/population that I have seen.”
— Dr. Ryan Niemiec / Education Director and Psychologist / VIA Institute on Character / Fellow and Council of Advisors, International Positive Psychology Association
Our 20+ years of work in prisons have enabled us to discover how to unlock the tremendous potential of those in prison.
“Before this class, all I wanted to do was leave this place. Now I want to help people feel like we feel in this class. I am seeing what we can do behind these walls, it does not have to be all negative street stuff.”
Why It Works
Evidence-based
Interactive and engaging
Facilitated by previously incarcerated individuals & trained practitioners
Centered on participants’ strengths & experiences
Technology-enabled to be scalable, efficient, & flexible
Built on decades of experience in over 70 US correctional facilities
Our 2022 Promo Film
Meet our staff, participants, and administrators at prisons where we work in this short film.
(16 minutes)