In my journey from solitary confinement to the Pulitzer Prize, access to education and technology was key.

I went to prison at 17 and received a life sentence for a crime I didn’t commit. I could neither read nor write, and my IQ was 56. Three decades later, I received a bachelor’s degree from Villanova University and a Pulitzer Prize for my podcast. courteouswhich focuses on re-entry into society after prison.

My educational journey began in solitary confinement, in harsh conditions and without much hope. I didn’t want to rely on others to read my mother’s letters to me while I was there, so I decided to learn to read, no matter how long it took.

I was fortunate that my facility had locked cells, so with the help of a mentor I could relate to, I achieved my goal within six months. This was a big turning point that helped me realize that education could free me in a way that the system never could, especially when I learned English as a second language.

However, my path was fraught with difficulties. Before taking the GED exam, I took it seven times. The day I received my GED, I went to college. Sixteen years later, I received a bachelor’s degree in education and marketing. This was another turning point that opened doors I never thought possible.

But make no mistake: such opportunities are rare and extremely difficult given the cards dealt to justice victims. Many prisoners never get the opportunity to further their education, especially because access to technology in prison is limited.

The digital divide is one of the biggest obstacles to a successful comeback. Many inmates in correctional facilities have never used a computer or smartphone. However, when we return to society, we will have to navigate the digital world. From accessing basic services to applying for jobs, technology literacy is critical. Most prisoners simply do not have the opportunity to learn or practice these digital skills.

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This is what ignited my passion for working with I Am More, a community college of Philadelphia reentry program that provides justice-involved individuals with access to education, support systems, and tools to help re-enter the country. The students I work with often begin their educational journey while incarcerated using Securus tablets, which make coursework accessible so they can gain the skills they need to prepare to return home.

Our program, which began with three students, now has 130 students, demonstrating first-hand the enormous potential of providing educational opportunities to incarcerated people, especially digital learning. I Am More focuses on developing skills, changing mindsets and preparing people to successfully reintegrate into society. It provides support services that ease the transition from incarceration to college while helping to negotiate a student’s basic needs: where to live, how to get to school, and where to do homework. Addressing these issues head-on removes the anxiety and uncertainty that can get in the way of success.

We must expand access to education and technology in prisons to benefit prisoners and society as a whole.

Despite these positive results, too many prisons still deny prisoners access to education and technology. The system views learning as a privilege, not a right, but denying people access to education creates a revolving door through which people return home, fail to find stable employment or reintegrate into their communities and return to the system. Education breaks this vicious cycle, resulting in a 14.8% reduction in the likelihood of recidivism.

We must expand access to education and technology in prisons to benefit prisoners and society as a whole. By depriving people of the tools to succeed, everyone fails. Technology, including tablets, can bridge the gap between prisoners by offering online learning and digital literacy programs that give them a chance to rebuild their lives.

It also connects them to stories like mine.

Education and access to technology gave me a sense of purpose and hope that one day I could make a difference. This allowed me to be successful after leaving prison. No one should be deprived of this opportunity and invitation to hope.

David Louis “Suave” Gonzalez is an ex-con who turned his life around through education. He earned a degree from Villanova University after spending 31 years in a correctional facility, and after his release in 2017, he became a Pulitzer Prize-winning podcaster.