In early 2012, a prisoner by the name
Christopher Havens began studying mathematics for the very first time within the prison inside of prison.
Christopher was in a form of isolation that we call solitary confinement… prisoners know it as “the hole”. Having no other form of stimulation, mathematics occupied every hour of Christopher’s days, lasting the better part of a year until he was released back into the general population. In so many cases, the negative effects of prolonged isolation manifests itself through the behaviors in both the short and the long term. However, this case is one where a mix of isolation and the transformative powers of mathematics caused Christopher to undergo a steady chain of personal growth while igniting within him a passion for mathematics.
Please note that the Prison Mathematics Project is currently in the process of achieving 501(c)(3) status.