At first glance, it might sound trivial. Sudoku? Jigsaw puzzles?
In prison?
But when you dig a little deeper, you’ll find that the Prison Puzzle Project is part of something quietly radical; a reimagining of what rehabilitation and recovery could look like when creativity and mental wellness are prioritized inside the system.
In a space where programming is often limited to GEDs and work detail, this initiative is offering something different: a moment of agency, focus, and peace. And for many incarcerated people, that’s the first step toward healing.
Why Puzzles in Prison?
The Cade Moore Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization focused on criminal justice education and tech-based equity, launched the Prison Puzzle Project as an experiment in low-barrier therapeutic engagement.
The idea is simple: deliver Sudoku books, jigsaw puzzles, and logic games through:
- The Prison Library Project, which mails puzzle books directly to individuals inside
- The Edovo learning management system, where puzzles can be accessed on tablets
- A potential Sudoku column in publications for incarcerated individuals.
While the program isn’t widespread yet, it has the potential for so much good.
Puzzles as Therapy? Actually, Yes.
While it might sound lighthearted, there’s honest-to-goodness real science behind all of this.
Studies show that engaging in puzzles can:
- Improve executive function and working memory
- Reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression
- Trigger bilateral stimulation, similar to EMDR therapy (a leading method for treating PTSD)
- Increase neuroplasticity, aiding in trauma recovery and cognitive development
And for individuals navigating incarceration, puzzles offer more than just cognitive stimulation, they offer a rare sense of control and completion in an environment where almost everything else is dictated.
“Some have even hypothesized that solving puzzles mimics the effects of EMDR therapy, which can outperform CBT in trauma recovery.”
— R. Elizabeth Ellison, Co-Founder, The Cade Moore Foundation
Why It Needs a Champion
The Prison Puzzle Project is a powerful idea, but right now, it’s stuck on the back burner.
It needs someone who gets it. Someone who:
- Loves puzzles
- Believes in dignity behind bars
- Understands how small interventions can lead to big internal change
Sound like you? Or someone you know? You don’t need to be a therapist. You don’t need to be a prison official. You just need to care and be willing to help this idea grow.
Get Involved
The Cade Moore Foundation is looking for volunteers, advocates, or orgs who want to:
- Help source and distribute puzzles
- Assist in managing digital content partnerships
- Sponsor puzzle content in widely-read prison publications
- Spread the word to incarcerated readers and their loved ones
If you or your organization are interested in championing the Prison Puzzle Project, get in touch through The Cade Moore Foundation or reach out to Clutch Justice and we’ll connect you directly.
Final Piece of the Puzzle
We talk a lot about trauma-informed justice; this is just one piece of it.
Because sometimes healing begins not with a courtroom win, but with a pencil, a puzzle, and a little quiet time to remember who you are outside of the system.
Get in touch with the Cade Moore Foundation today.
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