National Prison Debate League

NPDL promotes human potential and social diplomacy by creating safe educational spaces for healthy intellectual conflict to occur in the form of 5-on-5 team policy debate. We believe that the thoughtful exchange of multicultural ideas increases knowledge, amplifies understanding, fosters community, and encourages civic engagement. Through our free college-credit bearing educational programming,  NPDL.org is decarcerating minds, building bridges, and breaking negative stereotypes. 

NPDL's all-volunteer staff is comprised of NCAA debate directors, formerly incarcerated mentors, and current NCAA debaters. We support our incarcerated students through a unique combination of academic instruction and lived carceral experience while teaching the art of policy debate over the span of 12-week student cohorts. NPDL students are empowered to become strong self-advocates and positive change makers as evidenced by their winning ways over top NCAA teams every season. Be inspired and please donate.