NPDL Mission

NPDL promotes human growth 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 perspectives 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.

The National Prison Debate League (NPDL) provides free, college-accredited learning opportunities for incarcerated people within all types of carceral spaces throughout the United States and internationally. Through the continual creation and expansion of NPDL member teams and collegiate partnerships, we build positive communities of critical thinkers, problem solvers, and effective communicators, on both sides of prison walls, who value collaborative learning, teamwork, and peaceful conflict resolution.

Vision

To build bridges, break stereotypes, and amplify the voices of the unheard.