Correctional Education English as a Second Language (ESL) literacy programs vary from state to state, region to region. Some states enroll their correctional ESL students in adult basic education (ABE) classes; other states have separate classes and programs. At the Maryland Correctional Institution in Jessup, the ESL class is a self-contained classroom with 99% of the ESL students coming from Spanish-speaking countries. These students come from unique backgrounds and teaching literacy can be challenging. This article describes characteristics of the ESL literacy program at MCI-J.