First off, that sucks for your friend. I would hope they would be able to learn programming. I think the policy should be changed, but I'm also not even sure if it's a policy, or if different prisons get to make those decisions.

I think one of the logistical issues is I'm not sure prisoners have great internet access, in terms of either time, size of things downloaded, or having a persistent space to store their own data, if it's on a public computer. I'm not sure for example if they are allowed a laptop in their cell, or something like that. Probably not?

Makes me wonder if there's a way to compile resources on a USB drive that would have the software required, and the books / knowledge, without necessarily accessing the internet, and a place to store files on. Kind of like a class on a stick.