Graduate students in the Criminal Justice Department collaborated and recently published their work in the Journal of Criminal Justice Education. Doctoral students Talia F. LaSane and Sarah D. Jones and CJ MA graduate Claire A. Graves, examined why Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program instructors teach these courses, how they experience the classroom environment, the challenges they face, and how participation shapes their teaching philosophies. They found that instructors are motivated by Inside-Out’s social justice mission, navigate institutional power dynamics, and experience both professional and personal growth that informs their teaching at their respective institutions. Thus, these experiences shape how instructors teach, research, and engage with justice-impacted communities, reinforcing Inside-Out’s broader potential to connect education with purpose.

This project was a true student collaboration and originated in the Department’s Advanced Methods and Issues in Criminal Justice Research (CJ8302) with Dr. Jennifer Wood in Spring 2023.