Nearly two dozen incarcerated women received bachelor’s degrees through Cal State LA last Friday, marking the first all-female graduating class as part of a collaborative effort between the university and the California Department of Corrections.
The 22 women are incarcerated at the California Institution for Women in Corona, corrections officials said in a media release. All of them received a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts.
California Department of Corrections (CDCR) officials say that their agency “leads the nation in higher education,” as thousands of inmates enroll in some sort of program that meets their educational needs each year.
According to CDCR Secretary Jeff Macomber, that education is key to discouraging repeat offenses.
“Today’s milestone reflects the power of education to transform lives,” Macomber said. “By expanding access to higher education inside our institutions, we are not only opening doors for personal growth but also strengthening pathways for safer, healthier communities across California.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom also expressed his support for the education program and the graduates.
“Higher education is key to the transformation and growth that we see today from many of the students graduating,” he said. “I’m proud to see them taking a step in the right direction to contribute positively to our society.”
A study cited by CDCR indicates that incarcerated people who participate in correctional education are 48% less likely to return to prison within three years than those who did not participate or have access to those opportunities.
CDCR’s Prison Graduation Initiative is a collaboration between the corrections department and Cal State LA and began in 2016 at the state prison in Lancaster. As of publication, 73 students have earned bachelor’s degrees while incarcerated, including 21 who “seamlessly” completed their coursework after paroling.
Cal State LA also worked with CDCR to build a “college campus” at the California Institution for Men in Chino – the first such facility inside a correctional facility in the U.S. — and officials say 59 matriculated students are pursuing college degrees through the two-year, 60-unit program, which provides tailored coursework focused on connecting students with career opportunities.
This school year, the Prison Graduation Initiative will serve 180 students in three prisons: California State Prison, Los Angeles County; California Institution for Women and California Institution for Men.
One graduate of the Prison Graduation Initiative said the program changed her mindset completely; in her own words, “LWOP [life without parole] now means live with opportunity and purpose.”
“I am proud to be a part of a rehabilitative program that appreciates me for the woman I am today, and the value of my thoughts and inspiration of my voice,” said the graduate, Jennifer Henderson. “I chose to grow and develop my mind and spirit and empower others to live beyond any label.”
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