Catholic universities, corrections officials come together for conference on college-in-prison programs

October 29, 2024

*Rev. Thomas Curran, S.J., coordinator of the Jesuit Prison Education Network*

The common good is rooted in our shared human dignity, our shared humanity.

For those who have felt dehumanized by incarceration, education is one way they begin to restore their humanity — and to serve the common good.

More than 50 people committed to the mission of college-in-prison programs came together last week at the University of Notre Dame for a conference launching the Consortium for Catholic Higher Education in Prison. The consortium is a national network of Catholic universities providing transformative education to incarcerated men and women as well as correctional staff.

Notre Dame Programs for Education in Prison, which is based at the Institute for Social Concerns, and the Jesuit Prison Education Network co-hosted the conference from Oct. 20-22 at the institute and other locations on Notre Dame’s campus.

“The purpose of this gathering is to thoughtfully consider and accept the invitation we receive from the incarcerated to embrace, preserve, and promote our shared humanity,” said Rev. Thomas Curran, S.J., coordinator of the Jesuit Prison Education Network.

The gathering included administrators and faculty from 20 Catholic universities, corrections officials from 15 states, and several graduates of college-in-prison programs. The conference drew people from across the country — from Massachusetts to Hawaii, Alaska to Louisiana.

Part of what made the conference special is that it brought people from the academic side of the programs together with those who work in corrections. The group’s diverse viewpoints and experiences underscored that the Consortium for Catholic Higher Education in Prison is more than a coalition of schools — it’s a coalition of partnerships, which are essential to the success of college-in-prison programs.

It was also clear that college-in-prison programs serve the common good, not only by helping incarcerated individuals but also by supporting public safety efforts and lowering recidivism.

The Consortium for Catholic Higher Education in Prison conference brought together administrators and faculty from 20 Catholic universities, corrections officials from 15 states, and several graduates of college-in-prison programs.

“Public safety and education are not mutually exclusive,” Andrew Peck, undersecretary of public safety for the state of Massachusetts, said at the end of the conference.

“We have to reimagine what public safety is. Many see public safety as just incarcerating people. But if we incarcerate people, they should leave prison better than when they arrived. If they don’t, there is no public safety in that,” Peck said. “Incarceration is finite. Behavior change is long-term public safety, and that is achieved through education, treatment, and programming.”

The goal of the Consortium for Catholic Higher Education in Prison is to build support networks and cultivate a community of shared wisdom, experience, and strategies to enhance and sustain college programs inside prison facilities across the country. The conference provided a crucial space to have open dialogue, discuss best practices, and exchange ideas.

“A key strength of this gathering was the strategic decision to bring together both educators and correctional professionals, enabling a deeper understanding of the unique and shared opportunities and challenges we face,” said Janet Davidson, vice provost for academic affairs at Chaminade University of Honolulu and a professor of criminology and criminal justice.

Thomas Dart, the sheriff of Cook County, Ill., delivered a keynote at the conference’s opening dinner in which he talked about the necessity, opportunity, and moral imperative for prison education while describing the multitude of education and training programs at the Cook County Jail. Daniel Karpowitz, former director of policy and academics for the Bard Prison Initiative and now the state of Connecticut’s undersecretary for criminal justice policy and planning, gave remarks during the lunch hour on the conference’s second day.

Panel discussions and roundtable conversations on a range of topics, from program models and education pathways to facility operations and impact assessment, enabled attendees to explore new opportunities and see additional possibilities for their programs.

One panel on Catholic social teaching and the democratization of education highlighted that a college education is a dream that has been out of reach for many employees in the correctional system as well as for people who have been incarcerated.

Courtney Everett spoke about how, as a child, he dreamed of becoming an artist or an anthropologist. However, his dream was derailed when he became incarcerated and spent 18 years in prison.

While incarcerated, though, Everett earned an associate’s degree from Saint Louis University and then a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Adams State University. Now he’s the program coordinator for Saint Louis University’s Prison Education Program, responsible for managing the program’s finances, fundraising campaigns, and community-engagement initiatives.

“I believe that education is the deepest form of freedom and a viable solution to many of society’s public safety concerns,” he said. “My goal is to continue to partner with members of the community and help make higher education accessible to every population — especially those impacted by the criminal justice system.”

The same panel featured Stephanie Eckert, a corrections case manager at Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri. She, like Everett, always dreamed of earning a college degree.

“It was on my bucket list of things to do, even though no one in my family had ever gone to college,” said Eckert, who has worked in corrections since 2009.

Then in 2018, Rockhurst University began Chillicothe Companions — an education-in-prison program that’s available to those who are incarcerated as well as those who are employed at Chillicothe Correctional Center. Eckert went on to earn an associate’s degree in liberal studies through the program.

“The opportunity that Rockhurst University provided to Chillicothe Correctional Center has been a blessing,” she said, “and one of passion and caring for people.”

Davidson, of Chaminade University, said the Catholic character of the universities in the consortium shows up in this work.

“Specifically coming together with other Catholic universities — ones who practice according to Catholic social teaching — provided an opportunity to strengthen our commitment to honoring the inherent dignity of every individual,” Davidson said. “We feel privileged to do this work, and look forward to similar meetings in the future and staying connected to the community that was formed as a result of this conference.”

Learn more about Notre Dame Programs for Education in Prison.