Pace Program Gives Students An Inside Look At Criminal Justice

Press release from Pace University:

May 5, 2021

Pace University’s Criminal Justice Department joined with the Westchester County Department of Correction (WCDOC) to complete an Inside-Out course where Pace students learned in tandem with incarcerated students.

This was one of the very few Inside-Out programs able to operate nationally during the pandemic. Students participated virtually in a criminal justice course (CRJ 242) as a writing enhanced class – Crime & Public Policy – earning all participants three college credits for their successful completion.

Six inside students from the county jail and 11 outside students from Pace University graduated on Tuesday, April 27, 2021.

The Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program, based at Temple University, brings together incarcerated students and campus-based students for a semester long learning experience. Trainings are offered to become Inside-Out facilitators and there are over 150 colleges and universities that participate in the program around the world.

Kimberly Collica-Cox, Ph.D., a criminal justice professor at Pace University, became an Inside-Out instructor last year, and it’s her second year providing college programming for the WCDOC. The course maintains a focus on theories of crime and crime typologies, as well as criminal justice policy. Students complete exams, papers, and a group presentation.

Typically, Pace students take this course at the jail alongside incarcerated men and women. This year, however, the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the use of innovate tools to maintain course integrity, while preserving the safety and health of all students.

While the majority of correctional institutions do not allow for the use of internet-based services, the WCDOC continues to be a leader in correctional programming and creative learning practices by allowing for the use of technology, according to Professor Collica-Cox.

The facility’s smart televisions and remote tools allowed the instructor and outside students to “Zoom” with the jail. Pace University also donated laptops to the jail, which were utilized during class time, to allow the Inside and Outside students to work together on weekly projects in small groups, which is an integral component of the Inside-Out model.

“The WCDOC has always been committed to the safety of its residents and visitors,” said Collica-Cox. “Their commitment to rehabilitation demonstrates that technology can be used safely and securely to facilitate programming during the most difficult times. We are honored to have the ability to continue Pace’s commitment to social justice and higher education.”

In addition to this course, Collica-Cox completed a civic engagement class during the fall 2020 semester at the WCDOC: the Parenting, Prison and Pups (PPP) program, which is an animal assisted therapy-integrated parenting program offered to incarcerated women, utilizing similar technology.

“The impact of education goes beyond the walls of incarceration,” said Nory Padilla, first deputy commissioner, Westchester County Department of Correction. “Education has profound life changing benefits particularly for the incarcerated population. WCDOC is committed to rehabilitation and we welcome the opportunity to partner with Pace University and Dr. Collica-Cox to offer our residents the opportunity to participate in this Inside-Out college class. We are proud of our DOC student’s ability to successfully complete the class and we applaud their hard work, weekly participation and overall commitment to be actively involved in the class.”

aThis press release was produced by Pace University. The views expressed here are the author's own.