Making the Case for Jesuit Prison Education

The time for making the case for prison education is upon us. Some college instruction can reduce recidivism by 43% thus reducing the costs of incarcerations by millions each year. Classroom instruction will help prepare the 750,000 released annually to enter the labor force as skilled workers which in turn fuels the economy. Additionally, correctional leaders report that instruction for incarcerated and correctional facility staff changes the dynamic of an institution from one of mistrust and contempt into places of mutual concern and respect. Furthermore, classes in the humanities help to bring about an experience of a shared humanity for the providers as well as the recipients. These are just a few of the compelling reasons for college credit classes in the prison. And, college credit classes is the focus of the Jesuit Prison Education Network (JPEN).

JPEN will head to the campus of Loyola University Chicago for four days, this July, for the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) Faith, Justice and Reconciliation Assembly 2024: Creation of a Hope-filled Future. The Assembly will highlight the work on justice taking place at Jesuit institutions by featuring six Commissions (faculty and staff) working on major issues of faith, justice and reconciliation affecting AJCU institutions. This summer gathering will follow the example of the first quadrennial gathering of AJCU justice efforts celebrated, in 2002, at Santa Clara University.

Prison Education: A Call to our Shared Humanity will be one of the six 2024 commissions. The others include: Citizenship and Democracy; Student Spiritual Growth and Mental Health; Laudato Si; Legacy of Slavery by Jesuit Institutions; and the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm.

Prior to the summer assembly, as part of its work product for the gathering, JPEN is compiling and publishing a series of essays and reflections titled, Making the Case for Jesuit Prison Education. Legislators, educators, civic leaders, faculty teaching in the prisons, currently incarcerated students, released individuals, academic leaders, and officials in departments of corrections, have “put pen to paper” to support the presence of college credit classes and degrees for the residents and staff of correctional facilities. To date, 12 state correctional facilities have been adopted by the nine Jesuit colleges and universities that make up JPEN.