Course Description

CJUS 335 (men's prisons) and CJUS 336 (women's prison)
3 hours of CJUS Elective Credit (fulfilling the diversity requirement)

The Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program is unlike any class you have ever had. The course meets inside two men's prisons located approximately 25 miles north of Xavier University or at a women's prison 48 miles north of Xavier University. The class combines Xavier students with an equal number of incarcerated men at Warren Correctional Institute in the Fall semester and Lebanon Correctional Institute in the Spring semester or incarcerated women at Dayton Correctional Institute in the Fall semester. Both Xavier and incarcerated students have the same syllabus and academic requirements. For years, dozens of Xavier students-from all majors-have been transformed by the Inside-Out class.  NOTE: Xavier students of any gender identity can take either course.

The curriculum at Warren Correctional and Lebanon Correctional (level 3 state men's prisons) includes the exploration of why people commit crime, the purpose of prison, analysis of the criminal justice system, punishment and rehabilitation, the intersection of race, class, and sex in the criminal justice system, victims and victimization, and the myths and realities of prison life, while the curriculum at Dayton Correctional Institute (a women's prison) in the Fall includes pathways into crime, the importance of gender-specific rehabilitation, the role of children, victimization, the myths and realities of prison life, and dependency.

NOTE: This class will take place inside in Warren Correctional (Fall) or Lebanon Correctional (Spring) in Lebanon, Ohio located approximately 25 miles north of Xavier University or Dayton Correctional Institute (Fall) located 48 miles north of Xavier University. You will be required to arrange your own transportation to/from the prison and class attendance/participation is mandatory. The security of all students is a priority and care is taken to ensure semi-anonymity (first names only) to prevent outside contact during or following the semester. Both inside and outside students take part in an interview/screening process before being accepted into the class.

The application is a required first step in our selection of 10-12 students to take part in the class. To be considered for the Fall (Warren Correctional Institute or Dayton Correctional Institute) or Spring (Lebanon Correctional Institute) course, any interested student should complete the application. To apply, please click on the Application Process tab to the left.