On Nov. 30, SCI Mercer and Slippery Rock University conducted the closing ceremonies of the 2022 Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program.
Nine Inside inmate students met with 12 Outside college students once a week for a semester to discuss topics such as criminal justice policies, mass incarceration, racial justice, cross-national comparisons, criminological theories, reentry and restorative justice. Slippery Rock’s Dean Daniel Bauer, Dr. Rice, Dr. Ridener and Ms. Payne were amazed by the constructive and optimistic responses of the Outside students as well as the Inside students. One Outside student said, “The lessons weren’t just about the mistakes they made, but also about how they affected their lives and what they learned from them.”
Another said, “Keep this program going because I feel like every CRIM major person should take it.”
When asked what the Inside-Out class has meant to you, an Inside student replied, “It meant a change to learn next to individuals coming from a totally different background and it was one of the best things I’ve done throughout my incarceration.”
Another said, “Inside-Out has shown me it is never too late to change or that being here doesn’t mean there is no way out.”