23 inmates graduate with bachelor's degrees as part of California prison, university partnership

A New Chapter: Incarcerated Students Earn Sociology Degrees from UC IrvinePhoto bycnn.com

For the first time, inmates have successfully earned bachelor's degrees through the University of California system.

In a landmark achievement, twenty-three inmates at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego received their sociology degrees from UC Irvine. This accomplishment is the result of a collaborative initiative with the state.

"Graduation day is a momentous occasion, not only for the graduates and their families but for our entire university community," remarked UC Irvine Chancellor Howard Gillman. "It is no exaggeration to say that today's ceremony is extraordinarily special."

California is undergoing a transformation in its criminal justice system to emphasize genuine rehabilitation and community safety, known as the California Model. "This partnership with the University of California enables these graduates to build a solid foundation for their futures while contributing to safer communities," said CDCR Secretary Jeff Macomber.

This unique collaboration is facilitated by the Leveraging Inspiring Futures Through Educational Degrees (LIFTED) program, which allows incarcerated individuals to transfer to UC Irvine as juniors and earn a sociology degree while serving their sentences.

The first group of students under this program began taking courses led by UC Irvine faculty in the fall of 2022. That same year, Governor Gavin Newsom and the State Legislature allocated $1.8 million over five years to support and expand the program.

Keramet Reiter, Director of LIFTED and UC Irvine Professor, celebrated the occasion, stating, "This is a historic moment, marking the first 23 incarcerated students to earn bachelor's degrees from a top 10 public university, demonstrating a successful partnership between major state institutions to provide world-class education within state prisons."

Currently, over 11,000 individuals in state prisons are enrolled in college courses. According to the CDCR, studies indicate that inmates who participate in educational programs are 48% less likely to re-offend within three years compared to those without such opportunities.

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