Prisons and Proximity: Encouraging Change Through Personal Connections

• In Event: When the Outside Comes In: The Voluntary Sector’s Role in Promoting Desistance in Prisons

Abstract

This paper examines the role of proximity in encouraging activism and positive change for those inside of prison and those from the outside community who come to know them personally. I discuss forms of experiential learning that bring college students into adult and youth correctional facilities to engage in dialogue with prisoners and the impact such exchanges have on both groups. In addition, I argue that service-learning projects where prisoners and outside community members work together to benefit others can serve as an important antidote for those who feel overwhelmed while learning about the significant problems in the current criminal justice system. In these cases, the proximity of prisoners and college students may serve as a catalyst for activism and social change.

Author

• Michelle Inderbitzin, Oregon State University