Teaching in the Belly of the Beast: Teaching College Criminal Justice Courses in Juvenile Detention Facilities

• In Event: Pedagogies & Praxis: Curriculum and Implementation for a Youth College Jail Program

Abstract

While teaching any college course in juvenile detention can be a challenge, there are unique considerations when teaching a criminal justice course in a correctional facility. For one, students are often facing their own individual legal battles, making the course material relevant to their lives in ways that traditional students may not connect with as deeply. For example, we cover topics such as victimization, plea deals, and roles of lawyers and police, all of which incarcerated students have intimate knowledge and experience with. As such, the course goes beyond a typical college class. In many ways, it morphs into a space of empowering incarcerated youth by providing them with crucial knowledge about the criminal justice system. This paper discusses the power of teaching criminal justice content to college students in juvenile detention including strategies to navigate sensitive topics while maintaining an educational focus. Specifically, the transfer of personal experiences into classroom discussions will be considered as both a challenge and an opportunity for growth.

Author

• Nicole McKenna, John Jay College of Criminal Justice