Criminal & Juvenile Justice

Higher Education in Prison

Drawing on poetry, political theory, sociological texts, film, and personal narratives, this course offers an introduction to prison and its critiques, as well as the power of education to transform individuals and societies. This hybrid course meets once a week at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF); Capstone students will study together with women enrolled in higher education at the women’s prison, about 20 minutes south of PSU in Wilsonville. Successful background clearances are required in order to participate.

Inside/Out Prison Exchange: Imagining Justice

 

This course is taught on the model of the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program, which brings together college students living in prison (in this case, Coffee Creek Women’s Correctional Facility) with students on the outside. In this unique classroom environment we will focus on the question, “What Is Justice?” The premise of the course is that living a just existence means living imaginatively. “Justice” is not a thing, but an abstract ideal that we must constantly re-envision as we attempt to put it into practice.

How do I transform my own life? How do I transform my community and the world?

Effective Change Agent

There are various community partners for this Capstone. The cooperative learning environment set forth for this class will help students create the ‘learning community’ necessary to achieve the course objectives. This cooperative approach (group activities, assignments and projects) will rely heavily on active participation and will therefore be dependent upon the level of responsibility that the student chooses to take for themself and for their classmates.

Service Coordination Team is multi-agency, multi-faceted program to manage what have been identified as chronic offenders in Multnomah County, Oregon. The purpose of this Capstone is to develop and undertake an evaluation of this program from both a process and outcome perspective. Students will work with all stakeholders in this program at various sites in the community.

Juvenile Justice Capstone Group PhotoJuvenile Justice

This Capstone partners with the Multnomah County Department of Community Justice, Juvenile Services Division.  Students work together to facilitate a writing/art workshop in juvenile detention. Through your work in the detention facility, as well as through supportive academic activities, you will have the opportunity to deeply explore current issues in juvenile justice.

 

 

 

Street Roots: Exploring Issues of Homelessness  In this Capstone students explore and expose various issues surrounding poverty and homelessness through direct contact with non-profits, businesses, government and the homeless community. Students will report and write stories, complete with original photography, for publication in Street Roots, Portland's homeless newspaper.

Equal Access for Justice

A comprehensive and engaging examination of contemporary multicultural and cross-cultural imperatives, this capstone explores the barriers to justice for ethnic and racial minorities. Special attention will be given to the U.S. institutional structure and the justice system. Utilizing a progressive and proactive approach, students will acquire a deeper understanding, awareness and appreciation  of  the root causes of the existing disparities. Their learning outcome will be enhanced through design and formulation of proactive solutions to secure fairness, equity and justice for all.