Incarcerated students complete first-ever UC collaboration

As California continues to invest in building safer communities, 23 incarcerated students graduated from a first-of-its-kind partnership with the University of California (UC) with bachelor’s degrees.

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Prioritizing rehabilitation and educational programs to strengthen public safety, CDCR announced the first-ever graduation of incarcerated students with bachelor’s degrees from UCLA.

The first class, coming from the University of California, Irvine, includes 23 graduates of Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego who received in-person instruction from UC Irvine professors.

“California is transforming its criminal justice system to focus on true rehabilitation, justice, and safer communities across the state—known as the California Model,” said CDCR Secretary Jeff Macomber. “This partnership with the University of California allows these graduates to build a foundation focused on pursuing educational opportunities that will prepare them for successful futures while making our communities safer.”

The state continues to move toward positive change in prison policy by implementing the California model. This model focuses on providing appropriate support for staff and survivors, as well as fostering rehabilitative environments. These include educational opportunities for the incarcerated population, leading to safer communities overall.

Research shows that incarcerated people who participate in correctional education are 48% less likely to return to prison within three years compared to those who did not have access to such opportunities.

The collaboration between CDCR and UCLA is made possible through a formal agreement under a program known as Leveraging Inspiring Futures Through Educational Degrees (LIFTED). LIFTED allows incarcerated students to apply to UCI as juniors and earn a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the university while serving their sentences.

“CDCR is proud to partner with UC to significantly expand degree opportunities for incarcerated students,” Macomber said. “The collaboration between CDCR and California’s public higher education system is truly life-changing. These efforts are essential because education is a powerful rehabilitation tool.”

The program’s first cohort began taking faculty-led courses in fall 2022. That same year, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state Legislature allocated $1.8 million over five years to support and expand the program.

“Graduation is always a special day, not only for graduates and their families, but for our entire university community,” said UC Irvine Chancellor Howard Gillman. “It is no exaggeration to say that today’s graduation is extremely special!”

“This is a historic opportunity to celebrate the first 23 incarcerated students to earn bachelor’s degrees from top 10 public universities, as well as the successful partnership between two major state institutions that work together to provide a world-class public education in a state prison,” said LIFTED Director and UCI Professor Keramet Reiter.

Shannon Swain, director of CDCR’s Office of Prison Education, said programs like this are special.

“We have a lot of undergraduate programs at universities in California, but this is our first graduation from a UCLA,” Swain said. “And UCI is one of the top research universities in the world. Education is transformative, and higher education reduces recidivism. It’s good for taxpayers, it’s good for (public) safety, and it’s certainly good for students and their families.”

Victor Lopez, one of the graduates, saw the benefits of education.

“You can’t stop believing,” Lopez said. “You live in the dark if you don’t educate yourself.”

Kelly McLeod, another graduate, believes there are many benefits to getting an education.

“It’s life-changing,” McLeod said. “This experience really changed my life. I felt so capable and confident.”

CDCR partners with the California public higher education system to offer associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees through California State Colleges, California State University, and the University of California. More than 13.5% of the prison population is enrolled in college courses.

More information about the California model can be found on the CDCR website.

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