Support the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program at UT Dallas

The UTD Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program

Picture a unique classroom where college students study alongside students who are incarcerated in a prison or jail setting. Since its founding in 1997, the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program has offered a semester-long course that unites campus-based undergraduates with inmates for practical, no-nonsense discussions and shared learning. Now expanded across the U.S. and globally, Inside-Out delivers impactful education that challenges assumptions and fosters understanding through direct experience.

Learn more at https://www.insideoutcenter.org/index.html

The Criminology and Criminal Justice Program is offering the Inside-Out Prison Exchange course in the spring 2026 semester at the Collin County Detention Facility. Students from UTD will engage with students who are incarcerated in a bold, transformative educational experience that values real-world engagement and personal growth. The class offers inside students and outside students the chance to learn, connect and grow in ways that matter. This isn’t your typical academic course — it’s a real-world environment that promotes personal responsibility, critical thinking and mutual respect.

 Learn more at https://epps.utdallas.edu/about/utd-inside-out-prison-exchange-program/

Fundraising Goal

To facilitate learning, instructors rely on course materials such as books, readers and composition journals. This poses a unique challenge for students on the inside as they do not have the funds to purchase the materials required for participation. To support our students, we are seeking donations to purchase books for the class. 

Our $500 goal will cover the costs of two books per inside student. Exceeding this goal would allow us to extend our support to purchase other necessary course materials and to aid outside students who may be facing financial difficulty. Books may be reused from semester to semester, so your donation will have lasting impact. 

Impact of the UTD Inside-Out Prison Exchange  

The UTD Inside-Out Prison Exchange® course is an opportunity for a group of students from The University of Texas at Dallas and a group of students from the Collin County Detention Facility to exchange ideas and perceptions about crime, corrections and the legal system. It is a chance for all participants to gain a deeper understanding of the legal system by combining theoretical knowledge and lived experience. It serves as an important way for future criminal justice professionals to develop critical thinking skills. 

Research has shown that the program is impactful on both inside and outside students. The positive influence of this program extends to the carceral facility as well as the wider community. Students from the outside gain valuable insight that informs their future careers in the criminal justice system or their work with justice involved individuals. Inside students develop a greater sense of self-esteem, self-worth and value, which assist in the process of desistance and integration back into our communities.