Prison as a Site for Experiential Learning in Social Work: Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program

Abstract

Across the globe, the United States has the largest number of individuals incarcerated, and these individuals are disproportionately of minority status and economically disadvantaged. The extent of the issue makes it important to social work, but many social work programs lack opportunities for students to more fully appreciate the social justice implications of our criminal justice policies. The Inside-Out (IO) Prison Exchange Program provides students with a unique opportunity to learn alongside incarcerated people inside a prison. Through weekly class meetings, and group projects over the semester, inside and outside students learn about each other as well as the course content. In this article, we discuss what IO entails and our experiences developing an IO program in social work. The goal of this article is to illuminate the process of starting an IO program and demonstrate its transformative impact on students, inside and outside.