The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has implemented more community based hands-on classes within their course offerings. These classes, titled Community Engaged Learning Classes (CEL), involve academically based community engaged courses where student learning takes place in partnership with a community organization or business.
This semester, a class within the sociology department; Corrections and Penology or SOC 323, had the opportunity to help record a children’s book with incarcerated fathers at New Lisbon Correctional Institution.
Led by Dr. Nicholas Bakken, professor of sociology and criminal justice at UWL, this project helped combat stigma around incarceration while also connecting families that have been affected by the criminal justice system.
This project was not an easy task to implement. Bakken started initial planning for this class over a year ago, which required the necessary Institutional Review Board approval and the Department of Corrections because those in prison are of a protected population.
Once the class was approved, students were able to visit the New Lisbon Correctional Institution and meet with incarcerated fathers. They then had conversations with the fathers and collaborated to record a personal reading of the children’s book “Under the Same Moon,” by Suzanne Berry which would be given to their children.
Third-year Student and Sociology Major Katie Last, said that the project allowed for fathers to connect with their children, who are also highly affected by having an incarcerated father.
“This [project] allows the children to not only hear their fathers’ voices but also feel a connection through the story,” Last said.
The story, “Under the Same Moon,” by Suzanne Berry highlights that although there is distance between the characters, they will always still be under the same moon. The gift to the childeren included a dedication page, where the fathers could include a personalized note.
“This project was designed to give students hands-on experience in the criminal justice field, while also helping incarcerated fathers address the emotional barriers that often come with being separated from their children,” said Bakken.
Kelli Kryczka, a fourth-year student majoring in psychology, was one of the students who visited the New Lisbon Correctional Institution. She explained how although these men are in prison, they still hold the title of being a parent.
“These men are still human… [and] their decisions have consequences, but they’re [still] dads,” said Kryczka.
A study done by the Bureau of Justice Statistics revealed that “684,500 state and federal prisoners were parents of at least one minor child in 2016—nearly half of state prisoners (47%) and more than half of federal prisoners (58%).”
With not a lot of opportunities for parents in the justice system to connect with their young children, the sociology class took their project one step further, developing potential programs that could be implemented as programs within the correctional facility.
One group in particular had the opportunity to present to Warden Tim Thomas the real possibility for their project to be used as a reintegration project. The project chosen will involve parents creating arts and crafts for their children while participating in group therapy. This opportunity gives parents a positive step forward for when they eventually get reunited with their children.
Last, who was a part of the final presentation said the experiences she had in this class meant more than just a grade:
“This wasn’t just a class; it was real-life engagement. Knowing that our work might change lives was indescribable,” Last said.
CEL classes mark a new way of learning for UWL students. Ditching the traditional classroom environment and putting students in real world situations helps prepare them for post grad, what secondary education aims to do.
Last said that she is interested in social work and felt inspired by the work she saw in the prison, which opened new doors to different careers she didn’t know existed.
“Meeting correctional social workers and seeing how they advocate for inmates made me realize how fulfilling this career path could be,” Last said.
With the semester wrapping up, the impact of the work done in this class has not come to an end. During this holiday season, projects done in this class will impact the lives of the inmates and families affected by incarceration.
