Elizabethtown College Criminal Justice Students Host Reentry Workshops

A group of eight Elizabethtown College Criminal Justice students held 12 reentry workshops for incarcerated individuals eligible for parole at nearby State Correctional Institution (SCI) Camp Hill over the course of the spring 2025 semester.

The workshops were designed to address significant challenges faced by recently incarcerated individuals who are transitioning back into the community with topics that included, “Repairing Relationships,” “Reducing Recidivism, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment Options,” and “Connecting with the Community: Removing the ‘Criminal’ Label.”

“It is important for me to participate in this program because reentry workshops provide support to inmates to help them reintegrate back into society successfully,” Psychology major Cassandra Teter ’25 said. “It also gives me a chance to talk with individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences, which helps to develop a better understanding of specific issues like poverty and systemic challenges that many marginalized individuals may face.”

Students were enrolled in Director of the Criminal Justice Program and Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, Kadee Crandall’s CJ 320: Community Corrections course. Divided into two groups, they created and presented six workshops at the prison. Workshop topics were developed in collaboration with staff at SCI Camp Hill and provided to the students. Each student-led workshop included an icebreaker, a PowerPoint presentation, and an interactive activity that included the creation of vision boards for inmates to highlight their future goals and inspirations.

As part of the workshops, students also listened to participants share personal stories about their lives before and during incarceration. The workshops were offered to inmates who are part of the Reentry Service Office and within one year of their parole interview with the parole board.

“This is a unique, hands-on experience that has allowed me to develop skills in communication, problem-solving, and leadership,” Teter said. “This program has also let me make connections with professionals in the fields of social work, criminal justice, and psychology.”

Community Corrections is a new course created to provide a comprehensive examination of the purposes and functions of community corrections, including probation, parole, and intermediate sanctions. The course is a community-based learning experience (CBL), providing students with real-world experience inside a maximum-security prison.

“Throughout this experience, students apply course material, gain practical knowledge, and develop empathy,” Crandall said. “This experience also provides an opportunity for career exploration for the current students who are majoring in criminal justice, psychology, and political science.”

The Elizabethtown College Criminal Justice Club toured SCI Camp Hill in the fall as part of a host of experiential learning opportunities in the program. Last spring, Etown students participated in a Reentry Simulation event to learn more about the struggles incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals face.

About Etown’s Criminal Justice Program

Students majoring in Criminal Justice at Elizabethtown College gain a strong ability to conduct research, analyze information, and think critically about topics like relationship building and community interactions. This major prepares students to be employed in Criminal Justice related fields with skills that set them apart from graduates of other programs or to enter a graduate degree program in a related field. Learn more.