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Motivation to Teach Social Action:
As a Criminal Justice instructor developing courses like CJ 232 (Community-Based Corrections) and CJ 132 (Juvenile Justice), I'm drawn to this model because it moves students from studying reform and rehabilitation as abstract concepts to actually organizing for change in real institutions; the same skills students need to advocate for policy shifts in corrections, reentry, or juvenile justice systems. My restorative justice research and my work founding a reentry ministry partnering with expungement clinics have shown me how much more students (and communities) learn from leading a real campaign than from a case study, and I'd like to build that experiential structure into a course rather than treating civic engagement as a side project.
Course Description:
CJ 232 Community-Based Corrections. (3.0) Credit 3 semester hours. This course examines community-based corrections in depth, focusing on the theory, principles, and practical applications of alternatives to traditional incarceration. Participants will investigate the various strategies used to reintegrate offenders into society while maintaining public safety and addressing the root causes of criminal behavior. The course integrates theoretical knowledge with real-world case studies, encouraging participants to gain a thorough understanding of community-based correctional practices.
Taught By:
Kennedy Offei-Nelson
Instructor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Social Science
Stillman College
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