The goal of engaging students directly in social change
Service learning course focused on the juvenile justice system, working with a local organization focused on dismantling the current juvenile prison model and reinvesting in supportive communities for young people
Sarah Jane Brubaker
Professor, Criminal Justice
Virginia Commonwealth University
Read profile here.
Fall 2026
The goal of engaging students directly in social change
No
Solitary confinement of youth, age to be tried as an adult, alternatives to incarceration, diversion, school-to-prison pipeline, mental health/trauma
Email from Scott Myers-Lipton
Professor
sbrubaker@vcu.edu
- Criminal Justice Service-Learning - Juvenile justice system - Dismantling juvenile prison model - Community reinvestment - Social change - Solitary confinement of youth - Alternatives to incarceration - School-to-prison pipeline - Mental health/trauma
A new service learning course focused on the juvenile justice system will be taught by Sarah Jane Brubaker at Virginia Commonwealth University in Fall 2026. The course aims to engage students in social change by working with a local organization to dismantle the juvenile prison model and support communities for young people. Key topics include solitary confinement, alternatives to incarceration, and the school-to-prison pipeline.
- Course Title: Criminal Justice Service-Learning - Instructor: Sarah Jane Brubaker, Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University - Focus: Juvenile justice system, social change - Engagement: Working with local organization to reform juvenile prison model - Format: Virtual - Synchronous, 120 min sessions, 1x/week for 15 weeks - Semester: Fall 2026 - Status: Approved
Virginia
