OROFINO, ID – Lewis-Clark State College held a commencement ceremony for 15 graduates of its prison education program at Idaho Correctional Institution – Orofino (ICIO) on Monday. The ceremony was attended by other students in the program, college administrators, faculty and staff, as well as 30 family members of the graduates.
Seven students earned an associate degree, and eight earned a business essential certificate. Brett Allsop, Jorge Baird, Cory Campbell, David Cevallos, Robert Cornford, and Kevin Thorne graduated with an associate degree in liberal arts. Baird, Campbell, Cevallos, and Scott White earned an associate degree in business administration. Graduating with a business essentials certificate were Dustin Alfaro, Dakota Bailey, Baird, Bryan Cameron, Campbell, Cevallos, Christopher Griffith, Mason Hughes, Zachary Johnstone, Lazarus Salazar, Dakota Turner, and White.
Last year, LC State had three graduates at ICIO. Overall, including its facilities in Boise and Pocatello, LC State is anticipating 17 graduates in its statewide prison education program this year.
“LC State is proud to be a statewide leader in prison education, and very excited to celebrate these accomplishments,” LC State President Cynthia Pemberton said. “Our institution has a long history of not only making college accessible but of helping students from all backgrounds thrive. This commencement is a great example of this.”
“Congratulations to the graduating college students from ICIO. I feel honored to have been a part of such a historic event,” said ICIO warden Terema Carlin. “Our partnership with LC State continues to grow and give residents an opportunity to increase their job options when they are presented with the chance to return to society, where they can find solid employment, pay taxes, and provide for their families. I look forward to future celebrations with the staff of LC State and the residents of ICIO.”
The college currently serves approximately 165 incarcerated students across its three locations. Students can pursue certificates, associate degrees, or bachelor’s degrees in areas such as business, communication, liberal arts, and social sciences. To date, four individuals have been released from custody and are continuing their education with LC State. The college is the first Idaho institution to be approved as a prison education program site.
“LC State has been a tremendous partner in bringing the college experience to the resident population at ICIO and across the Idaho Department of Correction,” said Ted Oparnico, Idaho Department of Correction education program director. “Special thanks to the LC State leadership and staff for their incredible efforts and determination for the ongoing refining and adjusting to the times of correctional education. Additionally, much appreciation and respect to the ICIO leadership team and education staff for going above and beyond what was once thought impossible. I know both LC State and IDOC are excited about the future of this life changing program.”
Monday’s event in Orofino was a full commencement ceremony inclusive of approximately 25 members of LC State’s administrative and faculty team, regalia, and a reception after the event.
“I’m 60-years-old and never thought that I’d be graduating from college. This program has afforded the opportunity to show I can go beyond any expectation that I ever had in my life,” said one graduate. “I was a very poor student in high school and to see myself be on the president’s list every semester, presidential honors for graduation, you just have to do the work, and I know now that I can do the work.”
According to research by the RAND nonprofit and nonpartisan research organization, providing education in prison has proven to reduce recidivism rates and is associated with higher employment rates. A 2018 RAND study found that incarcerated individuals who participated in correctional education were 48 percent less likely to return to prison within three years than incarcerated individuals who did not participate in any correctional education program. RAND estimates that for every dollar invested in correctional education programs, $4 to $5 are saved on three-year re-incarceration costs.
“The past couple of years we have seen an amazing transformation in the culture at our facility. This is in part due to the partnership we have with Lewis-Clark State College and the college degree program they have built at our facility,” said Kent Shriver, deputy warden of operations in Orofino. “These men have made significant positive changes in their lives that will help them be successful tax paying citizens upon release. I am impressed with the changes they have made due to their college education, and look forward to what the future holds.”
