ABSTRACT
This chapter examines three Capstone courses at Portland State University that partner with correctional facilities and allow university students to engage directly with people experiencing incarceration, thereby contributing to successful community reintegration and overall community sustainability. Portland State University, a green campus and a nationwide leader among institutions of higher education in sustainability efforts, defines sustainability much the same way, including "addressing the world's toughest challenges—from poverty and globalization to climate change and urban development." The Juvenile Justice Capstone course examines both the history of the juvenile justice system as well as issues, most notably the treatment of youth offenders as adults. Through numerous university–corrections partnerships, Portland State University includes the issues of mass incarceration and reintegration into its sustainability portfolio. University–corrections partnerships address this issue from two distinct and equally important postures. The emphasis of the partnership is not on developing youth into polished writers, but instead on positive pro-social engagement between university students and incarcerated youth.
