ABSTRACT
This chapter explores ways in which faculty, staff, and students at California State University, Fresno (Fresno State) have engaged in collaborative partnerships with prisons in the Central Valley of California. Examples of such initiatives include participation in reentry programming in a federal prison, facilitation of a therapeutic horticultural program in conjunction with a community-based organization, and hosting an art exhibition in partnership with a prison. The chapter culminates in a discussion of Fresno State's bachelor's degree completion program offered in two prisons. The exploration of these initiatives is set against the landscape of recent developments in California prisons, including the increased opportunity for engagement from outside organizations. The chapter assesses the circular benefits of such engagement for all involved, and considers the implications for reentry and reduction of stigma. The chapter also explores the impact of Project Rebound, a campus support program for formerly incarcerated students, and examines how Project Rebound strives to make the university more open and accessible. The consequences for the university's connections with correctional facilities are addressed. While these programs and initiatives are a reflection of the changing landscape, the chapter also demonstrates how these programs and initiatives serve to further shape and reform the landscape.
