Inside-Out Prison Exchange®
The Criminology Program here at UT Dallas will offer the Inside-Out Prison Exchange® Program for the first time in Spring 2026, providing students a rare opportunity to learn alongside incarcerated individuals at the Collin County Detention Facility.
The initiative is part of UTD’s Criminology and Criminal Justice Program and will enroll 10–15 UTD students in its inaugural cohort. Following an initial on-campus introduction, the course will meet weekly inside the detention facility. Students who complete the class will earn three credit hours and an official UTD digital badge.
Dr. Tony Love, Program Head of Criminology, emphasized the significance of bringing the program to UTD:
“I am proud to announce that the University of Texas at Dallas has successfully added the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program into our Criminology and Criminal Justice course offerings. After months of diligent planning, faculty training, and collaboration with Collin County Detention Facility, we are set to launch our first course this spring. This program, established in 1997 at Temple University, brings UTD students (“outside students”) together with incarcerated individuals (“inside students”) for transformative, semester-long classes held within correctional facilities.”
Dr. Love highlighted both the challenges and rewards of implementing the program:
“The process of bringing Inside-Out to UTD required navigating complex logistical and institutional challenges, but the result is a program that will redefine how our students engage with the justice system. I firmly believe in its potential to sharpen critical thinking and foster meaningful dialogue, equipping students with practical insights into crime, justice, and rehabilitation.”
He also noted the broader impact and prestige of joining a growing list of universities offering Inside-Out courses.
“My hope is that Inside-Out will prepare our students to lead with clarity and purpose in their careers, whether in policy, law enforcement, or advocacy. By joining prestigious universities like the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Michigan, Penn State University, Indiana University, and Arizona State University in offering this program, UTD solidifies its place among leaders in innovative criminal justice education. I look forward to the profound impact this initiative will have on our students and the broader community.”
With the launch of the Inside-Out Prison Exchange® Program, UTD positions itself at the forefront of experiential learning in criminal justice, offering students not only academic credit, but also a chance to directly engage with issues of crime, justice, and rehabilitation inside a correctional setting.