FAQ

First, 95 percent or more of all people in prison will be released eventually, coming home to our neighborhoods and communities. The better prepared they are to re-enter society and be employed, the safer we all are. Second, a robust and growing body of data establishes that the more education someone in prison is able to receive, the less likely they are to recidivate. Third, the returns on investment are high. According to a recent RAND report, every $1 invested in prison education generates $5 in economic returns for society. Together, these facts reveal that education is a potentially powerful tool to mitigate the systemic discrimination and de-humanization of mass incarceration.

Our annual target cohort size is 30 students. We work with students, who have met all University of California transfer requirements, to complete junior-level transfer applications to the University of California. Students completing associate degrees with Southwestern College at Richard J. Donovan (RJD) Correctional Facility have priority for receiving application support on site at RJD. In addition, students from across the state, who have completed associates degrees with an IGETC certification, can work with their onsite college coordinator and the central Office of Correctional Education to determine their eligibility to apply to LIFTED and transfer to RJD.

Yes. Currently, each of the state’s 34 prisons provides opportunities for anyone who is incarcerated to apply to local community colleges and earn an associate degree. There are no eligibility restrictions based on crime or length of sentence, and we will not be imposing any such restrictions for students who meet state requirements for admission to the University of California.

First, California has “banned the box” on college admissions, so colleges are prohibited from inquiring about prior criminal records or using records to limit access to education. Second, sentencing laws change every day, and prisoners with long or life sentences often have changing opportunities to seek and receive parole or reconsideration of their sentences. In the last 10 years, thousands of “lifers” have been released from prison in California due to state and federal sentencing changes rolling back “three strikes” sentences for non-violent convictions, life without parole sentences for juveniles, and changing parole requirements. If these former lifers have received an education in prison, they are more likely to succeed. Third, even for people who will not be released, a college education might make their time in prison more meaningful and useful, allowing them to teach and mentor the 95 percent of students who will be released, for instance.

We are committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion, and fulfilling the California Master Plan’s vision of “allowing anyone from anywhere” the opportunity to enjoy the rewards of a college education. UC LIFTED is investing in the futures of incarcerated people, transforming lives and communities. There are many examples of formerly incarcerated people whose education enabled them to make positive changes and achieve great accomplishments, including New York Times Magazine contributor Reginal Dwayne Betts, and Earlonne Woods and Antwan Williams, hosts of the award-winning “Ear Hustle” podcast. Our programs expand the bachelor’s completion opportunities for anyone incarcerated in the state.

Closer to home, the department of Criminology, Law & Society, a key partner in this initiative, is the alma mater of two formerly incarcerated California State University professors. A UC degree in particular opens doors to graduate degree opportunities in humanities, social sciences and other fields, allowing formerly incarcerated people to assume leadership roles, reducing the stigma associated with having a criminal record. Through LIFTED, we are building multiple prison-community college-UC pipelines.

Mass incarceration impacts countless families, and higher education serves as a pathway to breaking cycles of incarceration and inequity. By offering educational opportunities, we actively support restorative justice practices that foster healing and reintegration, benefiting both individuals and the broader community.

UCI LIFTED is proud to be the second college nationally awarded and recognized with Prison Education Program (PEP) status for the reinstatement of Pell. So the primary financial aid mechanism for student tuition is federal Pell Grants, and the University of California System’s Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan covers the majority of remaining tuition costs. Program costs have also been supported by the Michelson Foundation, Google, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the California State Legislature, and local philanthropic contributions. We are always fundraising to underwrite program development costs, such as student programming, support staff salaries, textbook and supply costs, and faculty transportation to and from the prison. Donate here! 

Formerly incarcerated individuals are already at all UC campuses. The Underground Scholars Initiative, founded at UC Berkeley, has chapters across the UC campuses to support formerly incarcerated students on campus. Students who earn their A.A. and are admitted to the UCs while in prison will be eligible to continue their education on campus, if they are released from prison, just like any other California resident who matriculates to a UC campus from community college

Currently, there are two transfer pathways for University of California bachelor’s degree programs in state prisons: UC Irvine’s LIFTED program at RJD and UC Riverside’s LIFTED program at California Rehabilitation Center (CRC). You should advise the prospective student to work with their on-site college coordinator to (a) connect with the last community college they attended to ensure they have certification that they completed the IGETC transfer pathway and (b) request that the Office of Correctional Education assess their eligibility for transfer to RJD or CRC and place them on a transfer list.

Note: UCI does not collect or evaluate transcripts prior to admission, so students must work with their facility’s coordinator to collect all prior college unofficial or official transcripts and ensure they meet eligibility. Students currently enrolled in community college can consult the CDCR Canvas Resource Page, their facility’s community college coordinator, and CDCR for guidance.