Berry College is partnering with the Georgia Department of Corrections to expand access to higher education for incarcerated individuals, with a focus on rehabilitation, personal growth, and successful reentry.

The program brings Berry College students and incarcerated students together through college-level coursework, including classes such as Introduction to Sociology. The effort uses the “Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program” model, allowing students on both sides to learn together in a correctional setting through discussion, reflection, and collaboration.

One recent class at Walker State Prison saw 20 offenders complete a Sociology course through the partnership. Supporters say the program helps build critical thinking skills, confidence, communication, and career readiness for life after incarceration.

The initiative also reflects Berry College’s mission of expanding educational opportunity while supporting the Georgia Department of Corrections’ broader goal of reducing recidivism through education, literacy, vocational training, and reentry preparation.

Leaders involved in the program say higher education can play an important role in rehabilitation by helping participants develop new perspectives, strengthen decision-making skills, and prepare for a more stable future.