Lone Star College-University Park criminal justice students tour women’s prison

HOUSTON, TX -- Lone Star College-University Park criminal justice students gained firsthand insight into the correctional system during the program’s first women’s prison tour in Dayton, Texas recently. The visit to the Lucile Plane State Jail gave students a powerful opportunity to connect classroom learning with real-world experience.

“This tour is one of the most impactful experiences we can offer our students,” said Alicia Castillo, criminal justice faculty at LSC–University Park, who led the trip. “It takes the concepts they’ve read about in textbooks and brings them to life in a very real, human way. Seeing the environment firsthand and hearing from women who are currently incarcerated challenges students to think more critically about the justice system and the people within it.”

For years, LSC–University Park’s criminal justice program has provided behind-the-scenes tours of correctional facilities, including Huntsville, TX and Angola, LA, to help students understand the operations and human dimensions of the justice system. This visit marked the first time students explored a women’s facility, where 25 participants were guided by the warden through daily living areas and rehabilitation spaces.

Students also met with incarcerated women nearing release, who shared their personal experiences and hopes for the future—conversations that left a lasting impression on many participants.

“Visiting Lucile State Plane Jail was an eye-opening experience. Behind the walls and the crimes are mothers, daughters, and sisters who have dreams. Seeing them as people, not just inmates, reminded me that they are human and eager to learn,” said Beyonce Renteria, a criminal justice student at LSC-University Park. “This visit strengthened my commitment to creating resources and spreading love to reduce the number of women in prison in the future generations. For many, jail is the closest thing to a home, a place for change and reflection. As criminal justice students, it is our responsibility to understand the system and word toward meaningful change.”

By offering immersive learning experiences like this, LSC–University Park continues to prepare students not only for careers in criminal justice but also for meaningful engagement with their communities.

For more information about the Criminal Justice program visit, www.LoneStar.edu/criminal-justice-dept. To learn more about LSC-University Park or register for classes, visit www.LoneStar.edu/StartUP, call 281-290-2600 or email UPAdvising@LoneStar.edu.