At Sinclair College, higher education is not just for those on campus. Through its Returning Citizen Initiative, the institution is expanding its reach into prisons across Ohio, offering incarcerated individuals a second chance at life through education and learning.
Jarrett Maier, the prison education pathway coordinator at Sinclair, never expected his entry-level position in corrections education to define his career. Initially, he wanted to be a parole or probation officer, but Maier soon discovered a deeper purpose.
“When I saw what Sinclair was doing and how Sinclair was changing the lives of these people, it quickly became a passion of mine. It really kind of helped me hone in on this is what I want my career to be; this is the avenue I want to use to help those who need help,” Maier said.
The Sinclair prison program began with just 200 students in 2014. Today, it serves nearly 2000 individuals across 15 correctional institutions and that number is growing. Starting this fall, the program will expand into two additional facilities, bringing the total to 17 Ohio prisons.
“The goal is to reach as many people as we can because the prison system is tough to get into. It is high security. The priority is security and safety, so we can’t offer a lot. There are limited rooms, there is limited staff because they need corrections officers to make sure that we can run the program, and there are no security risks,” Maier said.
He went on to say that the primary goal is to change society’s perception, showing them that prisoners are not all monsters. Some of the best people with the kindest hearts one might meet are in prison.
Inside the prison system, students participate in classes using monitored Chromebooks and Sinclair’s eLearn platform. Five majors are offered to them that do not require hands-on training; mostly business-related majors, while access to other fields becomes available post-release.
Maier and his team guide students toward academic and career paths that align with their legal limitations. For example, since felonies often disqualify individuals from fields like nursing, they help students explore alternative ways to make a difference without compromising their desire to help others.
“We have learned to try to maybe draw parallels where we are like, ‘why do you want to be a nurse? You want to help people?’ Well, here’s a program where you can help people, just not the way you would as a nurse, but you are still helping people. So, we try to help them find something that: one, is opportunistic for them and not as restrictive, and two, it is doing something that they are skilled at and they are passionate about,” Maier said.
To incarcerated students, reentering a world that has moved on without them is one of the biggest challenges they face. After 10, 15 or even 20 years behind bars, things like smartphones, email and job applications can feel overwhelming.
However, Maier always encourages them to take their time when released, not trying to take on everything at once, such as housing, jobs, family, and school. This can lead to burnout, so he tells them it’s okay to breathe; school will still be there when they’re ready.
Despite these challenges, students experience outstanding transformations. At first, many enter the program believing they are “not college material” influenced by past experiences and negative labels from family, friends and educators.
However, as they engage in coursework, Maier observes a rapid shift in their mindset. They transition from seeking enrollment primarily for practical benefits, such as time off their sentences, to discovering a newfound belief in their potential to graduate from college.
Once they begin taking college classes, students often become more passionate and serious about their education, demonstrating an eagerness to learn and actively engage in class discussions. This transformation also depends on numerous variables, including whether they have a supportive family.
When it comes to providing examples of individuals who have successfully transitioned post-release, Maier shared two stories: one with a negative ending and another with a positive ending.
“While all this sounds great, it’s not always sunshine and rainbows… not everybody is going to be successful. There is a lot of failure in this field, and that is inevitable. There is going to be failure,” Maier said.
The first story was about a male student who got released from Piqua Correctional Institution. He was working on his degree in addiction services. This was his fifth or sixth time in prison, and it seemed to be taking his school seriously this time. He was working for a sober living facility near Columbus and was getting high up in the ranks in that facility.
“Then came his last final semester before he graduated, he called me; we were getting him all set up, and he was telling me about how they are opening up a new facility…and he was offered the director position of that new facility… and then right before Christmas, he called me and told me that his wife left him, so he relapsed,” Maier said.
He fell behind in his classes, was on the verge of failing and lost his job. Maier remembers talking to him for hours, trying to encourage him that he can overcome his current situation.
When Maier wanted to call him back days later, his number and phone were no longer in service. That was the last time he heard from him.
The following story was about Miss January Newsport, the speaker at the Class of 2025 commencement.
In 2017, Newsport was one of the returning citizens enrolled, and part of the first group of students that Maier worked with in his new position. He got to watch her come out of the Dayton Correctional Institution (DCI) and see her graduate with her Sinclair degree.
She started working for the Recovery Works and later pursued a bachelor’s degree, which led her to a job in the office of Reentry. This role allowed her to give back to the community and support others in similar situations.
“I love her to death. She is one of my great friends and to be able to watch her go from my student to now a colleague. She says I mentored her, but now it’s reversed to where I look up to her because I do not have anywhere close to what it takes to go through what she did and present amazing,” Maier said.
Newsport’s story stands out not only because of her progress but also because it demonstrates how support systems can change lives, transforming barriers into bridges for success.
To Maier, a memorable moment that has stuck with him while working in his role involved witnessing the transformation of a student he had helped become his colleague. He also has a whole notebook/ folder filled with good news from his students.
He shared some of these moments, and it was a combination of his students telling him they had been accepted into a university they wanted to attend. Others appreciated him for what he had done for them.
According to Maier, some of the biggest logistical or systemic challenges the program faces are the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (ODRC), a large organization with significant government backing.
“Their priority is first security, so there is a lot of regulation. Sinclair is also a huge organization. I mean, this goes with any higher education. We have to follow the Ohio Department of Higher Education guidelines, we have to follow the higher learning commission guidelines. Now that we are offering Pell grants, we have to follow federal government regulations,” Maier said.
Therefore, there is a lot of balancing to be done, including rules and regulations, while working in such a high-security environment. It is challenging to comply with Sinclair policies, as well as those of higher education and ODRC.
Due to these regulations and policies, Sinclair cannot offer certain classes to students in the prison, such as chemistry, which involves labs, hazardous chemicals and sharp objects like glass.
When offering classes to students in prison, Sinclair has designated hours for classes: from 8:00 to 10:30 a.m., 12:30 to 3:00 p.m. and 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
“We have to make sure students are able to get all the classes they need,” Maier said, “ but we are only able to do it during those times. The issue with that is that all the other programs are also only available during those times. So, the GED program, which also needs classrooms, they only have those times too.
“So, it’s very hard to work with all these other different programs that are very valuable and have a great purpose. There are faith-based programs, cognitive behavioral therapy programs and addiction programs, but we have to work with them to make sure everybody has enough space. And there is just not much space in the prisons.”
Another challenge is that students are not allowed to get in trouble, meaning that if they bunked with someone who brings in drugs, they have to let it be known to the facilitator, or they have a chance of going into segregation.
When it comes to the key partners who make this work possible, Maier said Sinclair plays an important role, thanks to investments and support from its leadership, particularly the president of the institution and other higher-level administrators.
ODRC is also essential for the program’s success. Maintaining a positive relationship with ODRC ensures compliance and security, which is crucial for operating in prison environments. The initiative is also partnered with different organizations that are willing to employ individuals with records, which helps define and design the curriculum of the programs offered inside the prisons.
Despite all the hardship this program faces, its work is not to be taken lightly. Their dedication to ensuring that those in prison who are willing to further their education is recognized by many in society.
While many still question whether incarcerated individuals deserve access to higher education, Maier urges the public to reconsider.
“Some of the kindest, most genuine people I’ve ever met are in prison; they are not monsters, they are people,” Maier said.
Thanks to programs like Sinclair’s Returning Citizen Initiative, they are people with hope, opportunity and a future.
Esperance Amuri, staff writer
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