What We Do
LAPP is a program housed in the College of Arts & Sciences, and directed by Professor Kathy Fox (Sociology). Although we are not offering credit-bearing courses inside prisons at this time, we provide enrichment and academic opportunities for people incarcerated in Vermont prisons.
This program allows UVM students the chance to engage with and enhance the experiences of those incarcerated. Through these mutually positive experiences, relationship, both communities of learners benefit.
For example, the local women’s prison (Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility) wanted a mural painted to brighten up the facility. We created an educational opportunity for UVM students, interested in painting, to partner with the women inside to create a design and paint the mural.
Why We Do It
UVM has a strong tradition of social justice and service. Incarcerated communities benefit from having additional opportunities available due to the role of community volunteers. Engagement between college students and justice-involved populations is a mutually rewarding experience. We believe strongly that justice-involved individuals benefit from having such enriching opportunities and experiences. In addition, students’ experiences in and understanding of their communities often deepen their learning by doing service projects. What happens within our justice system is everyone’s concern and responsibility—students should and do care!
How to get involved
If you are a faculty member, or community member interested in providing an opportunity inside a Vermont prison (for example, directing a play with those incarcerated, teaching a workshop, having a student club host “art night” or a book group, etc.), please complete this form:
If you are a student who would like to volunteer in some capacity inside a prison, please complete this form.
Any person hoping to volunteer inside a Vermont prison will need to submit to a background check for the Department of Corrections, and undergo a short facility security training for all volunteers. The paperwork for the background check can be found here in pdf format.
Additionally, any person volunteering through LAPP will need to complete a supplementary short training about our program and ground rules.
For all other inquiries, please contact Kathy Fox (kfox@uvm.edu).