Cal State LA's Prison Graduation Initiative celebrates Class of 2024

LOS ANGELES - Pomp and circumstance inside a California state prison. 

Dec. 5 marked graduation day for the third cohort of the Prison Graduation Initiative(PGI) through California State University, Los Angeles, as 16 students walked in a commencement ceremony on prison grounds.

PGI is an innovative program founded by Cal State LA that offers a university Bachelor's Degree with classes taught by professors inside a prison. They call it transformation through education.              

For Edwin Cruz and Casi Amezcua, it was a day for them to return to Cal State LA. Both have been out on parole for less than a year after serving more than two decades locked up.

Both Cruz and Amezcua were LWOP, serving Life Without Parole, for murder. They have since been granted commutations and found suitable for parole. PGI is about returning such men to the community as leaders and productive members of society.

The PGI program was born by Dr. Bidhan Roy, PhD, and he calls it his life’s work.

The Prison Graduation Initiative has full support from the president of Cal State LA.  Dr. Berenecea Johnson Eanes PhD spoke at the graduation in Lancaster saying "You are always at home with us. Please remember that we are your resource."

Amezcua shared how he went from military reservist to prison for murder. "I was involved in gang activity and at that time I would do anything for the gang. Asked "how do you process or reflect on the crime?" He responds, "I had 24 years to think about it. Anyone can change." He is now employed, cares for his parents in their eighties and is active with prison support groups. 

California Assemblyman Tom Lackey spoke at the graduation and said PGI is about offering hope. He is a retired California Highway Patrol officer.

Four of the 16 students were asked to stand. They are out on parole and have returned to the community. For those who are getting out of prison. It's about re-integration in a productive way.

Reality is, the other university graduates on this day would return to their cell block.

An emotional Amezcua said "a lot of them are more deserving than I am. I think they should be out there, not me. I gotta do whatever I can to help them."

Cal State LA's Prison Graduation Initiative launched in 2016. Since then, 50 students have received their Bachelor of Arts in Communication.