Lone Star College-University Park criminal justice students tour women’s prison
HOUSTON, TX (Nov. 24, 2025) — 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.
About Lone Star College-University Park
Established in 2012, Lone Star College-University Park has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing and most innovative higher education institutions in the country. The college, led by President Matthew Dempsey, Ed.D., is devoted to impacting the community's prosperity and upward mobility through student success. LSC-University Park’s expert and compassionate faculty and staff provide students with holistic and immersive education and training in disciplines and industries that meet current and future workforce needs.
Located on the grounds of the former Compaq Computer Corporation and Hewlett Packard's world headquarters, LSC-University Park's facilities include the Center for Science & Innovation, the Energy & Manufacturing Institute, Learning Innovation Labs, and the Geology Rock Wall. It is also home to the University of Houston-NW Downtown, Lone Star Corporate College, and iSchool.
About Lone Star College
Lone Star College System (LSCS) enrolls over 90,000 students each semester providing high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education. LSCS is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Mario K. Castillo, J.D., serves as Chancellor of LSCS, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and has been named a 2025 Great Colleges to Work For® institution by the Chronicle of Higher Education. LSCS consists of eight colleges, seven centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence and Lone Star Corporate College. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.