Beyond the Bars LA
2023 National Conference

Bring Us Home

Friday and Saturday,
November 3-4

About

The Center for Justice at UCLA, in collaboration with the Bruin Underground Scholars (BUS) and the UCLA Prison Education Program (PEP), invites you to attend BEYOND THE BARS LA (BTB LA)  our third national conference — taking place on Friday and Saturday, November 3-4, 2023. This hybrid event is free to those who RSVP. Space is limited!

The purpose of this conference is to showcase the power of higher education in ending mass incarceration and reducing the return rate to prison, which are necessary factors to Bring Us Home.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, California’s average recidivism rate is 65%. Recidivism drops to 13.7% with the completion of an associate’s degree. Bachelor’s degrees reduce recidivism further to 5.6%. 0% of formerly incarcerated individuals who receive master’s degrees return to prison. 

This conference centers interdisciplinary approaches to prison education, abolition, and decarceration as decolonization. The conference includes a series of dynamic presentations from justice-centered organizations and academics from across the country.

RSVP Download flier

Prison Education Panel

Friday, November 3, 2023

  • 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
    Welcome and Keynote
    zoom
  • 10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
    Workshop Session #1
    zoom
  • 11:15 AM – 11:25 AM
    BREAK
    zoom
  • 11:25 AM – 12:25 PM
    Workshop Session #2
    zoom
  • 12:25 PM – 1:00 PM
    BREAK
    zoom
  • 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
    Workshop Session #3
    zoom
  • 2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
    Workshop Evaluations
    zoom
  • 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM
    Prison Education Panel
    zoom
  • 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
    Social Mixer
    ucla
  • 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
    ucla
  • 8:00 PM – 8:45 PM
    ucla

Saturday, November 4, 2023

  • 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM
    Registration
    ucla
  • 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
    BREAKFAST (Provided)
    ucla
  • 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
    Welcome and Keynote
    ucla
  • 10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
    BREAK
    ucla
  • 10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
    Workshop Session #1
    ucla
  • 11:15 AM – 11:25 AM
    BREAK
    ucla
  • 11:25 AM – 12:25 PM
    Workshop Session #2
    ucla
  • 12:25 PM – 1:25 PM
    LUNCH (Provided)
    ucla
  • 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
    Workshop Session #3
    ucla
  • 2:45 PM – 4:00 PM
    Artist Presentations and Performances
    ucla
  • 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
    BREAK
    ucla
  • 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    ucla
Learn more

Fellows

The conference theme, Bring Us Home, was chosen by a cohort of 13 justice system-impacted BTB LA Fellows. The Fellows represent an inspired group of students, scholars, advocates, community activists and artists involved in the international decarceration movement.

Join

Attend

  • The conference is sold out.

Proposals

  • Presentation applications are due by midnight (PT) on Monday, September 25, 2023.

Give

  • Contributions of any amount support our work.

Co-Sponsors

Directions

The conference takes place in Covel Commons on UCLA’s main campus. Pay-by-space permit parking is available in the Sunset Village Parking Structure and Parking Structure 7.

The Luskin Conference Center at UCLA will offer discounts at $250 per night for BTB LA participants. Contact a Jai Williams (JWilliams@pep.ucla.edu) at the UCLA Prison Education Program for assistance and more details.

Covel Commons:
330 De Neve Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90095

Learn more about getting to UCLA by visiting UCLA Transportation's website.

Google Maps Parking Permits

Planning Team