HSU Criminal Justice Students Visit the Taylor County Jail

On February 21, 2024, Hardin-Simmons University students studying criminal justice received the incredible opportunity to visit the Taylor County Jail. Students in the Corrective Methods and Outcomes class explore the many outcomes of the criminal justice system, including the incarceration of convicted criminals. Visiting the County Jail aligns with this portion of their curriculum and provides the hands-on approach to learning on which HSU prides itself. 

Joshua Ward, an Instructor of Criminal Justice, explained the importance of experiential learning experiences. Students who receive degrees in criminal justice from HSU go on to be part of the pipeline of prosecution and correction, and some of them will work closely with the jail system. Mr. Ward believes showing students this part of the process is essential for anyone involved in criminal justice. “It doesn’t become real until they see it,” he said when asked how the visit affected his students. 

Later in the semester, students are scheduled to visit John Middleton Unit, a larger prison north of Abilene. The HSU Criminal Justice Department also works with County Jail corrections officers and the Abilene Police Department to bring speakers into the classroom. 

Students in the criminal justice program are excited to work with members of their field. Corabelle Saucedo, a freshman studying criminal justice, said,

Visiting institutions in the criminal justice field has only made me more eager to pursue a career in law enforcement.

She added, “Getting to tour the Taylor County Jail has allowed me to see firsthand the need for officers in the criminal justice system.” 

As they prepare for their future, Mr. Ward will continue to provide resources to his classrooms to help expand perspectives. As always, HSU strives to provide hands-on experiences that students need to be successful both in and out of the classroom.