By The Star Staff
The University of Puerto Rico (UPR) Río Piedras Campus and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) announced Wednesday the admission of a confined student to pursue studies leading to the academic degree of Juris Doctor.
Miguel Ángel Nieves Domínguez began studying at the UPR School of Law this semester, as part of an agreement signed between the two institutions that makes university studies in law possible for a particular group of incarcerated individuals.
“Today we take a significant step in the history of our institution, particularly our Law School, by demonstrating that education is a powerful tool for the transformation and rehabilitation of people deprived of their liberty,” UPR Río Piedras Campus Chancellor Dr. Angélica Varela Llavona said in a written statement. “This agreement not only reaffirms our commitment to social justice, but also opens new doors of hope and opportunities for those seeking rehabilitation and reintegration into society.”
Nieves Domínguez graduated from the first class of the University Studies Program for Confined Persons, a project founded by Father Fernando Picó that continues today thanks largely to the efforts of Dr. Edna Benítez Laborde of the General Studies Department.
School of Law Dean Vivian Neptune Rivera said “Miguel is a clear example of the power of education in rehabilitation.”
“Aspiring to be a member of the legal profession and giving a voice to those who do not have one synthesizes his dreams and desires to work for real access to justice,” she said. “Legal education is the key tool for achieving a more just and inclusive society. Miguel’s studies at our school are the best example that aspirations and dreams can become reality when the necessary support is available and access to educational institutions is made possible.”
The UPR’s agreement with the DCR will be valid until July 2029 and includes two additional admissions for August 2025 and 2026, respectively, if the applicable requirements are met.
Nieves Domínguez graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from the General Studies program, with Magna Cum Laude distinction, in May 2022, as part of a collaborative agreement with the DCR that establishes access for confined populations to the bachelor’s degree program as a support strategy in the rehabilitation process. In January of this year he was admitted to the master’s degree in administration and cultural management. He completed one semester in that degree program under Humanities Faculty, but his dream was always to study law. For this reason, during his undergraduate studies he participated in the Public Schools Liaison program in a special collaboration with the School of Law and took the Law School Admission Test, or LSAT.
Nieves Domínguez was admitted to the law school in August after fulfilling all the requirements and formal application procedures.
“… [S]tudying for a bachelor’s degree was a great challenge,” the law student said. “The process was enriching and changed my worldview. Then, in the Master’s in Administration and Cultural Management, I integrated knowledge that I can align toward social development. Now, I am fulfilling my dream. I am studying at the University of Puerto Rico’s School of Law.”
“My goal is to create opportunities for social inclusion for others as part of social transformation,” Nieves Domínguez said. “University education is a tool that encourages human development through critical thinking. This is an important moment for social transformation.”
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