Monday, June 8, 2026, marked a historic milestone for Minnesota and for legal education nationally: the graduation of Maureen Onyelobi and Jeffery Young at Minnesota Correctional Facility – Shakopee from a fully accredited law school. Through a first-of-its-kind collaboration among the Minnesota Department of Corrections, Mitchell Hamline School of Law, the Prison to Law Pipeline, All Square & The Legal Revolution, and leaders within the American Bar Association, Onyelobi and Young became the first incarcerated people in the United States to earn juris doctor degrees from an ABA-accredited law school while incarcerated.  

Minnesota Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnellsaid, "This historic achievement would not have been possible without the support and dedication of DOC staff and the strong partnerships that came together to support these students throughout their journey. We are grateful to Mitchell Hamline School of Law, All Square & The Legal Revolution, The Prison to Law Pipeline, and the many educators, mentors, and corrections staff professionals who worked together to make it a reality.

The commitment, hard work, and success of Ms. Onyelobi and Mr. Young remind us that there are talented, dedicated students in our correctional facilities who are eager to learn, grow, and contribute,” Commissioner Schnell continued. “With the funding support of outside organizations willing to partner, innovate, and create opportunities, a new door has opened to help people realize their potential. This graduation is a powerful example of the rehabilitative and restorative power of education that can occur in the context of accountability. I have no doubt and every expectation that these two new legal scholars will use their legal education to advance a common good."

“This is structural transformation,” said Jim Hilbert, Professor of Law at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. “Educators will see with new eyes who belongs in law school. Legal institutions will see more clearly who can contribute and who can teach us about justice.”

“Today is more than a graduation,” said Maya Pennington, CEO of All Square and The Legal Revolution. “It is proof that when an opportunity, partnerships, and determination come together, systems can change and lives can be transformed.”

Reflecting on the significance of the moment, Young credited the institutions and leaders who helped remove barriers to opportunity.

"These three entities — Mitchell Hamline, DOC, and American Bar Association leadership — had the courage, the wisdom, and the vision to do what gatekeepers before them refused to do," Young said. "They saw worth and value where others were blinded."

For Onyelobi, graduation represents both a personal triumph and the beginning of a new chapter of advocacy and service.

"As I close this law school chapter and prepare to take the bar exam and become an advocate for change, I will persevere just like I did when I was ten years old," Onyelobi said. "Today, I can confidently say I got my fearlessness back. It has been fully restored. This journey has not been easy, but I had a lot of help along the way. I thank everyone who helped me, the ones in the forefront as well as the ones behind the scenes."

Their achievement highlights the power of education, partnership, and opportunity. It also reflects the collective efforts of corrections professionals, legal educators, nonprofit leaders, and advocates who worked together to make a historic first possible. Through collaboration and a shared commitment to expanding access to education, these partners helped create a pathway that may open doors for future generations of incarcerated students pursuing careers in the legal profession.

Links and Attachments

Video of the Graduation Ceremony -https://youtu.be/Q_4M4QSEhLw

Photos provided by the Minnesota Department of Corrections

All Square / Legal Revolution press release - https://www.allsquarempls.com/graduation2026