Student-Led Practicum Addresses Social Issues in Local Community

Since its beginning, Taylor University has incorporated leadership as an integral part of student education and lifestyle.

Philosophy, Political Science & Economics and Politics & Law graduate Zane Callison ‘24 left a legacy at Taylor through a practicum he founded—the Redeem Project. Based in the History, Global & Political Studies Department, the practicum focuses on helping individuals with prior felony or misdemeanor convictions re-enter the broader society successfully.

Why Expungement?

When an individual has a criminal history, it is often difficult to obtain employment, housing, and various government benefits. The Redeem Project connects those who need criminal expungement services with the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic in Indianapolis.

Expungement is the process of erasing criminal history from a person’s public record. Usually, expungement costs approximately $1,000 to $2,000. However, through the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic’s innovative expungement help desk program, it is free.

Growing up in Grant County, Callison saw the need for a wider base of expungement services, witnessing the county’s underserved communities struggle to address drug addiction crises and high rates of poverty.

Expungement services can be sought for different reasons based on where people live. In the rural counties surrounding Taylor University, people seek expungement chiefly for employment purposes. However, when Callison worked for a summer at the Clinic in Indianapolis, he saw people using the organization as a reference for housing when trying to rent a place to live.

“There are a lot of people with criminal histories who need a service base,” Callison said. “And the faith component is huge. Expungement is the wiping away of your record, and that is what Jesus did for us.”

Connecting People with Clinic Services

Callison said the Redeem Project will continue to build relationships with institutions in Grant County. The program connects with churches to build awareness and also works with local anti-poverty groups such as Thriving Grant County.

The Redeem Project has directly connected 100+ people with criminal expungement resources, but Callison also discovered a strong multiplier effect. What began with people connecting their relatives to these resources turned into people distributing flyers at their place of work or own ministry. 

Conducting Research for Classwork

Rebekah Firestone ‘26, a Data Science major at Taylor, learned about the Redeem Project through the cross country and track and field teams, where she and Callison were teammates.

While taking Research in Political Studies with Dr. Jakob Miller, Associate Professor of Political Science, she completed a class research project where she examined automatic versus petition or appeal-based systems for criminal record expungement. During her research, Firestone said she had discovered the inadequacy of the current system.

“I didn't expect to find out how many thousands of people are waiting to get their criminal records expunged,” she said. “They've done everything; it's just in the system right now, and they're unable technically to process through.”

Technological Advances and Expungement

Firestone sees a significant opportunity for technological advancements in the Computer Science realm to improve areas like criminal record expungement.

Firestone plans to use her education from Taylor to work and solve problems in the legal world around her. With the Redeem Project, she has already begun that process. She hopes to synthesize her findings in a research paper and use it in the graduate school application process.

“I think sometimes working with the data and the more technical side, I forget that these are people's real lives that this legislation is affecting and dealing with, and so that reminds me just how important it is,” she said.

Headed for Harvard

A 2024 Taylor alumnus, Callison is now pursuing further legal studies at Harvard Law School. There, he participates in the Program on Biblical Law and Christian Legal Studies and sits under the teaching of some of the world’s leading legal scholars.

Callison’s experiences with the Redeem Project have given him a well-rounded perspective of the strengths and weaknesses of the American legal system.

“It's one thing to read about our justice system or learn about its procedures in the classroom but quite another to interact with others who have been meaningfully impacted by it,” Callison said. “On the whole, I feel equipped by my experiences with the Redeem Project to provide a unique perspective in the classroom and in future practice.”

Get Involved

Dr. Jakob Miller oversees the Redeem Project, and Political Science, Philosophy, and Economics major Luke Harber ‘26 has directed it since Callison graduated.

Throughout the 2024-2025 academic year, the Redeem Project has continued to supply information about criminal record expungement to hundreds of people. The practicum also experienced an increase in student volunteers, enabling it to continue its community outreach activities.

With this project, students interested in pursuing a career in the legal system can make a measurable impact and advocate for positive change in this field.

“The Redeem Project turns abstract ideals into realities,” said Miller. “It helps you see the people who need help, and it helps you make connections—both with the community members who need you and with people working in the same field.”