Rutgers Law Welcomes First NJ-STEP Student to Law School

First-year law student Patrick Pantusco is no stranger to the Center for Law and Justice, the Newark home of Rutgers Law School. The building also houses the Rutgers School of Criminal Justice, where Pantusco earned a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice with a perfect 4.0 GPA. He achieved a historic milestone this semester becoming the first NJ-STEP student admitted to Rutgers Law School. 

The New Jersey Scholarship and Transformative Education in Prisons (NJ-STEP) program is a Rutgers University–Newark-led consortium that provides incarcerated individuals with access to college education and degree pathways. Through partnerships with the New Jersey Department of Corrections and higher education institutions statewide, NJ-STEP creates a continuum of learning from prison to campus.

Now enrolled in Rutgers Law’s MSP, Pantusco began in the law school's summer Jumpstart program while he was legally incarcerated under what the law recognizes as constructive custody. According to a Law.com feature on Pantusco, there is no widely documented precedent for someone of his legal status attending law school in person. He has since been released.

“The people here at Rutgers, my fellow students, professors have welcomed me with open arms,” Pantusco said at the conclusion of MSP Newark Orientation week. “They’re generous. They’re helping me. They’re very empathetic to my situation and understanding that a single mistake or early mistakes in life don’t necessarily define the person. Everyone has been amazing. It is one of the most profound feelings I’ve ever felt.”

Pantusco first graduated with honors from Mercer County Community College. After entering the Kintock Residential Community Reintegration Program, he then graduated summa cum laude from Rutgers University-Newark before earning his Master’s degree. 

“I've had the privilege of watching Patrick pursue each new challenge with persistence and purpose,” said Chris Agans, NJ-STEP executive director. “His achievement reflects not only his own dedication, but also the transformative potential of educational opportunity. I'm excited for what lies ahead, not only for Patrick, but for the many NJ-STEP students who will see new possibilities in his example.”

Pantusco’s remarkable academic journey has been shaped by his life experiences. In his powerful 2022 Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice essay “Violence and Prison,” he described the traumatic events and addiction that led to his incarceration followed by the violence he experienced behind prison walls at a young age. He credits access to higher education with changing his life.

“When Rutgers brought college into the prison system, I would fantasize, ‘Oh, maybe one day I could go to law school. One day, I could become a lawyer,’” Pantusco said. “I didn’t know if I really believed in it.” He added that the faculty and staff he met at Rutgers made him feel that he belonged and that no obstacle was insurmountable.  

Rutgers Law Dean Johanna Bond said, “Patrick's journey reflects the transformative power of education and the values at the heart of Rutgers Law School. Through our commitment to strengthening educational pipelines, we are expanding access to legal education for talented students whose potential may otherwise go unrealized. Patrick's success embodies Rutgers Law's strategic vision of opening doors, fostering belonging, and preparing the next generation of lawyers to make a meaningful impact in their communities."

Pantusco hopes his journey will inspire others to pursue education and opportunity despite significant challenges. “I’m hoping that if other people who are incarcerated can see me achieve any type of success that they’ll realize that they can do it as well,” he said. “I want to be able to give back to the community and make a positive impact on the world.” 

One of the goals of the Rutgers Law Strategic Plan is to expand our capacity as a national model for student access. Click here to learn more about our Strategic Plan.