From prison to USD master's graduate
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Shawn Khalifa out in the world. Photos: Courtesy of Shawn Khalifa
When Shawn Khalifa steps onto the graduation stage at the University of San Diego this weekend, he'll be continuing a path he never thought possible a few years ago.
The big picture: Khalifa went to prison at age 15 after being convicted under a since-changed California felony murder law, and he was released in 2020 at age 31.
- He has since earned a bachelor's degree, gotten married and had two kids and is now set to earn his master's in restorative justice.
Catch up quick: The felony murder law in question allowed someone to be charged with murder if they participated in a dangerous felony, even if they weren't the killer.
- Khalifa was accused of being the lookout in a home invasion robbery in 2004 that ended with his friends killing the homeowner.
- He was charged with the murder and sentenced to 25 years to life, spent three years in juvenile hall, and then was transferred to prison.
Yes, but: The law was changed in 2018 so that people can't be convicted of murder unless they are the actual killer, helped the killer, or "acted with reckless indifference to human life."
After the new law passed, Khalifa was able to apply for resentencing for just the robbery charge, which reduced his sentence to time served.
- He was released in February 2020 and has since taken every possible advantage of his freedom.
- He met his now-wife at the pool in his mom's mobile home park in July 2021 and got married six months later.
- They now have two kids in preschool, with the oldest starting transitional kindergarten in the fall.
State of play: Khalifa started studying sociology while in prison at Donovan and earned his bachelor's from UC Irvine in 2022.
- He went on to USD's restorative justice program, earning his master's while working full time at the Underground Scholars program at UCSD.
What they're saying: "He was very enthusiastic right from the start, and that passion translated into a major leadership role," restorative justice program director David Karp tells Axios. "He was the guy with the WhatsApp group that would be used for homework, like who understands what this assignment is, to making sure that people felt appreciated, wishing people happy birthdays."
Khalifa's success since leaving prison shows the law change had the desired outcome, he tells Axios.
- "It's a good example of, hey, this works for me, it can work for our community," he says.
- "Whenever I meet with a chancellor, a dean, they see the example of supporting formerly incarcerated students at universities as a good thing, they see a positive outcome," he adds. "But for me, I'm just showing up to work, doing something I love, interacting with my community."
What's next: Khalifa plans to teach at a community college and maybe get a Ph.D.
- He says he majored in sociology because that was the only program offered in prison.
- "But if I was starting from scratch, I would have probably been a theater major and done acting," he says.