Professor Lahny R. Silva

Lahny R. Silva joined the Robert H. McKinney School of Law faculty in 2011. She utilizes her expertise in criminal law to positively impact those who have experienced incarceration. She has been part of REACH, the Re-Entry and Community Help Legal Assistance Program, since 2015.

This program, administered by the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, is a collaboration of the U.S. Department of Justice, the Indiana Federal Community Defenders, the Indianapolis Bar Association and IU McKinney. Through this voluntary program, individuals who were formerly incarcerated take part in monthly hearings designed to help with substance abuse problems, repairing family relationships, employment, and setting and achieving short-term goals.

She also helped found the student group SCRAP, Second Chance Re-entry Assistance Program, and the annual Re-Entry Fair. Both the student group and the fair work with previously incarcerated individuals to help them get drivers licenses, create resumes, find safe and affordable housing, food assistance, and employment assistance.

She previously was the William H. Hastie Fellow at the University of Wisconsin Law School in Madison, which is where she received her Master of Laws degree. This prestigious fellowship is designed for aspiring scholars who are preparing for a career teaching law.