The Correctional Training Facility (CTF) hosted an event put on by the Anti-Recidivism Coalition for the entire incarcerated population.
Organization seeks to make safer communities
ARC works to end mass incarceration in California. To ensure our communities are safe, healthy, and whole, ARC empowers formerly and currently incarcerated people to thrive. They do this by providing a support network, comprehensive reentry services, and opportunities to advocate for policy change.
Through their grassroots policy advocacy, ARC is dedicated to transforming the criminal justice system so it is more just and equitable for all people.
ARC staff and members regularly travel to institutions and detention facilities across California. They provide rehabilitative programming, host policy workshops, and bring hope to incarcerated men and women.
ARC also serves as a support network and a connection to services for formerly incarcerated individuals. They provide support through mentoring, case management, internship and employment opportunities. Members must commit to live crime-free, gang-free, drug-free, in school or working, and in service to their community.
“The goal is to provide rehabilitative programming and skills to offenders to reduce their likelihood of re-offending. This program is effective because the incarcerated population can relate to the ARC members,” said Warden Craig Koenig. “Out of all of the rehabilitative programs I have seen throughout my career, this had the most positive feedback from the incarcerated as well as our staff.”
Funding and the team
In early 2017, ARC received CDCR funding to develop a regional team of formerly incarcerated staff. Their purpose is to lead rehabilitative programming and reentry support. Led by eight former life-sentence offenders, the Hope and Redemption Team (HART) program launched in August 2017.
In each institution, ARC offers three workshops:
- Criminals and Gang Members Anonymous
- Board of Parole Hearing Preparation and Relapse Prevention
- and Youthful Offender Program Mentoring.
Thus far, HART has served over 2,000 individuals inside the institutions.
“The collective focus of our visit is to announce our partnership with CTF to kick start the essential self-help programs. Immersing themselves in self-help programs will provide hope and redemption to the population,” said Sam Lewis, Executive Director of ARC. “We help them in a number of different ways inside through rehabilitative programs created for us by us. When you come out, (we are) by providing housing, therapy, and career opportunities.”