Joint and Free Venture program participants donate $18k
Crime victims support groups throughout the state received nearly $18,000 from incarcerated individuals participating in the California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA) Joint and Free Venture programs in Fiscal Year 2020-21.
The Joint Venture Program is in four adult CDCR institutions and the Free Venture Program operates in one Division of Juvenile Justice facility.
“The Joint and Free Venture Programs give incarcerated individuals real-world job opportunities as well as helping them to be successful and find employment when returning to their communities.” said Bill Davidson, acting General Manager of CALPIA. “But not only that, these participants are giving back to crime victims,
which Is helping out communities throughout California.”
Incarcerated individuals are paid wages comparable to what they would earn if they were working in the
respective field outside of prison.
Incarcerated individuals initially pay for all court-ordered compensation and the remaining collected restitution is placed in a “Generic Restitution Fund” for local crime victim organizations.
Institutions where incarcerated individuals are making donations:
- Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla – Participants in the CALPIA Joint Venture Program, Allwire, Inc. are donating a total of $11,006 to Mollie’s House, a non-profit organization that helps victims of sexual
trafficking, and Marjaree Mason Center, a domestic violence shelter in Fresno County. - San Quentin State Prison – Incarcerated individuals working for Big Dawg and The Last Mile Works are
donating a total of $66 to MISSSEY, a non-profit organization that helps children of human trafficking. - N.A. Chaderjian Youth Correctional Facility in Stockton – Through Merit Partners, participants are
donating $6,726 to the Women’s Center- Youth & Family Services, a provider who helps the homeless,
runaways, and victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. - California Correctional Center in Susanville- Participants in the Joint Venture Program are donating
$548 to Lassen County’s Victim-Witness Assistance Program.
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