Pre‑Release Fair offers resources at RJ Donovan

September 26, 2024

San Diego State University and Project Rebound at the RJ Donovan Pre-release Fair.

The mental health department at RJ Donovan Correctional Facility, in partnership with custody staff, hosted a Pre-Release Fair on Echo Yard.

The RJ Donovan Pre-Release Fair offered community resources to residents scheduled for release within the upcoming year. Although the primary focus was on this group, the invitation extended to all people serving sentences at the facility, including those awaiting their parole hearing.

The fair was designed to equip residents with information about community resources, providing them with experience and exposure to these resources as they prepare for their reintegration into the community.

San Diego County Library at the prerelease fair at RJ Donovan.

Overall, more than 196 incarcerated residents learned about targeted programs for employment, education, housing, vocations, probation, and parole. These resources are aimed at supporting their successful reintegration into the community.

Residents engaged in personalized discussions with 27 service providers from San Diego, Riverside, and Los Angeles counties. These providers will assist them upon their release.

Providers included Amity Foundation, Division of Adult Parole Operations Behavioral Health Reintegration, Health Right 360, 2-1-1, Department of Rehabilitation, San Diego Workforce, Rise Up Industries, Department of Veterans Affairs and others.

The fair also featured institutional stakeholders such as the Transitions program, Integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment providers, and parole services associates.

Submitted by Nadia Camarillo, Supervising Psychiatric Social Worker
Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility