To assist California prisoners in successfully reentering society. This will include developing parole plans; providing prisoners assistance with developing social skills and obtaining services in their local communities; promoting public support for such programs; and providing a model for reentry programs that can be replicated in California and elsewhere.

Description:
The California Reentry Program is a comprehensive, multi-faceted program aimed at meeting all of the most vital needs of prisoners facing parole. We are primarily a social service referral agency, connecting parolees with resources and contact information for services in their communities. Our team of volunteers meet with prisoners at San Quentin State Prison and provide individualized assistance based on their needs and location of parole. We specifically provide: 1) Drop-in Assistance - For prisoners with specific questions that can be addressed in one or two meetings with a volunteer advisor. We hand out resource booklets, DMV, Social Security, and child support information, as well as information about colleges and financial aid. 2) Long-term Case Management - This program is for prisoners who need multiple meetings with a volunteer, to assist them in long-term planning in matters including employment, education, medical needs, drug/alcohol treatment, housing etc. 3) Workshops - The California Reentry Program provides speakers one to two times per month to talk about their areas of expertise, such as resume building, health issues, interview skills, immigration, record expungement, and other topics pertinent to re-entry into the community.

History:
The California Reentry Program was started in 2003 to help several prisoners at San Quentin State Prison studying in the Patten University program, a fully accredited Associate of Arts degree program offered through Patten University in Oakland, California. Allyson West, the founder of the California Reentry Program, was assisting in the management of the university program and teaching Algebra when several students approached her asking for help with parole plans. The demand continued to grow so Allyson quit teaching and eventually started the CRP with the help of a couple of volunteers.

In late 2003 the program shifted to the level I facility at San Quentin, as it had the greatest percentage of men who were paroling soon and who did not have access to many of the programs and services available to other prisoners. In 2004, Allyson began recruiting volunteers in earnest and expanded the program to the level II population at San Quentin. Today the program is available to all mainline prisoners at San Quentin.

Contact person: Allyson West, Executive Director, (phone), (email)

Address:

P.O. Box 483 San Quentin, CA 94964

Web Site: http://www.ca-reentry.org