A conglomerate in Los Angeles is embarking upon a project that will focus solely on reducing the recidivism rate. The conglomerate includes private foundations, city and county organizations, the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department and others.
State Attorney General Kamala Harris attended a meeting at the Pitchess Detention Facility to introduce her “Back on Track” program to the Los Angeles area, according to a California Department of Justice news release.
In 2005, when Harris was San Francisco district attorney, she created a reentry initiative, Back on Track. In November 2013, as Attorney General, Harris created the Division of Recidivism Reduction and Re-entry. The program was designed and geared toward reducing recidivism through a collaborative partnership utilizing counties’ district attorneys, investigating and implementing practices and initiatives to foster a viable outcome.
Since becoming state attorney general, Harris’ vision to reduce recidivism has continued. “Reducing recidivism is key to a smart-on-crime approach to criminal justice. Instead of only reacting to crime, we must also focus on prevention, to shut the revolving door of the criminal justice system,” Harris said.
The program, “Back on Track L.A.,” is designed to hold offenders accountable. Offenders will address the harm they inflicted upon their communities, their families and themselves.
The attorney general also talked about the importance the program has with helping the participants build the skills necessary to become active law-abiding citizens. These practices will ultimately enhance public safety, which essentially makes the program a win-win for everyone, she said.
L.A. Sheriff Jim McDonnell said there are people incarcerated who could be productive citizens if alternative sentencing programs were available.
“We have too many people in jails who can and should be contributing members of our community,” McDonnell said. The Back on Track program offers the participants an opportunity for continuing their education as well as beginning a vocational program to develop marketable skills for employment. Also available is a mentoring program and support network for both in-custody and out-of-custody participants.
The program usually operates at a capacity of 90 participants, who fall under a special category, which has been named “triple nons.” Triple nons represents those offenders that have non-violent, non-serious and non-sexual offenses and are currently housed in L.A. County.
The in-custody program has four modules, which includes cognitive behavior training, education (academic and/or career technical), life skills and re-entry training.
The out-of-custody program has three phases: housing, continuing education and employment. Once a participant is released, there is an Employment Advisory Board that will assist the inmates in attaining employment.
Funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Justice Second Chance Act and also by private foundations such as the Ford Foundation, California Wellness Foundation and the Rosenberg Foundation, the report said.
The Recidivism Reduction and Re-Entry (RRE) program, which was created by Harris, is currently developing a division that will define what recidivism is statewide. The RRE will also be searching for attainable grants to fund the creation and expansion of anti-recidivism programs.
