New Reentry Mov’t to Help Ex-inmates Be Productive Citizens, Alleviate Prison Overcrowding

SAN DIEGO, April 26, 2011—More than 755,000 people are under correctional supervision in California,¹ and more than 120,000 California prisoners are released on parole every year.² If current trends continue, more than half of these ex-offenders will return to prison within three years³ - a financial crisis for the state, given California’s overcrowded prison population.

May 23-25 in San Diego, hundreds of California government, community and faith leaders will gather to launch Out4Life California, a prisoner reentry movement aimed at tacking the state's reentry issues and helping reduce the $9.6 billion Californians spend on corrections annually.¹ Out4Life California organizers are Prison Fellowship - the world's largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families - in partnership with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Out4Life California will address the keys to overcoming prisoner reentry challenges including the ability to find jobs, locate housing and obtain needed social services and mentors.    

WHAT:
The launch of the Out4Life California reentry movement to tackle prisoner reentry issues. The goal of Out4Life California is to strengthen local coalitions in the San Diego, Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Fernando Valley, Antelope Valley, Whittier and East Los Angeles areas, to help released prisoners find steady jobs, adequate housing, substance-abuse treatment and supportive relationships that keep them from returning to a life of crime.

WHO:
Prison Fellowship in partnership with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The launch event will feature speakers including:

• California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Secretary Matthew Cate
• Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca
• California San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Richard Vlavianos
• Prison Fellowship Vice President, former California assembly leader and former California inmate Pat Nolan
• Prison Fellowship Southern California Executive Director Clef Irby
• Baylor University Distinguished Professor of the social sciences Byron Johnson
• Angola Prison Warden Burl Cain

Workshops will delve into topics such as employment, housing, education, addiction treatment, public safety, family issues, special needs of veterans and women prisoners, and the importance of establishing reentry networks.

WHEN:
May 23-25

WHERE:
Crowne Plaza San Diego
2270 Hotel Circle North
San Diego, CA 92108
619.297.1101 or 888.233.9527

DETAILS:
Schedule

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC:
Any organization or individual who would like to work together to address practical barriers to prisoner reentry and offer strategies to reduce prisoner recidivism is invited to attend. All attendees may participate in a marketplace exhibit center with booths and displays about their reentry support services and assistance.

California is the twelfth state to launch Out4Life. Reentry movements are already underway in Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Arizona, Ohio, Oregon, Texas and Virginia.

¹ Pew Center on the States
² California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 2010
³ Pew Center on the States, State of Recidivism, 2011

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