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In this issue:

In memory of Roland Carey, director of youth housing program Independent Living Program provided support and housing for young people

After many years of dedicated service to youth and families involved in the justice system, Roland Carey passed away on October 17 at the age of 66. Carey made a deep impact on the lives of young people, for whom he provided structure, support, and care. His warm and passionate approach will be missed by many. 

As Program Director of CJCJ’s regional office in Washington, DC, Carey supervised the Independent Living Program (ILP) and Third-Party Mentoring Program from 2004 to 2010. The ILP model was developed around the principle of unconditional care, following the no eject, no reject” philosophy. Youth were never refused services; those with poor performance were given additional support and care to help them succeed during difficult times. 

In addition to housing, clients received a stipend and community-based services, including education, substance abuse counseling, vocational training, and mental health counseling. They also engaged in life skills seminars to learn basic living skills, like budgeting and banking, nutrition, food preparation, personal hygiene, and home cleaning.

Carey’s leadership of the program was essential to local reform efforts in Washington, D.C., which funded the ILP through the Department of Youth and Rehabilitation Services (DYRS).

Proposition 47 could generate significant cost savings for counties CJCJ analysis estimates freed jail capacity and cost savings at county level

A new CJCJ brief finds that Proposition 47 could save Los Angeles County up to $170 million per year by freeing 7,200 jail beds; San Bernardino County up to $56 million by freeing 2,400 jail beds; San Diego County up to $52 million by freeing 2,200 jail beds; and Orange County up to $51 million by freeing 2,200 jail beds. 

Proposition 47, the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act, would reclassify drug possession for personal use and petty-theft-related offenses as misdemeanors, and will appear on the November 4, 2014 ballot. The CJCJ brief estimates the potential county-level savings and jail population reductions that could result from implementing the initiative.

Given the constraints on county budgets and jail space, we hope this analysis can help voters make an informed decision when they go to the polls in November,” says CJCJ’s Director of Policy and Development Brian Goldstein.

Potential savings vary considerably by county but are substantial, resulting primarily from the freeing of 13 percent to 38 percent of jail capacity. However, these potential cost savings are based on the assumption that the freed jail beds would remain empty. The actual savings will depend on how each county uses its freed jail space; many counties would likely fill at least a portion of freed jail beds, which would reduce savings. 

State-level savings would range from $100 million to $300 million. These savings would be transferred to a fund that would support mental health and substance abuse treatment programs, school truancy and dropout prevention, and victim services.

Read the full report »

For SF’s formerly incarcerated, job opportunities in city beautification Program offers transitional employment in graffiti removal, landscaping

On October 28, CJCJ’s Homeless Employment Collaborative (HEC) and San Francisco Training Partnership (SFTP) hosted an orientation for the San Francisco Clean City Coalition, which provides transitional employment for people who are homeless, including those who have been incarcerated. The four-month job opportunities focus on cleaning and beautifying the city, and include graffiti removal, street sweeping, and neighborhood greening. 

One of the most important components of successful reentry is finding a job. But it’s also one of the most difficult, due to discrimination against people who are low-income and formerly incarcerated, gaps in work histories, and insufficient job training. HEC and SFTP help clients overcome the many barriers to employment for justice-involved people, in part through alliances with organizations like Clean City.

Approximately 50 people attended Tuesday’s orientation. The next orientation at CJCJ’s main office will take place on November 25.