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No Violence Alliance Program

Video

NoVA Client Baseball GameOverview
Background
Collaborative Partners
Case Study
No Violence Alliance (NoVA) Program Staff
Contact Information



 

"People are ready to help you, if you are willing to help yourself."
-Juidell Preston, NoVA Case Manager

Video

Watch our program video to better understand the No Violence Alliance.

 

Overview
Committed to addressing the special needs of violent offenders in San Francisco, California, CJCJ, in collaboration with the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department and various other community providers, has established the No Violence Alliance (NoVA) program.  Implemented in October of 2006 as a pilot program, NoVA is now underway in becoming one of CJCJ’s model reentry programs.

SF Sheriff Hennessey and Lt. TerryNoVA’s primary goal is to address the violence in certain targeted areas of San Francisco by reducing recidivism and aiding violent offenders in the reentry process.  Program staff provide a continuum of intensive services through a collaborative effort with various community providers to ensure the clients transition back into the community successfully.  Staff support and assist clients in all aspects of reentering the community.  Staff carry small caseloads, between 12-18 clients, to ensure quality time and services are delivered and devoted to each individual client’s personal needs.  Comprehensive treatment plans are developed to ensure each aspect of a client’s needs is addressed.  NoVA offers violent offenders violence prevention services, case management, and transitional/residential housing.  Clients receive intensive case management and virtually have 24-hour access to their case managers.  The average client comes from the targeted communities of the Western Addition, Bayview Hunter’s Point, and the Mission District in San Francisco, California.

NoVA’s comprehensive approach emphasizes violence prevention through education and accountability.  Clients are encouraged to overcome their previous violent behaviors and become a productive and active member of society.  Clients are expected to believe and commit to the notion that positive change is possible.  “The extensive support provided by the intensive case management model truly does help clients in a new and tangible way,” according to a recent evaluation of the program conducted by LaFrance Associates, LLC in July of 2007.


Background
NoVA was developed in response to a growing national concern.  According to the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), in 2006, the nation’s prison and jail populations totaled over 2.2 million inmates.  NoVA Client BaseballOver 1.4 million of these adults under correctional supervision were being held in custody in a state or federal prison.  BJS states that at least 95% of all state prisoners will at some point be released from prison.  Unfortunately, individuals coming out of correctional facilities are often forced to face free society unprepared.  For many formerly incarcerated individuals, deficits in education, employment, and housing opportunities contribute to a persistent extralegal lifestyle.  These factors not only affect one’s ability to successfully reintegrate into the community, but also pose the question of the system’s ability to rehabilitate.  A 1994 recidivism study by BJS showed 68% of prisoners released were rearrested and over 50% would find themselves back in prison within 3 years.  To reduce the number of individuals returning to an extralegal lifestyle upon reentry into the community, NoVA provides intensive case management and support, targeting services to violent offenders.  During a client’s stay in the program, he/she is linked to a variety of resources, as is appropriate for his/her individual needs, to include substance abuse treatment, job training programs, private employers, housing services, and services from other community and faith based providers.

Collaborative Partners
NoVA utilizes a collaborative effort in service provision.  Clients served througNoVA Client Group Meetingh NoVA receive a continuum of services provided by the below mentioned community and city providers.

  • African American Family Healing and Resource Center
  • Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice
  • Community Works, Inc.
  • Northern California Service League
  • Pendergrass Smith Consulting
  • Positive Directions Equals Change, Inc.
  • San Francisco Pretrial Diversion
  • San Francisco Sheriff’s Department
  • Senior Ex-Offender Program, Bayview Hunters Point Senior Services
  • Tabernacle Community Development Corporation
  • Up From Darkness
  • Young Community Developers 
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    Case Study

At the age of 29, Diane was incarcerated for 90 days for domestic violence and drug possession.  Upon release, Diane became a NoVA client and was immediately placed at Walden House where she receives residential substance abuse treatment.  CJCJ’s NoVA case manager connected Diane with a full spectrum of services to fulfill her individual needs upon reentering society.  Diane is now steadily employed for the first time in her life, holding down 2 jobs while responsibly paying child support for her 3 children.  Upon release from custody, Diane didn’t know where her children were so CJCJ’s NoVA case manager took her to meet a Child Protective Services (CPS) worker.  Diane has since arranged a visit to see her 3 children for the first time in 8 years.  She is positively reaching out to her children and is participating in numerous parenting courses and support groups in hopes to reunite with her children in the future.

Diane is currently applying for stable housing to complete her transition into society, after having successfully completed anger management, life skills, parenting, and domestic violence courses.  She continues to participate in Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous support groups while also regularly checking in with her NoVA case manager at least 3 times a week.  Diane has been clean for 14 months, her longest period of sobriety since she started using at the age of 13.  She is preparing for graduation from her residential treatment program where she has now become a senior member and thus able to mentor newer clients.

Since participating in NoVA, our staff has noticed a dramatic change in Diane’s attitude.  She used to think she knew everything and would often display combative behavior.  Our case manager has helped her identify her poor behaviors that led her into unfortunate situations.  Diane has transformed and is now able to hold herself responsibly even when faced with difficult circumstances.  She used to blame everyone else for everything that happened to her but now accepts responsibility for her own actions.  She thinks prior to speaking and even apologizes when she recognizes she may be in the wrong.  Diane has finally developed a true respect for others and looks forward to the day where she can become a contributing member of society.


No Violence Alliance (NoVA) Program Staff

Gerald Miller, Juidell Preston, and Jeff GrossGerald Miller, Program Director
Juidell Preston

Patsy Jackson

 

Contact Information
To learn more about NoVA, please contact:
Gerald Miller, Program Director
Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice
440 9th Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
Tel: (415) 621-5661 ext. 306
Fax: (415) 621-5466