Prison to Employment Initiative

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2022

In July 2018, the California Legislature approved Senate Bill (SB) 856. The budget included $37 million in state general funds for the Prison to Employment (P2E) initiative. The goal of the initiative is to connect the State’s justice-involved and formerly incarcerated population with high demand jobs in the labor market, with the goal of reducing recidivism. Funds for this initiative have been awarded to the Inland Empire Regional Planning Unit (IERPU), which includes the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board and the Riverside County Workforce Development Board. Funding for the program is intended to support regional planning and implementation efforts. P2E will provide resources for direct services to the formerly incarcerated and other justice-involved individuals. The funds will allow San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board to work with corrections, probation, sheriff’s departments, other county departments, education providers, and community-based organizations in the region to assist formerly incarcerated and justice-involved individuals in becoming job ready through training and supportive services.