Last month, CalVCP received a letter announcing it was the recipient of a donation of nearly sixteen thousand dollars from two California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA) work programs and was to be honored at a ceremony at the N.A. Chaderjian Youth Correctional Facility in Stockton. While thrilled by the donation, I hesitated at first on the decision to attend the presentation at a correctional facility out of respect for victims and their families. However, as I learned more about the program, I felt compelled to participate and meet the young men who chose CalVCP as the beneficiary of this donation.
For those not familiar, CALPIA is an inmate work program that provides productive job opportunities for inmates in California correctional institutions. Its primary function is to rehabilitate inmates and facilitate their successful reentry into society. Many times they partner with outside private firms, in this case Free Venture Program (FVP), to learn computer repair, welding and other trade skills. And while this work may help inmates with their own healing process, it is also mandated by law that twenty percent of their earned wage be donated to victim service organizations. As they get paid, these offenders are reminded they owe a debt to their victims, and to society as a whole, for the criminal choices they made.
The youth offenders who donated this money are serving time for crimes like sexual assault and other serious felony convictions. While getting intense treatment, all are learning new skills to help them adjust to the outside world as well as a new way of thinking about their crimes and the impact they have had on their victims.
The money from CALPIA’s donation was raised by youth offenders at two California Division of Juvenile Justice facilities who participated with FVP. This unique program allows incarcerated juvenile offenders to work for private sector companies from within correctional facilities and earn a wage comparable to what they would make outside the facility for the same job. Those participating in the program pay taxes, room and board, and family support.
At the donation presentation ceremony, I listened to these young offenders talk about the pride they take in their work and the joy they find by being able to earn a paycheck, pay for child support and meet their obligation to pay restitution. Some got up and talked about a fresh start for themselves and their families. Others discussed how helping the people they hurt the most—the innocent victims, is the best part of the program. I realized—they were working to heal as well.
While this contribution came from an unlikely source, I was more than pleased to accept it on behalf of the crime victims of California. The money will go directly toward helping victims heal, by reimbursing them for crime-related costs such as mental health treatments and funeral bills. These youth offenders are now, in effect, helping other crime victims through their generous donation and we hope the lessons they have learned will resonate in the community and help reduce crime and its impact on victims.
