Inside Programs
Hope
&
Redemption
Team
Our Purpose
The purpose of the program is to strengthen rehabilitative and reentry programs in California state prisons, ultimately improving outcomes and reducing recidivism for people coming home from incarceration.
About the Program
The HART program sites provide three in-facility groups, for two hours each (six hours per day), four days per week. The fifth day of the week is reserved for administrative work (case management, evaluation, data tracking, and course preparation).
The full program runs in four ten-week cycles per year. The curriculum includes:
- AVATAR Parole Preparation and Relapse Prevention
- Criminals and Gang Members Anonymous (CGA)
- Emotional Intelligence
Locations
- Avenal State Prison (ASP)
- California City Correctional Facility (CAC)
- California Correctional Institution (CCI)
- California Health Care Facility (CHCF)
- California Institution for Men (CIM)
- California Institution for Women (CIW)
- California Medical Facility (CMF)
- California Men's Colony (CMC)
- California Rehabilitation Center (CRC)
- California State Prison, Centinela (CEN)
- California State Prison, Corcoran (COR)
- California State Prison, Los Angeles County (LAC)
- California State Prison, Sacramento (SAC)
- California State Prison, Solano (SOL)
- California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison, Corcoran (SATF)
- Calipatria State Prison (CAL)
- Central California Women's Facility (CCWF)
- Chuckawalla Valley State Prison (CVSP)
- Correctional Training Facility (CTF)
- Folsom State Prison (FSP)
- High Desert State Prison (HDSP)
- Ironwood State Prison (ISP)
- Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP)
- Mule Creek State Prison (MCSP)
- North Kern State Prison (NKSP)
- Pelican Bay State Prison (PBSP)
- Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP)
- Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility (RJD)
- Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP)
- San Quentin State Prison (SQ)
- Sierra Conservation Center (SCC)
- Valley State Prison (VSP)
- Wasco State Prison (WSP)
In August 2017, ARC launched the Hope & Redemption Team (“HART Team”). The HART team grew from Sam Lewis’ vision of providing incarcerated people with board and reentry programming by having formerly incarcerated people teach it!
The HART team solely comprises formerly incarcerated people, including lifers returning to California prisons to teach rehabilitative programming. With their life experiences, knowledge, and passion for giving back, the HART team can uniquely reach incarcerated people across California. The HART team began in eight California prisons and has expanded to 33 prisons, including women’s facilities CIW, CCWF, and Sacramento CCTRP. One life coach is assigned to every prison.
The goal of the HART team is to prepare people for the board of parole to come home from incarceration. Many HART team members return to the very prisons they once were held at to reach, inspire, and connect with the men and women inside prison. Our life coaches are dedicated to bringing people home from incarceration to the community with the proper guidance and support.
The HART program consists of 10-week workshops inside prisons focusing on preparing for parole board reentry planning, culminating in a graduation. In 2023, 2,000 incacerted people graduated from HART programs, and we held over 90 graduations.
Because of the program’s success, more people have safely come home from incarceration. Once someone is released, they are connected with ARC and assigned a Life Coach. Their life coach connects them to an array of reentry services. We make sure our HART team graduates continue on their journey when they come home.
History of Credible Messengers
Every Saturday since 2015, ARC members and staff have volunteered inside Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall, mentoring incarcerated youth. Many ARC members returned to the facility where they were once incarcerated to build relationships with young people who are going through what they experienced. For years, ARC members have built relationships with many young people needing guidance, support, and a relatable person to talk to, also known as a credible messenger.
A credible messenger is a mentor who has been formerly incarcerated and is a trained facilitator who can connect and guide a young person from a similar background. ARC members can relate, communicate with young people, and support them during incarceration because of their experiences inside the system. Our Credible Messengers understand the mindset, attitudes, and trauma incarcerated youth carry with them.
Because of our members’ commitment and impact on incarcerated youth, this has blossomed into a fully funded program in Los Angeles County. ARC’s Credible Messenger Program comprises ten formerly incarcerated mentors who enter juvenile facilities in Los Angeles County daily. Our credible messengers work with boys and girls in Camus Kilpatrick, Los Padrinos, Camp Kirby, and Barry J. Nidorf. Our credible messengers facilitate. With the closure of DJJ, more youth will be held at the county level and need mentorship in the years to come. ARC’s Credible Messenger program helps prevent youth from going further into the justice system and empowers them to see a positive future ahead when they come home.
While Inside
Facilities
-Barry J Nidorf Juvenile Hall
-Central Juvenile Hall
-Campus Kilpatrik
During Transfer
For Reentry
Programs
-Ride Home
-Therapy
-Housing: Magnolia, Lorena, and Hollywood Ranch
-Education: Stipends for school
-Career Opportunities
-Policy Advocacy
-Community
Inside Newsletter
We send a quarterly newsletter to our community members incarcerated in prisons across California.
