California
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Contact:
California Employment Development Department
722 Capitol Mall, MIC 50
Sacramento, CA 95814
Web Site: www.edd.ca.gov
Information about State Department of Labor resources may be of interest to:
• potential employers looking for incentives to hire individuals with criminal histories;
• service providers and individuals with criminal histories who are looking for assistance in finding employment; and
• researchers and policy makers looking at current programs to ascertain what programs are effective and serve their intended purpose.
Federal Bonding Program
The Federal Bonding Program provides fidelity bonding insurance coverage to individuals with criminal histories and other high-risk job applicants who are qualified, but fail to get jobs because regular commercial bonding is denied due to their backgrounds.
Contact:
Workforce Services Division
California Employment Development Department
722 Capitol Mall, MIC 50
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-654-7799
Web Site: www.edd.ca.gov/
Tax Credits
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal tax credit to reduce the federal tax liability of private for profit employers to be used as an incentive for employers to hire individuals from eight different targeted groups: TANF recipients, veterans, ex-felons, high risk youth, summer youth, Food Stamp recipients, SSI recipients, and vocational rehabilitation referrals.
Contact:
Workforce Services Division
California Employment Development Department
722 Capitol Mall, MIC 50
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-654-5857
Web Site: www.edd.ca.gov/
Unemployment Insurance Office
Unemployment compensation is a social insurance program designed to provide benefits to most individuals out of work, generally through no fault of their own, for periods between jobs. In order to be eligible for benefits, jobless workers must demonstrate that they have worked, usually measured by amount of wages and/or weeks of work, and must be able and available for work.
The unemployment compensation program is based upon federal law, but administered by states under state law.
Forms and information may be obtained at any local One Stop Center and via the internet at the web site listed below.
Contact:
Employment Development Department
722 Capitol Mall, MIC 83
Sacramento, CA 95814
Web Site: www.edd.ca.gov/
This is the agency individuals may contact to obtain a copy of their state rap sheet. The criminal record repository can also tell the individual who else is legally entitled to have access to his or her record.
Fingerprints and the reason for requesting a copy of a criminal history must be submitted, along with a $25 fee, to the California Department of Justice.
Contact:
California Department of Justice
Record Review Unit
P.O. Box 903417
Sacramento, CA 94203-4170
916-227-3835
Employers and service providers may obtain information from the state attorney general regarding occupational bars, the licensing of individuals with criminal records in certain jobs, and whether the state has laws that limit what employers may ask job applicants or protections against employment discrimination based on a criminal record.
Contact:
Office of the Attorney General
P.O. Box 944255
1300 I Street, Suite 1740
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-324-5437
Web Site: www.caag.state.ca.us/
Work Release Program
A work release/furlough program is available to most inmates in the California Department of Corrections’ system. Inmates who have been convicted of sex offenses, violent offenses, and high-level drug offenses are not eligible. Eligible participants must be 12 - 16 months away from release on parole. Participants are permitted out of the facility during the day for paid work experiences, but must return to a minimum security facility at night.
Pre-Release Program
Each California Department of Corrections (CDC) facility maintains its own pre-release center. The curriculum of each pre-release center is determined by each facility. The program runs for three weeks and attendance is not mandatory, except for those individuals with convictions involving anger management. Each facility assists inmates with resume development, job readiness, and obtaining a Department of Motor Vehicles identification card and Social Security card.
Contact:
California Department of Corrections
1515 South Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-324-7308; 916-816-3284 pager
Parole Division
The California Department of Corrections (CDC) supervises the re-entry of all parolees. There are 32 re-entry or transitional centers throughout California. Most are operated by public or private agencies under contract to the CDC. The Parole Division (“Parole”) monitors these facilities. A pilot program is being offered by Parole at five of the transitional centers. If a parolee is job ready, s/he is referred to the Employment Development Department office, which is located at the parole office. The second component of the new program is called Jobs Plus. A parolee is placed in this program when s/he is not quite ready for employment and needs additional preparation for work (e.g, training and job coaching). The third arm of the program is Offender Employment Continuum (OEC). This portion of the program is for job ready individuals and consists of a 40-hour workshop for employment. There is a 180-day follow-up by the private contractor, in many instances a local community college, that provides the workshop training. The Division of Parole also maintains Residential Multi-Service Centers (RMSC) for those parolees who are at risk of becoming or are homeless. There are 228 beds available. Residents of RMSC receive assistance with cognitive skills, literacy, life skills and drug treatment from One Stop Career Centers which are located on site. Parolees may stay for six months and their stay can be extended for up to one year. RMSC facilities are located in San Francisco, San Jose, Fresno, and Los Angeles.
Contact:
Institutional Division
California Department of Corrections
P.O. Box 942883
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-323-2321
Free or low-cost legal resources, both in civil and criminal law, are helpful to individuals with criminal histories in learning about relevant state laws governing the expungement or sealing of criminal histories or addressing other legal issues resulting from having a criminal history.
State Public Defender
Contact:
California Public Defender Association (CPDA)
10324 Placer Lane
Sacramento, CA 95827
916-362-1686
Web Site: http://www.claraweb.us/
Legal Services
Contact:
Public Interest Clearinghouse
433 California Street
Suite 815
San Francisco, CA 94104
415-834-0100
415-834-0202 fax
E-Mail: pic@pic.org
Web Site: www.one-justice.org
Bay Area Legal Aid
Bay Area Legal Aid provides free legal help for low-income people living in the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara. The Legal Barriers to Employment Project help eliminate legal barriers to employment – criminal records, suspended drivers license, threatened evictions, credit problems.
Contact:
Bay Area Legal Aid
Legal Barriers to Employment Project
1800 Market Street 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-982-1300, ext 308
Web Site: www.baylegal.org/
East Bay Community Law Center
The East Bay Community Law Center's Clean Slate Practice assists clients with legal barriers to employment, including criminal records remedies.
Contact:
East Bay Community Law Center
2921 Adeline St.
Berkeley, CA 94703
510-548-4040, ext 357
Web Site: www.ebclc.org/
National Center for Youth Law
The National Center for Youth Law is looking at employment barriers, including criminal records, as it impacts youth.
Contact:
National Center for Youth Law
405 14th Street, #1500
Oakland, CA 94612
Neighborhood Legal Services of LA County
Neighborhood Legal Services of LA County provides civil legal services (housing, employment, public benefits, discrimination, immigration, family/domestic issues, etc.) to low-income residents of Los Angeles County, including the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys, the neighboring communities in the Pomona, Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys, and the cities of Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena.
Contact:
Neighborhood Legal Services of LA County
13327 Van Nuys Boulevard
Pacoima, CA 91331
1-800-433-6251 ext. 139
Web Site: www.nls-la.org/
Social Justice Law Project
The Social Justice Law Project represents low income persons in class and impact litigation to eliminate employment and housing barriers facing individuals with arrest and conviction records.
Contact:
Social Justice Law Project
510 16th Street, Suite 301
Oakland, CA 94612
510-974-7814
E-Mail: socialjusticelaw@hotmail.com
National Employment Law Project
The National Employment Law Project assists individuals in the San Francisco Bay Area who have been denied employment or fired because of their criminal record.
Contact:
National Employment Law Project
2030 Addison Street
Suite 310
Berkely, CA 94704
510-982-5945
E-Mail: mneighley@nelp.org
Web Site: www.nelp.org
State Bar Association
Contact:
California State Bar Association
San Francisco (Main Office)
180 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
415-538-2000
Web Site: www.calbar.ca.gov
Community agencies are available to assist individuals with criminal records find employment. This information will inform individuals with criminal records about government agencies and community-based organizations that assist with employment, education or vocational training. Researchers and policy makers may find this information useful in identifying agencies and service providers in order to evaluate the effectiveness of these programs.
Arriba Juntos
Arriba Juntos, a community-based organization, has been in operation for 36 years, serving a diverse population in San Francisco. In addition to an individual with a criminal history employment program, it offers youth programming and ESL classes to over 2,000 clients yearly. Arriba Juntos maintains staff at the One Stop Career Center at 3120 Mission St. in San Francisco to assist job seekers who begin their searches at a One Stop Center. Arriba Juntos accepts drop-in clients, as well as those who make appointments. They have direct placement for clients who have job skills. Training is available in computer technology, including MS Office Suite, and certified nursing assistance with the ability to obtain California licensing. Arriba Juntos will assist clients in obtaining licensure from the State of California. In collaboration with the San Francisco Municipal Railway (MUNI) they offer a driver training course. Clients may obtain their Commercial Driving License and consideration for employment with MUNI as bus drivers. These training programs include a Life Skills component, job interview techniques and resume writing in addition to daily survival skills. Arriba Juntos has a subsidized wage/on job training program that is used as an incentive to employers to hire individuals with criminal records.
Contact:
1850 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
415-487-3240
415-863-9314 fax
E-Mail: info@arribajuntos.org
Web Site: www.arribajuntos.org
Career Link - Employment Resource Center
Career Link is part of California’s One Stop Center System. Individuals with a criminal history are referred to a job agent for services. Each job agent is expected to have 60 successful closures per year. (A closure is considered placing a client in a job that the client retains for 90 days or more.) Services include: job search workshops; one-on-one job counseling; vocational counseling; resource library; computerized job skills testing software; computers and equipment available for use in preparing cover letters, job resumes, job applications; and internet access for job search. Clients must call for an appointment.
Contact:
Career Link - Employment Resource Center
3120 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
415-401-4917
Delancey Street Foundation
Delancey Street Foundation is based on the principle of self motivation. Success in the program is based on "pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps." Program capacity is 450 persons at the San Francisco facility. A two-year commitment is required of all participants, however participants may stay longer in the program if needed. Walk-ins are accepted for interviews; offenders may be interviewed while incarcerated. To be placed on a waiting list, individuals must write a letter requesting an interview. Recently released offenders must be able to transfer their parole supervision to San Francisco. Residents learn not only academic and vocational skills, but also the interpersonal, social survival skills, along with the attitudes, values, sense of responsibility, and self-reliance necessary to live in the mainstream of society drug-free, successfully and legitimately. Delancey Street owns and operates several commercial businesses staffed by its residents. Individuals receive training in different vocational, business skills as well as managerial skills in the different aspects of business, and skills in owning and operating a business.
Contact:
Delancey Street Foundation
600 Embarcadero
San Francisco, CA 94107
415-957-9800
Northern California Service League
The Northern California Service League (NCSL) offers pre-release services on the county level. A 40-hour core program in life skills is given. NCSL also provides social services to assist families of offenders during their loved one’s incarceration, substance abuse counseling, GED tutoring, parenting skills, and counseling on domestic violence issues. Approximately 600 inmates, including sentenced inmates and those awaiting trial or sentencing, are serviced. NCSL is in the process of starting a program to facilitate housing needs upon release. This will include a 30-day shelter program and assistance in obtaining public assistance. Post-release services offered include job placement, a life skills workshop, substance abuse counseling, and referrals to other agencies for housing. In order to obtain services, a client needs a “1502 Referral Form” from Parole. Approximately 1,000 recently released offenders per year receive post-release services. In addition, NCSL hosts an annual job fair to assist with job placement. Transitional housing is also available for single mothers. Eleven single mothers reuniting with two children under the age of six years can be accommodated at Cameo House. Clients may stay up to one year and there are case management services on site. An extension program of post-release services is available to those parolees who reside in the San Jose area. Services are the same as those available in the San Francisco office.
Post Release Services
Contact:
Northern California Service League
28 Boardman Place
San Francisco, CA 94103
415-863-2323
415-863-1882 fax
Web Site: www.cjcj.org/about/northern-california-service-league.html
San Jose Office
Contact:
Northern California Service League
598 North First Street, Suite 202
San Jose, CA 95112
408-297-9601
E-Mail: NCSL2@ips.net
Web Site: www.cjcj.org/about/northern-california-service-league.html
Pre-Release Services
Contact:
Northern California Service League
San Francisco Hall of Justice, Room 116
850 Bryant Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
415-552-9250
Web Site: www.cjcj.org/about/northern-california-service-league.html
JobTrain
JobTrain, formerly known as Opportunities Industrialization Center West (OICW), is a non-profit vocational training school that provides low-or no-cost entry level training. As a One-Stop Center, it services walk-in clients in collaboration with other agencies. At its location are offices of the Department of Social Services, a local community college and a local adult school. It also provides youth services in the form of after-school programs for drop-outs or potential drop-outs. Training classes run from six weeks to six months. Training is available in the construction trades, hazardous material removal, culinary arts, clerical, certified nurse assistant, Web Desk Top publishing and A+ Certification (computer technician), including the Oracle system. Approximately 300 people receive services daily. OICW also assists recently released offenders with the expungement of California criminal records.
Contact:
JobTrain
1200 O Brien Drive
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Phone: (650) 330-6429
Fax: (650) 330-6401
Web Site: www.jobtrainworks.org/
Private Industry Council of San Francisco (PIC)
Private Industry Council of San Francisco (PIC) is a non-profit organization that provides employment, training and research services to employers and job seekers in San Francisco. PIC is a public/private collaboration for workforce development. PIC contracts with over 60 community- based organizations to provide training and employment services. Among the agencies that PIC works with are city agencies, California Employment Development Department (EDD), City College of San Francisco, the San Francisco United School District, and the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce PIC has a Workforce Investment Act (WIA)-funded job training service program that serves recently released offenders among other populations. It provides GED preparation, basic literacy assistance, job development, job counseling and on-the-job training. PIC utilizes employment specialists from EDD for its job development and placement services.
Contact:
Private Industry Council of San Francisco
1650 Mission Street, Suite 300
San Francisco, CA 94103
415-431-8700
415-431-8702 fax
E-Mail: 411@picsf.org
Web Site: www.oaklandpic.org
Private Industry Council of San Francisco
Youth Opportunities for San Francisco (YO SF!) is a new program offering employment and development services to youths, ages 14 - 21 years, who are transitioning out of the California Juvenile Justice system’s youth ranches and guidance centers.
Contact:
YO San Francisco
1850 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
415-487-3912
Rubicon Programs Inc.
Rubicon Programs serves a diverse population that includes low income, disabled, non-custodial fathers and the homeless. It does not specifically target recently released offenders, however many recently released offenders fall into one of the categories that it serves. Its programs offer a myriad of services ranging from basic pre-employment skills, job search assistance, life skills, on-the-job paid training and experience at Rubicon program headquarters to job retention support services. Approximately 2,500 clients undergo the intake process each year.
Contact:
Rubicon Programs Inc.
2500 Bissell Avenue
Richmond, CA 94804
510-235-1516
510-235-2025 fax
Web Site: www.rubiconprograms.org/
Playa Vista Job Opportunities and Business Services (PVJOBS)
Playa Vista is a construction development, non-profit organization located in Los Angeles. The company allots 10% of all jobs at the construction site to at-risk people, including individuals with criminal histories. PVJOBS is considered a one-stop job center. Assessment of math and reading skills is done, as well as assistance with job resumes and job placement. Clients must be referred from another One Stop Center or a community-based organization. From information received through the assessment and job skills, an employment profile is developed and entered into the PVJOBS data base. Both union and nonunion contractors work on the development site. Clients are eligible to become members of the different trade unions.
Contact:
Playa Vista Job Opportunities and Business Services
4112 South Main Street
Los Angeles, CA 90037
323-432-3955
E-Mail: info@pvjobs.org
Web Site: www.pvjobs.org
The WorkPlace CA
The WorkPlace CA is a private-for-profit company that specializes in serving the parolee population. It has six offices in the San Fernando Valley, Orange County and Los Angeles County. The agency has a contract with the California Department of Corrections. Job specialists assist clients with developing resumes, completing job applications, and acquiring interview skills prior to developing job opportunities. Job specialists enroll clients in vocational training and coordinate efforts with One Stop Centers. Clients must call to schedule an appointment; walk-in appointments are not accepted.
Contact:
The WorkPlace CA
3407 West 6th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90020
213-386-1994
E-Mail: theworkplaceca@yahoo.com
Web Site: www.theworkplaceca.com/
Community Connection Resource Center
The Community Connection Resource Center offers comprehensive services for recently released offenders. These services include drug counseling/sober living houses, vocational training assistance, job development and placement, social services assistance, one-on-one counseling. It provides referrals for housing, as well as transitional housing for six months. It also has a youth program available. It is necessary to call for an interview/appointment. Community Connection Resource has centers located throughout the state (none near San Francisco or Oakland) where 3,000 to 3,500 recently released offenders are serviced annually.
Contact:
Executive Director
Community Connection Resource Center
4080 Centre Street, Suite 104
San Diego, CA 92103
Welcome Home Ministries
Welcome Home Ministries is a nationally recognized program that provides holistic faith-based, peer-driven supportive services for women in transition from incarceration into the community including helping participants to regain citizenship, return to school, acquire jobs and, most importantly, be reunited with their children.
Contact:
Welcome Home Ministries PO Box 3362
Oceanside, CA 92051-3362
760-908-4705
E-Mail: whministries@hotmail.com
Website: www.welcomehomeint.org
Second Chance/STRIVE
Second Chance serves individuals with a criminal history, long-term unemployed/underemployed, or homeless people. Using the STRIVE model, Second Chance encompasses a three-week job readiness program. In addition to assistance with resume writing, clothing and interview techniques, soft skills such as eye contact and hand shaking are taught. Upon completion of the three-week program, graduates of the program attend a job fair. STRIVE program graduates have a 95% employment rate. Job developers are also available to assist individuals who do not enter the STRIVE program to develop skills enabling them to do a job search on their own. These individuals also attend the monthly job fair held by Second Chance. Transitional work experience is also available for those people who have never worked or have not worked in many years. This allows participants to gain entry-level work experience with the goal of obtaining permanent employment.
Contact:
6145 Imperial Avenue
San Diego, CA 92114
619-234-8888
619-234-7787 fax
E-Mail: secondchance@secondchanceprogram.org
Web Site: www.secondchanceprogram.org
Time for Change Foundation
Since 2002, TFCFs main objective has been to help homeless women with children achieve self-sufficiency by using a strength-based approach to address their needs. Through its programs and services, TFCF provides its clients with every opportunity to develop the skills necessary to become independent, community leaders, and positive role models for their children and others. Direct services include: •Emergency Shelter •Transitional Housing •Comprehensive Case Management •Nutrition, Wellness & Smoking Cessation Education •Independent Living Skills •Leadership Development •Family Reunification •Financial Education & Money Management •Certified Substance Abuse Counselor •Transportation
Contact:
P.O. Box 25040
San Bernardino, CA 92412
909-886-2994
E-Mail: info@TimeforChangeFoundation.org
Web Site: www.timeforchangefoundation.org
St. Anthony's Foundation Tenderloin Technology Lab
Provides important technological skills that increase opportunities for employment, access to essential community resources and connections with family and friends. Free computer use, computer classes, black and white printer, scanner, fax, and phone. Individual tutoring available every Friday.
Contact:
150 Golden Gate Ave
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 592-2794
Fax: (415) 440-7773
Contact: Program Coordinator, Amanda Brown
Email: aabrown@stanthonysf.org
Web Site: tenderlointechnologylab.org
Hours: Mon 1:30pm - 4:15pm, 8:30am - 11:45am
Tue 1:30pm - 4:15pm, 8:30am - 11:45am
Wed 8:30am - 11:45am
Thu 1:30pm - 4:15pm, 8:30am - 11:45am
Fri 1:30pm - 4:15pm, 8:30am - 11:45am
Sat 10am - 2:45pm
Sun 10am – 2pm
Notes: Those interested in accessing the tech lab must first attend a 15 minute orientation. Orientations are held Mondays and Wednesdays at 9am and Fridays at 9am & 1:40pm.
Things To Know:Languages Spoken: EnglishWhat to Bring: N/AAccessibility: Wheelchair accessibleClient fees, if any: Free of chargeEligible Population: ages 18+Faith Based: No
Direct Services: Education; Access to Internet