Justice – Involved Individuals
California is home to more than 8 million residents with a criminal record – individuals who have served their time and are working hard to rebuild their lives. Many return home with a deep desire to contribute to their families and communities, yet are too often met with stigma, limited employment options, and restricted access to housing, education, and training. These systemic barriers can make reentry overwhelming and increase the risk of recidivism. Workforce programs serving this population population must provide tailored job training, paid transitional employment, legal assistance, and employer engagement strategies that reduce stigma and create clear career pathways.
Goodwill Southern California supports the reentry population with compassion, opportunity, and targeted services that create clear pathways from unemployment to transitional and, ultimately, permanent employment. Through programs like LA & IE RISE, our participants build marketable and soft skills essential for job success while engaging in paid training and work experience that helps cover basic expenses and reduces financial barriers. We also connect participants to wraparound support—including mental health care, housing, and legal services—to address challenges to stability. Our job placements prioritize positions with benefits, reliable scheduling, and safe conditions, and which offer opportunities for advancement and economic mobility. Each year, we serve more than 2,300 justice-involved individuals, helping them overcome systemic barriers and take meaningful steps toward a brighter future.
- RENEW: REENTRY EMPLOYMENT NAVIGATION, ENGAGEMENT AND WELL-BEING (RENEW) PROGRAM job search, job readiness, 300 hours TSE paid work experience, case management, supportive services, unsubsidized job placement
- Prison to Employment
- LA RISE
- Employment Social Enterprise
“What once seemed impossible has now become a reality. After 30 years of incarceration, I have risen. The Goodwill LA:RISE program gave me the experience, skill, and confidence to work and live independently. Be fearless. Take hold of the ‘Good’ in Goodwill.”
— Miguel Disarufino
