According to a report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Philippines ranks third in the world for jail and prison overcrowding, and has the eleventh-highest prison population in the world. The country’s government is working to address systemic issues connected to overcrowding of the correctional system.
Against this backdrop, five visitors from the Philippines toured the Sacramento Community Based Coalition (SCBC) last week to learn about its success in helping individuals successfully reenter the community from prison and jail. SCBC is one of seven Reentry Program sites operated by the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) and its partners to serve clients across the region.
The visitors (Philippines judicial, legal, and nonprofit organization representatives) participated in a roundtable discussion led by Director Christi Fee and Project Specialist Natalya Weltman. The SCOE representatives answered many insightful questions, ranging from overall costs and funding sources to specifics about how the program is operated.
A number of questions centered on the differences in support needs for men and women. The visit was tailored toward programs that serve female inmates. In the Philippines, facilities for women are generally even more overcrowded than facilities for men. The visitors heard from a current SCBC client, who spoke glowingly about the positive and life-changing assistance she has received, answering questions about her experiences. SCOE Transition Specialist Erika Cortez joined her in emphasizing how important parenting classes, support for reconnecting with children, and other relevant programs are for female clients. The group also discussed the importance of effective case management, ensuring that individuals get the support they need, and can access the appropriate resources.
Participants learned how the program saves California taxpayers money since the annual, per-person cost of its services is significantly less than the cost of being in the correctional system. They also heard how the program helps clients maintain their sobriety by teaching them to manage triggers and avoid falling back into old habits.
Willingness to participate is a significant challenge, too, and the group talked about simple ways clients are encouraged to stay engaged. The staff emphasized how important it is that probation officers and agents help identify clients who are a good fit for classes and relevant support services.
The visit was coordinated by the Sacramento office of Global Ties U.S., an organization that supports more than 80 members across the country in advancing peace and prosperity through international exchange. The guests were accompanied by International Visitor Liaison Nawzad Muradi and Claudia Ramirez from Global Ties Sacramento.
SCOE is supporting positive global change and mutual understanding by facilitating professional and educational exchanges like these. The opportunity to share information helps expand cultural fluency, breaks down barriers, and allows citizen diplomats to shape and advance foreign policy goals. In May, SCBC hosted a group of human rights advocates from Belarus for a program tour.
About the Reentry Program
Initially focused on serving parolees transitioning from prison into the community, the Reentry Program now assists individuals in navigating the criminal justice system at various levels of supervision and involvement, including one site that serves youth on probation. It provides a variety of services in multiple counties through partnerships with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), county Probation and Health and Human Services departments, community-based organizations, and the Superior Courts.