Top Prison Reentry Programs That Actually Work in 2025
Reentry isn’t just a phase — it’s a process. For people returning from prison, the first year after release is critical. Without housing, job support, and mental health services, the chance of returning to jail or prison increases dramatically.
But there are programs — real ones — that work.
In this post, we’re highlighting the top prison reentry programs that have a proven track record of helping people rebuild their lives after incarceration. Whether you're in California or just looking for national models to follow, these programs can serve as a starting point — or an inspiration.
Why Reentry Programs Matter
Roughly two-thirds of formerly incarcerated individuals are rearrested within three years of release. The reasons?
Lack of stable housing
No income or employment
Poor mental health care
Isolation or returning to unsafe environments
Reentry programs help break that cycle by offering structure, support, and community.
National Reentry Programs That Work
🏆 The Fortune Society (New York)
One of the nation’s leading reentry organizations. Offers:
Supportive housing
Employment services
Health and mental health services
Education programs
Impact: Less than 10% recidivism rate for program participants.
🏆 Homeboy Industries (Los Angeles, CA)
Started by Father Greg Boyle, this nonprofit helps formerly incarcerated individuals through:
Job training in social enterprises (e.g., bakery, cafe, maintenance)
Mental health and addiction recovery
Tattoo removal and legal services
Community building and mentorship
Impact: Known worldwide for its success with gang-affiliated and justice-involved populations.
🏆 Delancey Street Foundation (San Francisco, CA)
Overview:
Delancey Street Foundation is one of the most respected long-term residential reentry programs in the country. Established over 50 years ago, it operates as a self-sufficient community where people with histories of incarceration, addiction, and homelessness live together while rebuilding their lives. The program is unique in that it is entirely peer-run, relying on residents to teach, support, and hold each other accountable without outside clinical staff.
What They Offer:
Residents commit to a minimum two-year stay, during which they receive free housing, academic education, vocational training, and real-world work experience. Participants operate the foundation’s various businesses—such as a moving company, restaurants, and a print shop—which fund the program and teach valuable life and job skills. Everyone learns by doing and by teaching others, creating a cycle of mutual growth and leadership.
Impact & Outcomes:
Tens of thousands of people have graduated from the program, many of whom leave with a GED, job experience, and a renewed sense of responsibility and self-worth. Delancey’s long-term commitment and focus on peer-led transformation have helped many former offenders break cycles of recidivism, with success rates that far exceed national averages.
Why It Works:
The program’s structure promotes deep personal change through accountability, consistency, and community. Instead of relying on therapists or correctional staff, Delancey empowers residents to become mentors and role models for each other. The entrepreneurial model gives participants hands-on business experience, while the no-cost, residential setup removes economic barriers to reentry success.
Fit for Reentry Support:
Delancey Street is a standout model for those who are ready for a serious, long-term commitment to change. While not available everywhere, it demonstrates what’s possible when people are given time, structure, and community to truly rebuild—not just reintegrate.
🏆 The Other Side Academy (Salt Lake City, UT)
Overview:
The Other Side Academy (TOSA) is a residential program designed for people with long histories of incarceration, addiction, or criminal behavior. It offers an alternative to prison by focusing on personal transformation through community living, peer mentorship, and real-life job training. Participants live on campus for at least two years, during which they engage in intense self-development and gain tools to live drug-free, crime-free, and purpose-driven lives.
What They Offer:
TOSA operates entirely without government funding. Instead, residents run social enterprises — such as a moving company and a thrift store — that fund the program and provide hands-on business training. The community is built around honesty, accountability, and feedback. Residents are held to high standards and supported by peers who have walked similar paths. There are no professional therapists; instead, healing happens through daily interactions and consistent practice of personal responsibility.
Impact & Outcomes:
Graduates leave with job experience, restored relationships, and the confidence to reenter society with integrity. The program has proven successful in helping people break cycles of incarceration and addiction. Many graduates go on to lead productive, stable lives — often returning to support others going through the same journey.
Why It Works:
TOSA’s strength lies in its focus on character development and personal discipline. Rather than short-term interventions, the program offers time, structure, and community for deep transformation. Its peer-led approach helps participants grow into leaders and role models. By combining personal growth with business training, residents leave with both the mindset and skills needed to succeed outside the system.
Fit for Reentry Support:
For individuals ready to change and willing to commit to the long haul, TOSA provides a powerful, supportive environment. It’s especially well-suited for those who learn best by doing and benefit from a no-nonsense, accountability-driven culture of peers who truly understand the journey.
Reentry Programs in California That Make a Difference
🏆 Center for Employment Opportunities
Focuses on rapid employment for people on parole or probation. Offers:
Paid transitional jobs
Job coaching
Post-placement support
Impact: 25% lower recidivism rate among participants compared to similar groups.
🏆 Amity Foundation (California)
Provides in-prison programs and post-release housing and recovery support. Known for:
Residential treatment
Workforce development
Peer mentoring
🏆 Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC)
Focused on advocacy and transformation. Offers:
Housing
Career training
Legislative reform support
Reentry Support in Mendocino County
In Mendocino County, Revival Reentry provides direct support to individuals coming home from jail or prison, including:
Help with finding safe housing
Support with job searches and applications
One-on-one guidance to meet parole conditions
Referrals to counseling and recovery programs
We’re here to fill the gaps and walk with you through every step of reentry.
Contact us today to learn more or get help.
How to Choose a Program That’s Right for You
When choosing a reentry program, look for:
✅ A clear intake process
✅ Support in your area of greatest need (housing, employment, addiction recovery)
✅ A track record of results
✅ Staff with lived experience or trauma-informed training
✅ Connection to your parole office (if needed)
Final Thoughts: Reentry Is Possible
There are programs that work — and people who care. If you're coming home after incarceration or supporting someone who is, you're not alone. With the right tools and support system, success is absolutely possible.
Whether you're in Northern California, Mendocino County, or beyond, Revival Reentry is here to help guide you toward freedom that lasts.