Los Angeles County adopted a series of policies aimed at reducing the prison population, supporting re-entry, and disrupting the cycle of recidivism. As a result of these efforts, more than 10,000 inmates are released from incarceration countywide each month. These individuals face myriad barriers to successful reintegration, including lack of access to housing, employment and general supportive services. To help address these challenges, the Workforce Development Aging and Community Service Department of Los Angeles County enlisted FUSE executive fellow Casswell Goodman to develop an integrated approach to service delivery for justice-involved individuals reintegrating into the community.
Casswell’s strategies included marketing and rebranding county-based reentry services, developing a widely embraced multimedia video series aimed at reducing stigmas associated with justice-involved individuals, and designing a digital tool that aggregates public- and private-sector reentry resources from across the county. This integrated and trauma-informed model for service delivery in L.A. County has improved coordination between departments, increased receptivity to hiring justice-involved individuals among employers, and created a renewed sense of urgency around the issue of re-entry.
