Contact: Michele Kane (916) 358-1802
SACRAMENTO – Inmates from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA) are giving back to various crime victims’ support groups throughout the state for a total of more than $54,000. The offenders are participating in the Joint Venture or Free Venture Programs at three California institutions.
“The Joint and Free Venture Programs are models of public-private partnerships, benefiting businesses, crime victims and the state while preparing inmates for successful integration into the community,” said Charles Pattillo, General Manager of CALPIA. “One of the main purposes of Joint Venture is to provide inmates with the essential job skills that will allow them to get jobs after their release.”
The Joint Venture Program is provided at adult institutions and the Free Venture Program provides work experience at juvenile facilities. Offenders are paid wages comparable to what they would earn if they were working in the respective field outside of prison. Federal, state, and local taxes are withheld from an offender’s gross earnings, and 20 percent is deducted from the remainder of the offender’s wages for each of the following categories: room and board, inmate trust/canteen account, family support, mandatory savings and victims’ compensation.
Offenders initially pay for all court-ordered compensation and the remaining collected restitution is placed in a “Generic Restitution Fund” for local crime victim organizations. Here are institutions where offenders are making donations:
- Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla – Offenders in the Joint Venture Program, Allwire, Inc. are donating a total of $45,940.72 to The James Rowland Crime Victim Assistance Center and to the Community Action Partnership of Madera County.
- N.A. Chaderjian Youth Correctional Facility in Stockton – Through Merit Partners, wards are donating $8, 074.61 to Fathers and Families of San JoaquinStockton Trauma Recovery Center.
- California Correctional Center in Susanville – Offenders in the Joint Venture Program, Five Dot Land and Cattle Company, are donating $717.57 to the Lassen County Victim/Witness Assistance Center.
