Creating opportunities and community for recently incarcerated people.

Justice involved people need support as they return to our communities throughout Los Angeles County. The Actors’ Gang Prison Project (TAGPP) recognized the need to continue rehabilitation and support beyond a sentence end date. As people return home, many face challenges during their transitions, including navigating modern systems (e.g., bank accounts, technology, DMV and other government agencies), managing relationships, securing employment and housing and dealing with emotional issues resulting from, and the stigma associated with, incarceration. Those who receive support are less likely to fall into destructive old habits and behaviors like substance abuse, gang affiliation and criminal activities. The recidivism rate in California is approximately 62%; it is 10% among TAGPP alumni. The employment rate for those who complete the reentry program is 77% - the recidivism rates for formerly incarcerated people who found employment shortly after their release are less than 9%.

TAGPP provides support for returning citizens through its Reentry Program and Alumni Advocacy Project with training in emotional expression and control, verbal communication, collaboration, conflict resolution, leadership skills and other essential “soft/core” skills that significantly improve opportunities to obtain employment. The goal of these programs is to provide formerly justice-involved participants an opportunity to change the way they see themselves and others so that they can become actively engaged community members. Several studies have found that employment is associated with reduced recidivism. Becoming employable after incarceration requires many layers of support which TAGPP programs provide. TAG’s Alumni Advocacy Project helps alumni succeed in finding work in the community and achieve early release from Parole. The alumni provide each other with emotional support as they acclimate to the overwhelming pace of modern society. They help each other manage relationships with significant others, family members, and in public. TAGPP has hired two of its alumni in full time positions and another 15 as part time Teaching Artists (TAs). This employment history will help lay the foundation for them in pursuing other career opportunities in the future.

Expand existing project, program, or initiative

TAGPP programs have already demonstrated success in prisons for 15 years and reentry programs for four years. The challenge now is securing resources to expand the programs to serve more returning citizens. Ideally, every returning citizen in the Greater Los Angeles Area will have an opportunity to participate in TAGPP programs. This will increase opportunities for employment, reduce recidivism, support successful reentry of formerly incarcerated people, and add to the economy and communities of Los Angeles.

TAGPP has been working with Leap and Associates at UCLA for three years developing a longitudinal study. The third-year evaluation sought to understand long‐term outcomes of participation in TAGPP and examine the newly developed The Actors’ Gang Alumni Advocacy Project (TAGAAP). The results have been informative. The study ties the success of TAGAAP to continued success in the community. The study advises what we are doing well and what we can do better and helps shape the program creating a successful path for the Alumni. We have also seen incredibly positive numbers regarding recidivism rates among TAGPP participants and alumni. TAGPP is in development of a quantitative survey to understand the impact of the program on alumni and active members of TAGAAP and their families and ultimately communities in Los Angeles County.