Governor Newsom announces new staff-led initiative at Corcoran to support rehabilitation and reentry
This work builds on the California Model, which has been taken hold throughout the prison system but was first demonstrated at scale through the transformation of San Quentin Rehabilitation Center.
Building on the progress at San Quentin
The transformation of the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, most notably through the new Learning Center, has helped establish a path for growing the California Model. In 2023, Governor Newsom announced a vision to transform the former San Quentin State Prison into a rehabilitation-focused institution centered on accountability, education, personal development and successful reentry.
That transformation has included expanded educational and vocational opportunities, rehabilitative programming, peer engagement and changes to the institution’s physical environment. The opening of San Quentin’s 81,000-square-foot Learning Center in 2026 further expanded space for education, workforce training and reentry preparation. The Honor Dorm initiative also repurposed former death row housing to create an environment that recognizes positive behavior and commitment to rehabilitation.
Corcoran builds on those lessons in a different institutional setting, demonstrating what further developments of the California Model can look like, as the Model is cemented and expanded.
Rehabilitation results support the public safety case
California’s rehabilitation efforts are grounded in the goal of reducing future crime by helping people return to their communities better prepared to succeed.
According to data from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 81.5% of people who earned Rehabilitation Achievement Credits remained conviction-free three years after release. The same report found that 76.7% of people who earned Educational Merit Credits and 66.7% of people who participated in general rehabilitative programming remained conviction-free over that period.
These measures offer a view of outcomes following participation in different types of rehabilitation and education programs. They also underscore why expanding access to meaningful programming and preparation for release is an important part of California’s public safety strategy.
These results reinforce a growing body of evidence that education, career training, treatment programs, and personal development opportunities help reduce recidivism while improving public safety.
National research also found that people who participate in correctional education programs are 43% less likely to return to prison. Research further indicates that investments in rehabilitation can reduce the costs associated with reincarceration.
California’s approach pairs accountability for crime with efforts to prevent future harm. Helping people develop skills, engage in rehabilitation and prepare for life after incarceration is intended to reduce the likelihood of reoffending and help protect future victims.
Supporting victims and survivors
Effective rehabilitation benefits not only those working to rebuild their lives, but also crime victims, survivors, and communities. By reducing recidivism and increasing accountability, rehabilitation programs help prevent future harm and support safer neighborhoods.
Crime victims and survivors benefit from the increased accountability that results from effective rehabilitation programs. By nearly 3 to 1, crime survivor groups prefer sentences that hold individuals accountable while including programming that prevents recidivism. CDCR’s investment in rehabilitation increases public safety and breaks the cycle of recidivism, meaning fewer families are harmed by crime and safer communities.
The Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services (OVSRS) helps victims and survivors understand and exercise their rights, receive notifications, access services, and participate in processes that promote accountability, healing, and justice. Victims and survivors may register confidentially with OVSRS to receive information and support.
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