Breaking Cycles: Why Vocational Innovation Belongs Behind Bars
By Alphonso Howard
Alphonso currently resides at CIM where he is pursuing an AA-T in Journalism through Chaffey College. He is also working towards becoming a certified facilitator so he can better support others in their personal growth and reentry preparation. Alphonso is a father and grandfather with a passion for painting African art and sharing his lived experiences so others can learn from his journey.
The problem is clear. Each year, thousands of people leave prison with little more than hope and a criminal record. Many lack the digital or trade skills needed to compete in today’s workforce. The gap does not just affect them, it ripples through families fueling cycles of poverty and re-incarceration.
Imagine flipping the script. A partnership between CalPIA (California Prison Industry Authority and Google could bring IT support, coding and data analytics training directly inside correctional facilities. Not just busy work, but real credentials tied to real opportunity.
As Eric Bennett, a student resident at CIM, put it: “We need to bring Google here, not just to teach tech, but to build futures.”
The program would be structured and consistent. Participants would train four hours a day, five days a week, starting at $0.65 an hour with raises upon completion. Carpentry and welding would remain part of the mix, but digital labs would expand the scope, creating a hybrid model of hands-on and high-tech learning. With 30-50 participants to start, the initiative could scale based on outcomes and demand.
Facilitators and peer mentors would guide the process, ensuring steady engagement and emotional support. Confidence and purpose grow when people see their efforts leading somewhere tangible. Bennett explains, “When people engage in meaningful learning, they experience a boost in self-esteem and motivation that even transform family dynamics.” That transformation does not stop at the prison gates, it ripples outward.
Families feel the difference when returning loved ones come home with skills and stability. Employment eases financial strain, reduces resentment and strengthens parenting. Children see discipline and perseverance modeled, not just struggle.
James R., a peer mentor at CIM, captured it best: “When guys see that they are learning real skills, they start believing in their futures again. That belief changes everything.”
Generational poverty often begins with missed opportunities. Without access to skill-building programs, upward mobility stalls and children inherit cycles of struggle. Vocational innovation interrupts that pattern by offering a new narrative-one built on effort, learning and contribution. It is not just about jobs; it is about re-writing family legacies.
Of course, not everyone agrees. Some critics argue that offering job training in prison is “rewarding criminal behavior.” But that view misses the point. Rehabilitation is not leniency—it is prevention. Education and vocational training reduces recidivism meaning fewer crimes and fewer taxpayer dollars spent on repeat incarceration. Rehabilitation is not rewarding: it is a proven public safety strategy.
Restorative civic engagement adds another layer. When incarcerated individuals contribute to product design or problem-solving, especially for underserved populations, their lived experience becomes an asset. Innovation thrives on inclusion, and safer neighborhoods follow when people have purpose. CIM is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation, with infrastructure and urgency already in place.
Vocational training also benefits correctional staff. Structured programs create predictable routines, reduce stress and improve morale. Specialized mentorship roles offer new career pathways for officers and support staff. When everyone inside the institution has a role in growth, the culture shifts-from containment to collaboration.
The broader public gains too. Skilled returning citizens become workers, entrepreneurs and consumers. They contribute to local economies, pay taxes and rebuild lives. These are not abstract benefits; they are measurable, visible and deeply human. Every credential earned behind bars is a step towards stability, contribution and healing.
Justice can be firm and forward-thinking. Accountability does not mean exclusion—it means effort. Rehabilitation asks people to earn their place through discipline and growth. And when they do, the reward extends far beyond prison walls.
As Eric Bennett said, “Training people for modern workforce opportunities is not luxury, it is a proven public safety strategy to reduce and rebuild trust.” That is not just hope, it is a plan. And it is a plan worth investing in, for families, for communities and for California’s future.