World News

The Harsh Reality of a Broken Parole System

By Vivi Orum ‘28 in Spring 2025

200 dollars—that is all a formerly incarcerated individual is given after leaving San Quentin. After receiving parole, the formerly incarcerated individual leaves prison with nothing but the clothes they arrived in and a debit card with only enough money to last a few days. Life in prison is difficult and dramatically different from the outside world. After the traumatizing and dehumanizing experience of imprisonment, reentering society successfully is nearly impossible without support. 

A study published by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in 2018 states that out of the 95% of incarcerated individuals who will eventually be released, 45% receive a conviction, and 20% return to prison within three years of their original release date. These staggering statistics are a testament to the lack of resources and support available to formerly incarcerated individuals. For people released from San Quentin, there are very few state-funded programs that address rehabilitation and support, and they often have limited space available. San Quentin’s parole requires the individual to have a permanent address, stay within a 50- mile radius from that address, and meet frequently with the parole officer; meaning that after prison, one cannot travel to enroll in supportive programs or rejoin their family who possibly live farther than the prison allows. Due to limitations of public support systems, individuals often rely on privately funded or non-profit programs to fill the gap. 

San Quentin is lucky to have several privately funded programs to support released individuals, but even these have limited capacity. One such organization is California Reentry Institute, or CRI. CRI’s re-entry program is intensive, supportive, and individualized, providing two years of pre-release preparation, a safe house to parole to, employment, community, and long-term support. Investing in programs like CRI could pave the way for a more humane and effective reentry process–one that reduces recidivism and gives people a true second chance.