‘The perfect recipe’: Staff, mentors join forces to change lives at Valley State Prison

A collaboration unlike any other is transforming Valley State Prison (VSP) in all the right ways. The Youthful Offender Program, or YOP, tailors rehabilitation to the unique needs of younger incarcerated people, with more experienced incarcerated people serving as peer mentors to guide them along their way. Staff receive specialized training in working with this population, and become as mentors and advisers themselves.

This unique approach to rehabilitation is perfectly in line with the California Model, which seeks to empower incarcerated individuals to use their lived experiences to mentor and support their peers. Beyond peer mentorship, VSP has embraced the California Model as a whole, providing rehabilitative programs and opportunities that more closely resemble outside communities. From therapeutic horse programs to intensive cognitiv ...