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History
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One of the founding members of CRI Ms. Collette Carroll has been
serving the men of San Quentin since 2000, she has been working with men to change their lives, she helped build and
has overseen the largest self-help program in the institution. She was instrumental in obtaining a contract with the CDCR
DJJ for ex- inmates to be paid to teach young men how to change their lives, these men entering institutions
even while still on parole. The next founding member, Mr. Sam Vaughn was a long-term inmate who started
and ran a self-help program at H-Unit in San Quentin until his release in 2007. Since his release he has been working
with the City of Richmond on programs to stop the violence and help the youth break the cycle. The third
member of our founding team, Mr. Bryan Smith was a life-term inmate who worked with self-help organizations at San Quentin,
serving as the inside coordinator for one, facilitating others, a mentor to many and a poster boy for rehabilitation.
He was released in 2007, now works as a certified CAADAC counselor and is a sought after speaker. The fourth
founding member of CRI, Mr. Christopher Rich is a life-term inmate who on a daily basis walks his talk and shows what
a truly rehabilitated prisoner can be, until it's closure he facilitated the Pre-Release program at San Quentin,
and is involved in many self-help programs. He is a man respected by all.
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In 2006 it became obvious to us that we were doing a great
job of helping men put away the old, we were surrounded by men who had changed their lives, received an education, had all
kinds of certificates for employment opportunities; took, facilitated and in some cases founded self-help groups as well as
groups to assist youth from the outside who were brought to the prison to see where they were headed. However,
not every man at San Quentin had a support group on the outside to help them move through the parole process to a successful
transition to life on the outside. By 2008 it became abundantly clear that we had to do something about
this final piece of the puzzle and CRI was born. In 2010 due to State budget cuts San Quentin was forced to shut down
it's pre-release program and it became apparent to the founders of CRI that we needed to step up and create a CRI pre-release
program. CRI's Empowered Reentry Program was born. We have developed a 18 month curriculum to encourage men to
take full advantage of the self-help organizations and programs offered at San Quentin; to gain a better understanding of
who they are, where they have been, and where they are going; to provide tools to help them identify their weaknesses,
work on change, develop strengths and prepare for life on the outside. To empower men to succeed by helping them develop
long term goals and a road map to achievement. To introduce graduates of our program to facilities in the area
of their parole, enabling a seamless transition from incarcaration to a successful future. To provide post-release support
to assist with the challenges they will inevitably face.
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