Justice-Involved

*Check out CatsConnect for a comprehensive list of active clubs/organizations

• Project Rebound – Supports students who are formerly incarcerated in their pursuit of higher education at Chico State. There are Project Rebounds at 20 of the California State University Campuses. See the list of other Project Rebounds here .
• Rebound Scholars -a student club for students that are formerly incarcerated or have loved ones who are or have been incarcerated, and allies. Find them on CatsConnect.

• Fair Chance Act – California law that prohibits most employers from asking about an applicant’s criminal history before making a conditional job offer, ensuring that job seekers with conviction records are given a fair opportunity at employment. Make sure you Know Your Rights
• AB 2138 : Occupational Licensing and Criminal Convictions (PDF) – California law enacted to reduce barriers to occupational licensing for individuals with criminal records. ( Published April 2020, Rising Scholars Network)
• California Clean Slate Law (SB 731) – California law that enables automatic sealing of most criminal records after four years under certain criteria.

•  Fair Chance Act Toolkit (PDF) – Resource designed to empower job seekers in California who have arrest or conviction records by educating them about their rights, offering legal templates, and guiding them through employment-related challenges tied to criminal histories. (Published November 2020, Legal Aid at Work)
• Root & Rebound – Organization that provides legal resources and a free legal information hotline to help reduce barriers for those navigating re-entry. On their website you can find their California Reentry Planning Toolkit (PDF) which provides resources for navigating career and other needs post-release.
• Jails to Jobs – A section 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides a step-by-step, tailored guide—from job search and resume writing to interviews—to help support employment after incarceration.
• CareerOneStop for Justice-Impacted Job Seekers – Web resource from the Department of Labor that offers information, tips, and resources to help people with criminal convictions overcome barriers they might face in their job search.
• Center for Employment Opportunities – Job training program for people who have been incarcerated with locations throughout the county.

• Homeboy Industries A section 501(c)(3) nonprofit in East Los Angeles that provides hope, training, and support to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated people.
• Anti-Recidivism Coalition – A section 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports formerly incarcerated people in Los Angeles and Sacramento with personal development, job placement, and professional mentorship.

• Alliance for Higher Ed in Prison
• Formerly Incarcerated College Graduate
• Honest Jobs

• CLIC Expungement Program -A student-run program at Chico State that provides legal information on how to file for record expungement.
• California Expungement Flowchart – Flyer that provides easy to follow guidelines for the expungement process. (Published by Root & Rebound)

• All of US or None -A grassroots organization for and by people who have been incarcerated which advocates for policy changes. They have chapters throughout the US with many in California.
•  The Formerly Incarcerated College Graduate Network.  A small but growing national network of people who have been incarcerated who are in college or who have graduated from college. The organization provides resources and runs a job board with jobs looking for applicants who have been incarcerated.
• Unlocking Higher Ed – A national coalition of formerly incarcerated people and allies fighting for higher education in prisons and for people who have been released. Part of From Prison Cells to PhD, also called From Prison to Professionals or (P2P), which is based in Baltimore, MD.