Since 2004, The Freedom to Choose Project has empowered over 7,400 incarcerated individuals with the necessary skills to reduce conflict, rebuild relationships, and return to their communities.
OUR IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS
The scale of our work reflects our commitment to lasting change:
7,462
Incarcerated participants served
724
Dedicated volunteers
95,800
Volunteer hours dedicated
6,731
Participant packets sent
66,418
Participant education hours
239,705
In-prison education hours
THE CHALLENGE WE’RE FACING
The United States leads the world in incarceration with over 2 million people behind bars — 25% of the world’s prison population.
132,860
The annual cost to incarcerate one person in California
68
Released prisoners arrested within 3 years
2.7
Children in the US with an incarcerated parent
The impact of incarceration extends far beyond prison walls. With billions spent annually on our prison system, entire communities are affected.
But there is hope.
STORIES OF TRANSFORMATION
Our program participants discover they are more than their worst choices. Through interactive practices such as healing shame, breaking cycles of anger, and practicing forgiveness, they gain new perspectives and a second chance at true freedom.
They Went to Prison to Help. They Left Transformed
Volunteers share how their lives changed through the process of helping others find freedom.
From Life Sentence to Life Purpose
Finding freedom through compassion and a new understanding of what’s possible.
Humanity Restored
A journey of heartfelt connection that rebuilds trust and connection.
OUR UNIQUE APPROACH
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space lies our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
– Viktor Frankl, inspiration for our program name and methodology
Since 2004, we’ve put this powerful principle into action, creating a unique educational program that transforms lives through:
Emotional Intelligence Development
Developing awareness of emotions and learning how to respond rather than react.
1
Conflict Resolution Skills
Building skills to manage conflict effectively and peacefully
2
Self-awareness and Personal Growth
Cultivating deeper understanding of personal patterns and growth opportunities.
3
Community Building and Leadership
Fostering connections and leadership qualities that benefit the whole community.
4
PROVEN RESULTS THAT MATTER
Our approach doesn’t just create temporary change—it transforms lives:
91
FTC participants report experiencing less conflict during and after incarceration.
52
FTC Program participants have been released from prison, and they report FTC’s skills profoundly assisted them in navigating the challenges of re-entry.
98
FTC participants report their lives have improved.
84
FTC participants have taught our skills to friends and family.
SUPPORT EVIDENCE-BASED REHABILITATION
With 95% of incarcerated individuals eventually returning to communities, investing in effective rehabilitation isn’t just compassionate—it’s practical.
Consider this: A single successful rehabilitation that prevents reincarceration saves California taxpayers over $132,860 per year per incarcerated individual.
How much more effective could our criminal justice system be if we focused on transforming lives from the inside out?
PROGRAMS AND LOCATIONS:
In-prison workshops and classes have been offered in these California prisons:
Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison
Valley State Prison
Folsom State Prison
California Men’s Colony
Central California Women’s Facility
California Institution for Women
California State Prison, Los Angeles County
California City Correctional Facility
Santa Barbara County Jail (correspondence only)
California Rehabilitation Center
Santa Maria County Jail
JOIN US IN CREATING CHANGE
The road to freedom begins within, but it takes a community to pave the way. With 95% of incarcerated individuals eventually returning to their communities, your support creates ripples of positive change that transform not just individuals, but families and communities.
Volunteering:
Make a meaningful difference and support the ripple effect of peace and healing.
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Register for an Intro Event:
Experience what makes our programs unique and how we make such a difference.
