OVERVIEW
Back on Track (BOT) is a criminal justice intervention program focused on a “smart on crime” approach. BOT offers first-time, non-violent drug offenders arrested in San Francisco a comprehensive workforce development program as an alternative to a felony drug sales conviction. The objective of the program is to keep clients out of the criminal justice system by providing them with the skills and opportunities to start on a career path, earn legal wages and become a productive member of society. Participants reduce their recidivist behavior as a result of the financial stability that comes with stable employment in lieu of incarceration.

WHO WE SERVE
Participants are typically young adults (ages 18-30), who are residents of San Francisco's and the East Bay’s most impoverished communities and are charged with first-time felony level, non-violent drug sales offense. All participants are arrested in San Francisco and referred from the District Attorney’s Office to Goodwill.

PROGRAM DETAILS
Back on Track is made possible through a private and public partnership between the San Francisco Office of the District Attorney and Goodwill Industries. After a six-week program suitability phase in which potential participants are made aware of the program commitment and requirements, receive a mental health assessment from the Family Service Agency and decide if the program is a fit for them, eligible individuals enter a Deferred Entry of Judgment (DEJ). A DEJ is a guilty plea that is suspended through their duration in the program. Back on Track participants work with a Goodwill Criminal Justice Specialist to create a Personal Responsibility Plan (PRP). The PRP is an individualized plan of action that guides participants throughout their involvement in the program and creates a path for success.

PRP components include:

• Community Service - provides participants with an opportunity to give back to their community. All community service is done in the city of San Francisco where clients are arrested
• Education - literacy training, GED, high school diploma, college degree, trade school certificate, ESL and participation in other types of professional and skill development programs
• Employment - Participants are eligible to participate in Goodwill and other agencies employment and training programs. Those already that obtain employment during the program and those already employed and receive support to advance or successfully maintain their current position. This is done in part through creating an individual career development plan (ICDP). Participants ICDP’s are design with a Staffing Specialist laying out the steps to be taken in order for participants to excel in the work force
• Family - individual’s PRPs can include complying with child support, participating in parenting classes, obtaining prenatal care or engaging in other types of family support. With support from the Department of Child Support participants are required to fulfill all child support obligations and participants with children are encouraged to develop their parenting skills and be fully involved in their children’s lives.
• Housing- participants in need of stable housing receive support to obtain and/or maintain housing. Transition housing is provided on a limited bases with the Kinney House, San Francisco
• Legal- program components are legally mandated. Each participant is assigned to a Criminal Justice Specialist who helps guide the participant through all of their legal obligations both program mandated and external
• Wellness- mental health assessment and on going treatment, anger management training, problem solving and conflict resolution, substance abuse treatment referral and financial literacy
• Self-Organization- participants fulfill basic responsibilities such as reinstating a drivers license, opening a bank account and personal accountability and organization

Goodwill Criminal Justice Specialist document participants' involvement in all required activities, such as community service, education, vocational and life management training, and the court regularly monitors their progress and compliance with their PRP. Those who are unable to provide proof of successful participation in their required activities are subject to court-imposed sanctions.

Successful participants will have:

1. achieved the goals outlined in their PRP
2. attained employment, increased their earnings and/or are enrolled in ongoing education or vocational training
3. completed 12 months in Back on Track with no additional criminal charges
4. completed community service (110 hours for those employed and 220 for unemployed participants
5. written an exit interview and
6. met all legal obligations.

Participants who meet these criteria are recommended for graduation. Upon graduation the District Attorney withdraws the participant’s guilty plea and dismisses their case. In addition, graduates arrest records for this offense are sealed. Graduates can return to their community with real accomplishments, a plan for the future, a sense of personal responsibility and without the weight and consequences of a felony drug conviction. Employment placement and retention service are available to graduates for 12 months after they graduate.

As last captured BOT has placed 135 participants in jobs with an average wage goal of $11.50. Most significantly 90% of BOT participants have not re-offended; strikingly compare to the California states recidivism rate of 56% for felony drug convictions and 70% total recidivism rate.

PRIMARY COLLABORATORS AND FUNDERS

• Goodwill Industries of San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin Counties
• The Office of the San Francisco District Attorney
• San Francisco Superior Court
• Department Of Child Support Services
• Family Service Agency
• Public Defenders Office
• San Francisco Foundation
• Annie E. Casey Foundation
• Bank of America
• Richard and Rhoda Goldman Foundation
• William Hearst Foundation
• JEHT Foundation
• and multiple Bay Area Community Based Organizations.