California Prison Industry Authority

The California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA) is a self-funded state entity that provides real-world job skills to approximately 5,800 incarcerated individuals at all California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) prisons. CALPIA reduces recidivism by providing incarcerated individuals with life-changing training opportunities for successful reentry into their communities. CALPIA offers 134 nationally recognized accredited certifications and apprenticeships that help incarcerated individuals find meaningful employment upon release. A 2021 University of California, Irvine study shows incarcerated individuals who participate within CALPIA have lower rates of rearrests, reconvictions, and reincarcerations compared to those who were qualified to, but did not, participate in CALPIA. The study found that by three years after release, only 15% of CALPIA participants had been returned to custody. You can read more about the study under the news section at: calpia.ca.gov