Vice President Kamala Harris (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
Vice President Kamala Harris’ rise to national leadership, and now presidential nominee of the Democratic party, is one that encompasses fearless leadership, compassion, and advocacy for social justice. Her enduring commitment to criminal justice reform reaches back decades. Elected in 2003 as San Francisco’s bold District Attorney, she was instrumental in advancing criminal justice reform. She created opportunities and pathways for youth to lead healthy, productive lives by launching the Back on Track initiative that sought to reduce recidivism among low-level drug-trafficking defendants by giving them a structured second chance. “When you give people a chance to feel hope, they give you hope,” VP Harris said of the program. The Bay Area program grew into what would become Felton Institute’s Young Adult Court (YAC). Operating under the name YAC starting in 2015, the program has empowered over 400 participants, giving them a second chance. Felton Institute proudly continues VP Harris’ vision of providing compassionate support and guidance to the hundreds of justice-involved youths we have served through our YAC program in alignment with our intent to assist them to flourish personally and to become positive contributors to their communities.
850 Bryant Street, Hall of Justice in San Francisco where the graduation ceremonies for YAC program participants take place.
YAC operates as an innovative court diversion program led by Felton Institute and the San Francisco Superior Court. The first of its kind nationwide, the program works with transitional age youth facing felony charges and provides them with an opportunity for their records to be expunged in exchange for successful participation and graduation from the program. It’s a compassionate alternative to traditional criminal proceedings for eligible young adults ages 18-25. This age is significant as studies show that the prefrontal cortex of the brain (which is responsible for cognitive processing and impulse control) does not fully develop until the early to mid-20s. Through VP Harris’ compassionate vision that started with Back on Track twenty years ago to provide an alternative to prison, YAC provides the resources for participants to create alternative, noncriminal pathways, promoting crime reduction.
The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Incarceration tears families and communities apart, creating intergenerational trauma and financial hardship for families of the incarcerated. Upon release, the formerly incarcerated face employment and housing barriers. YAC has been instrumental in removing young people from the prison pipeline and toward building stronger families and communities. The Honorable Judge Chan said of Felton’s YAC program “it’s brilliant in its simplicity because we’ve not only solved real-world problems, but we’ve also developed relationships and trust.” He adds, “What Felton has done here is truly innovative and it’s groundbreaking.”
Felton Institute is inspired by Vice President Harris’ leadership example. Her impact lives on not only in our YAC program but in the work we do every day providing justice-involved individuals and communities with vital resources, barrier removal, and support in creating successful, life-changing outcomes for our clients. Felton Institute President and CEO Al Gilbert has remained committed to expanding our justice programs that continue to grow and reach more people impacted by the criminal justice system. He insists, “Healthy communities must provide a pathway back for our youth who have engaged in harmful, activities, otherwise the unhealthy cycle will continue to the detriment of the individual and the community.”
Since its introduction decades ago, the legacy of Vice President Harris’ Young Adult Court model has been replicated throughout the country, a testament to its continued success. As Felton continues to expand our services and programs, we are inspired by VP Harris’ vision and commitment for a more just and compassionate future for our youth.
“This program has been adopted and implemented in cities across America. Back on Track is just the start of what real criminal justice reform looks like in this country.”
— Vice President Kamala Harris, on Twitter, April 2019
You can learn more about Felton Institute’s Young Adult Court Program by visiting the YAC program page at felton.org/YAC, or by emailing yac@felton.org.
Felton Institute responds to the needs of our community by providing innovative, evidence-informed social services to transform lives. Our organization offers 50+ programs that address mental health, the unhoused, early care and education, those impacted by the justice system, transitional age youth, as well as aging adults. Our award-winning programs, which have been recognized as national models, combine the latest scientific research with cultural sensitivity and a deep commitment to supporting and reflecting the communities we serve.
Founded in 1889, Felton is the oldest secular non-profit social services provider in the City and County of San Francisco. We have expanded our services across most Bay Area counties and continue to be at the forefront of pioneering new approaches to meet the emerging needs of underserved populations.
We know what it looks like to successfully build community.
We foster impactful change by strengthening the community as a premiere service provider. We also strengthen other service providers by supporting them in their fiscal, human resources, communications, IT and overall agency operations. With Felton’s support, they are able to focus on providing the best services to their clients, doing the work they were meant to do.
Felton empowers the community and ensures successful outcomes to all we engage with.
Felton Institute is a tax-exempt organization registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit under EIN 94-1156530.