Lemon Grove Library hosting Sheriff’s reentry event

East County News Service

April 13, 2026 (Lemon Grove) -- The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office Reentry Services Division is holding a public event aimed at bridging the gap between life behind bars and life as a productive neighbor.

From 4 to 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 14 at the Lemon Grove Library, the community is being invited to meet the team dedicated to ensuring that when individuals leave custody, they stay out.

While vocational skills get people hired, the Sheriff’s Department is also focused on the internal work required to prevent a return to custody.

During the event, guests can explore tables that highlight the department's Career Technical Education programs and meet our community partners who support successful reintegration.

There will be an overview presentation that shares a clear picture of the services, programs, and supports our team provides, along with how these efforts contribute to a successful return to our communities.

According to the department's website, one part of its effort is the Psycho-Social curriculum. Unlike traditional classroom settings, the department's programs utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help participants rewire their decision-making processes.

The re-entry services division offers a 12-week course that addresses self-cognitive change, social skills and complex problem-solving.

For those ready to re-enter the workforce, the re-entry services division also provides a "one-stop shop" for professional development, collaborating with the San Diego Workforce Partnership. Dedicated job centers have been established by the Sheriff's Department at both the East Mesa Reentry Facility and the Las Colinas Detention & Reentry Facility.

At these centers, participants do more than look for work, they actively prepare for it, learning to master modern computer literacy, draft professional resumes, practice interview techniques and navigate online job boards.

The re-entry services division also offers vocational training in high-demand fields, including construction trades, healthcare service assistant training, culinary arts and industrial sewing.

The Sheriff's Department also recognizes the unique hurdles of those who served in the military and has a  "Veterans Moving Forward" program that works in collaboration with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. By providing in-custody programs specifically for veterans, the division aims to honor their service by ensuring they have the community resources needed to reduce recidivism and reclaim their civilian lives.

Recidivism, which is the rate at which a person returns to prison within three years of release, is the ultimate metric of a justice system’s success. Historically, national rates have hovered between 60 percent and 70 percent.

Data shows that a wraparound approach works. According to a RAND Corporation study, incarcerated individuals who participate in any form of educational program have 43 percent lower odds of recidivating than those who do not.

The event in Lemon Grove is free and open to all. The Lemon Grove Libraryis at 3001 School Lane.

For more information, visit: sdsheriff.gov/reentry-services