RISE-ing Up, 12 Men to Graduate Re-Entry Program

Twelve men will be the first to graduate from its re-entry program on Wednesday, the Sheriff's Office announced this week.

Men in the county's Reclaiming, Integrity, Self-Awareness and Empowerment (RISE) program will take part in a graduation ceremony at 6 p.m. at the , outside of Watsonville, the sheriff's office said.

RISE was created to reduce recidivism and high-risk behaviors among incarcerated men, according to the Sheriff's Office. The program has been modeled after a similar women's program called the Gemma Day program that has reduced recidivism by more than half the national average.

The RISE program focuses on life skills such as recovery, communication, conflict and self-management, parenting, money management and employment readiness and retention, the sheriff's office said.

The sheriff's office says RISE and similar educational programs are proven to reduce costs and create a safer, healthier community.

The Santa Cruz Sentinel did this lengthy profile of the RISE program.

—Bay City News