We know that peer-led programs inside California prisons reduce harmful beliefs & build meaningful community.​
And we can prove it.
Last year, our team at Success Stories Program partnered with researchers from Marginalia Research Group to commission a new independent study, which affirmed the transformative impact of SSP, finding that our peer-led approach is reshaping how incarcerated men think about violence, masculinity, and accountability, and strengthening their relationships with family and community in the process.
The evaluation is the first large-scale, independent assessment of SSP, which began inside a California prison in 2014 and now operates in 11 state facilities, as well as in reentry programs, schools, and community-based settings.
After completing the 13-week Success Stories curriculum, participants:
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Were less likely to view violence as a solution to problems.
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Reported improved relationships with their children and families.
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Expressed greater emotional awareness, empathy, and self-accountability.
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Identified clearer goals and stronger motivation to pursue them.
“Our evaluation found consistent, measurable shifts in how participants thought about violence, accountability, and relationships."
Lindsey Beach, Ph.D.
Lead Researcher at Marginalia Research Group.