Sergeant Priscilla Silva outlines expanded programs for women at Santa Rita Jail

Sergeant Priscilla Silva, programs director for reentry and support services at the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, told the Public Protection Committee on Feb. 25 that a January 2025 survey of women incarcerated at Santa Rita Jail showed high demand for in-person educational and vocational offerings and guided subsequent program expansions.

Silva said 85% of survey participants were incarcerated at Santa Rita and that 77% preferred in-person learning. Top course interests included first-aid/CPR and workplace-safety certifications, cosmetology and braiding, music and arts programming, culinary and hospitality training, and entrepreneurship (44% expressed interest in small-business coursework).

The county has partnered with 5 Keys and Chabot College to add a package of courses. Melanie Fukuhara, principal at 5 Keys, described new offerings that pair practical skills with trauma-informed supports: yoga and meditation, a healing-and-trauma curriculum, art-for-healing, and a life-skills course based on Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits. Silva and Fukuhara said the approach emphasizes both employment pathways and emotional resilience.

Silva highlighted a January five-day residency run with Project Music Heals Us and teaching artists from the Juilliard School. Participants worked on songwriting, vocal exercises and composition, culminating in a live performance; Silva said the residency required special waivers and classification interviews because the course mixed minimum-, medium- and maximum-security students, and she reported no safety incidents.

Also underway is an Aramark food-certification and management course that began the week of Feb. 25; Silva reported 32 participants in that class (split into two sections). The basic certification runs about four weeks, with an optional two-week management certificate; Aramark is providing internship and job-placement connections upon release. Silva estimated overall program participation across the female population at roughly 80–85%.

A cosmetology-focused program called Freedom Breakers (braiding and cosmetology skills plus business training) is slated to start March 24 as a three-day-per-week, hands-on vocational sequence with reentry referrals. Silva said many instructors in that program have lived experience of incarceration and can offer mentorship.

Silva described follow-up and evaluation measures: partners at 5 Keys and Chabot collect post-course surveys after each program and the sheriff’s office is tracking attendance, behavior and other metrics; program graduates received certificates from the Board of Supervisors and partner organizations and links to recorded performances. She said the Juilliard program will return April 14 for a nine-week sequence beginning with a five-day residency, with some participants’ work planned for presentation at Lincoln Center in June.

Silva told supervisors the main barrier to scaling programs is funding for supplies and startup costs (she cited a $4,000 supply request for one cosmetology cohort), along with classroom space constraints. She said 5 Keys has covered instructor salary costs through contract arrangements, while the jail is responsible for supplies and space.

Silva invited supervisors and staff to upcoming program graduations and said the sheriff’s team will continue to document and report progress; the committee recorded no public speakers during the item.

The committee did not take formal action on the programs; Silva indicated staff will return with updates and the Board may be asked to consider related items in future agendas.