Northern California Service League

The Northern California Service League's (NCSL) mission is to create safer, healthier communities by helping offenders and the formerly incarcerated become responsible and contributing members of society.

Why do we exist?

The Northern California Service League was founded in 1948 by California Supreme Court Justice Raymond Peters to give hope to those who need it most.  At that time, Peters was motivated by the poor conditions and lack of rehabilitation services in the San Francisco County jails and to the formerly incarcerate.  Through his leadership, NCSL became the first private, non-profit agency to offer help to inmates, ex-offenders and their families.

Today, NCSL is known for its extensive rehabilitative and social services to persons in, and released from, jails and prisons.  Our mission is to reduce crime through programs which help offenders and the formerly incarcerated to the  become responsible citizens.

What have you accomplished?

NCSL has many programs.  We have two post-release programs – one located in San Francisco and another in San Jose.  These two programs focus on employment services.  Statistics show that employment is a major factor in reducing recidivism.  It is with this understanding that we place so much emphasis in this area.  Over the years, NCSL has placed thousands of formerly incarcerated individuals in jobs.

One such individual is Roger.  Roger was homeless, often sleeping in shelters or under freeways.  Roger came through one of our post-release programs, Awakening New Futures Life Skills workshop.  Upon completion, he went to work at a department store in Union Square in San Francisco.  He started as a helper in the stockroom working for $8.00 an hour.  Fourteen months later, Roger had worked his way up to 6^th Floor Supervisor making $18.50 an hour.  I could, also, tell you about Edwin who started at $7.50 an hour changing oil and within 3 years was making $70,000 a year managing his own location for the company.

We have two Children Waiting Rooms providing childcare at each of the two San Francisco Courthouses.  These rooms consistently have over 150 children each month, relieving the courtrooms of possible distraction and allowing the parents or guardians the freedom to conduct business before the courts.

Our Pre-Release program works with inmates currently incarcerated in the San Francisco County Jail.  Through this program, we assist inmates to get messages to family, friends or attorneys.  We provide GED assistance and provide an avenue for inmates to have visits with their children.  We even have an intern and volunteer program that allows college students to gain valuable experience in the field of criminal justice.

Our Cameo House Transitional program offers ex-offender women that opportunity to have a stable living environment where they can reunify with one or two or their children ages 6 and under.  The women are given life skills that are designed to bring each woman to self-sufficiency through employment.  Cameo House provides groups on parenting, relapse prevention, anger management, and on how to lead a crime-free future.

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