VIP Mentors (formerly known as Volunteers In Parole) is the only community service program in California that recruits attorneys, and only attorneys, to mentor men and women on parole from state correctional facilities. The history of this remarkable organization starts in 1969 when U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren E. Burger challenged American attorneys to dedicate a portion of their time and special skills to helping the criminal justice system become “something more than a revolving door process.” Attorneys began criminal justice mentoring programs throughout the country. VIP is one of the few survivors of this era. The first VIP programs started in 1972 as a joint project of the California Youth Authority and the State Bar of California. VIP became a separate nonprofit in 1991 and continues to be endorsed by the State Bar and several county bar associations.

Attorneys make very good mentors. The three to five hours a month they give as advisors, role models, and friends definitely help parolees get through the tough reentry problems faced upon release. Seventy-five percent of all VIP mentorships provide one year or more of crime-free progress on parole and advancement towards educational, work, and family goals. VIP mentors do not provide legal representation to their match partners.

In addition to making matches, VIP program directors organize social and group activities that enable mentors, mentees, parole personnel and their families to engage in fun, healthful activities such as picnics, holiday parties, and excursions to River Cats and Sacramento Kings games. VIP Sacramento/Yolo also hosts an Annual Recognition Banquet where attorneys, judges, criminal justice personnel, and civic leaders gather to honor the year’s most successful mentees, mentors, and mentorships.

The Sacramento/Yolo VIP program has had a long and beneficial connection to the area. A VIP program for youthful parolees began in the 1970’s and served Sacramento until 1991. It was followed by a program for adult parolees initiated in 1998.

The Sacramento County Bar Association was instrumental in the launching of this new program. VIP Regional Director John Hix (now VIP statewide Deputy Director) came to the city in the fall of 1997 to meet with Windie Olivia Scott, then president of the Sacramento County Bar Association. In November, John met with the board of directors and obtained the endorsement and support of the bar association for the new program.

With the local bar’s official and vitally important support, John began organizational efforts to form a local advisory committee. This crucial task was greatly aided by information and support from Carol Prosser. Carol has been a loyal mainstay of support for VIP ever since.

The first meeting of the VIP Sacramento/Yolo Advisory Committee was held on March 18, 1998 at the offices of the Bar Association. Superior Court Judge Renard Shepard was elected as its first Chair. Joining Judge Shepard on the Committee (in alphabetical order) were Judi Cartier, Department of Corrections District Parole Administrator; Superior Court Judge Thomas Cecil; Parole Supervisor Don Choquette; Paulino Duran, Public Defender; attorney Elizabeth Ecks; attorney James Greiner, then president of the Sacramento County Bar Association; Thomas Johnson, Deputy District Attorney; Superior Court Judge Gary Ransom; Mark Reichel, Assistant Federal Public Defender; Jan Scully, Sacramento County District Attorney; and Doug Welch, Assistant Public Defender.

It was an illustrious group of dedicated individuals. Judge Shepard and Thomas Johnson had been VIP mentors and supporters in the original program for juvenile parolees.

Over the year, many additional outstanding volunteers have served as advisory committee members. Among these are Associate Judge, Third Appellate Court Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye, Superior Court Judge David DeAlba, and the 2005 and 2006 Presidents of the Sacramento County Bar Association W. Stuart Home and Jack Laufenberg. Parole has been well represented by Brian Clay, Nate Davis, John Heise, Thomas Moore, and Moses Wilson. Additional members of the legal profession who have served are attorneys Bruce Cline, Gregory Day, Suzann Gostovich, Bion Gregory, Jerry Hansen, Steve Harrold, Linda Harter, Alana Mathews-Davis, Alberto Roldan, Mark Shusted, Joan Stone, Kelly Tanalepy and Robin Taylor. Community representatives are Ken Shoemake, President of Street Smart Skills, and successful VIP mentee Trino Savala, drug and alcohol counselor. It should be noted that Parole Administrator Terri Turner, the current chair, was first recruited as a supporter in 1997. Attorney Andrea Leisy is a member of both the advisory committee and the statewide VIP Board of Governors.

The first two Sacramento VIP program directors, Frank McReynolds and Analisa Berggren served for short periods. They were succeeded in August, 2000 by Angel Sevilla. Angel, a dynamo of activity, built the active monthly match total up to 50 - a record. He left VIP to pursue a law degree at Boalt Hall and recently became a member of the State Bar of California!

Angela Tillotson took over from Angel and continued his good work with enormous enthusiasm. Now working with the California Department of Transportation, Angela continues to be supportive of VIP. I started as the newest program director last December and have learned much from my talented predecessors.

The magic ingredient that makes VIP work is our dedicated attorney volunteers. Becoming a VIP mentor is a unique opportunity to serve the community. The opportunity to use your ideas and your style in a very personal way to make a positive change in another’s life is a most rewarding experience. Over the years, VIP mentors in California have helped thousands of men and women on parole to become successful and productive members of our community.

Celebrate the history of VIP and earn MCLE credits by attending the free VIP Statewide Mentor Conference in Sacramento this fall. The conference will be held at Pacific McGeorge School of Law on Saturday, September 16, 2006 from 9:30 a.m. 7:00 p.m. Lunch and snacks will be provided.

The Pacific McGeorge School of Law is a State Bar of California approved MCLE provider, and certifies that the following activities are approved for 3 hours of general MCLE credit and 1 hour of Detection/Prevention/Treatment of Substance Abuse credit.

• Gangs: What Attorneys Need to Know (1 hour of general credit)
• Communicating with Clients: Enhancing Skills (1 hour of general credit)
• Detection, Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Adult and Juvenile Parole Overview (1 hour of general credit)
• Other conference topics will be Difficult Issues in Mentoring and New Ways to make VIP Mentors More Effective.

For further information about becoming a mentor or attending the Third Biennial Statewide Mentor Conference, please contact Collette Aldana at 324-4141, ext. 259 or vip-sacramento@vipmentors.org

July / August 2006