A countywide initiative that coordinates services to support individuals in the community corrections system and their families, OC Cares was launched as part of the nationwide Stepping Up Initiative in 2015. Orange County advanced a collaborative effort to reduce mental illness in custodial care, which evolved into the OC Cares 2025 Vision—integrating services across the County’s Systems of Care to address underlying needs, support successful reentry, and enhance public safety.
RESOURCES AND SUPPORT
Whether you are justice-involved, or a friend or family member of someone who is, OC Cares provides information on vital resources and support that can help with reentry into the community.
SPECIALIZED SUPPORT FOR DIFFERENT POPULATIONS
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IN THEIR OWN VOICES
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Every path to service is different. Hear from probation professionals and individuals with lived experience who share a commitment to accountability, rehabilitation, and community safety.
Together, they are helping people move forward and strengthening Orange County through OC Cares.
NEWS AND EVENTS
Join the 2026 Reentry Resource Fair!
Join Hub for Integration, Reentry & Employment (HIRE) on May 13, 2026 at The Grove of Anaheim for Orange County’s largest reentry focused event. Each year, HIRE connects around 600 formerly incarcerated adults and community members with 60+ employers, service providers, and community partners.
SUCCESS STORIES
Episode 1: In-Custody Care
Inside Orange County jails, the Sheriff’s Department and Correctional Health Services work together to better meet the mental health needs of justice-involved individuals. OC Cares expands access to treatment, stabilizes individuals in custody, and connects them to reentry services that support a...
Episode 2: Reentry Stories - The Break Off and HIRE
When movement becomes medicine and discipline becomes a lifeline, second chances follow. Sam Hale turned incarceration into a turning point and he’s helping others rebuild their lives through strength and accountability.
Episode 3: Reentry Stories - Project Kinship
After nearly 20 years of incarceration, Gilbert Sepulveda is helping shape a new future for justice-involved youth. Through restorative circles and mentorship, he and former participant Jazmin Ocampo are breaking cycles and building community inside and beyond detention.
Episode 4: Young Adult Court
Young Adult Court is a collaborative court program in the Orange County Superior Court that helps young adults ages 18 to 25 break the cycle of recidivism through Evidence-Based Practices.
Episode 5: DUI Court
DUI Court provides a structured, supportive path for individuals struggling with repeat alcohol-related offenses. Through treatment, accountability, and close court supervision, the program helps participants address substance-use issues and strengthen public safety.
Episode 6: Homeless Outreach Court
For individuals experiencing homelessness, unresolved legal issues can be a barrier to stability. Homeless Outreach Court helps clear warrants, resolve cases, and connect participants with services, opening the door to housing, recovery, and a fresh start.