Almost half of the men released from prison end up behind bars again, destroying families, hurting communities, and costing taxpayers more money. Valjean’s Foundation stops the prison cycle by offering former inmates the stability and mentoring they need to build crime-free lives and become contributing members of society.
$250 million+
How much Utah taxpayers spend on inmates per year
46% recidivism rate
How many incarcerated individuals end up back in prison
22% increase
How many more incarcerated individuals Utah has today vs. 10 years ago
$33,000 per year
The average cost of incarceration per person
80%
How much more likely a child is to go to prison if one of their parents is incarcerated.
Break the prison cycle
Reduce tax payer spend
Save the justice system the burden of incarceration and add more contributing members to society
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Protect lives
Keep people safe by enabling men and women to reintegrate into society and remain crime-free.
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Strengthen families
Decrease the likelihood that the next generation will make the same mistakes by giving more children the opportunity to be raised by both parents.
Founded by a former inmate
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Paul Pace spent fifteen years incarcerated for bad choices he made while addicted to drugs. He used this time to educate himself and help others earn their GEDs. Since earning his freedom, Paul has worked hard, earned a degree from the University of Utah, and strived to be the best version of himself.
Even though Paul reformed himself and paid his debt to society, it was hard for him to find housing that was affordable and clean. Most landlords don’t take chances on formerly incarcerated individuals. Despite feeling defeated and rejected by society, Paul eventually saved enough to buy a house but soon outgrew it. Fortunately, he had the resources to help make a difference and rented rooms in his house to people who were stuck in a halfway house for months. Mentoring his new tenants became a passion, and Paul realized he could make a difference in the world by helping people like him who needed an advocate to help them improve their quality of life and work toward a bright future.
Knowing there are hundreds of individuals like his tenants who are desperate for a lifeline, Paul established Valjeans Foundation.
How you can help
Donate
Money donated to Valjean’s Foundation will keep people out of prison, save families, and cut tax spending. Over 85% of funding will go directly toward down payments on clean, safe homes for the formerly incarcerated. The rest helps Valjeans keep running so that those who need their service have a place to turn.
Volunteer
Valjeans needs volunteers. Our model is founded on the idea of frugality and wise investment decisions. We need help building, painting, and repairing new properties. We also love to do service projects to restore clients’ self esteem and grow their sense of value in their community. You can volunteer to host projects, lend a hand alongside us, or sponsor a service project near you.
Mentor
While housing is crucial, mentorship is equally important for Valjean’s clients. Some struggle to find a job, use a smartphone, know how to talk to people, build a resume, buy a car, adapt to modern technology, and many other things. They need a friend to lean on. You can give as little or as much time as you want. It could be as simple as taking them to church with you or out to the movies.
Offer a shot at redemption
Valjean’s believes in second chances. We know most people want to do and be good, especially those who are earning their places back in society. For this reason, Valjean’s is named after the fictional saint of second chances Jean Valjean from the book Les Miserables.
Released from prison, Jean Valjean searched for his place in society. He made a mistake that could have sent him back to prison, but was given a second chance by a loving priest. Jean Valjean took that opportunity to reform his life and became a wonderful father and contributing member of society.
Partner with Valjean’s Foundation to be the loving hand of the priest in this story and help give someone a second chance to find true happiness and success in this life.
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