GRIP Training Institute

GRIP Training Institute organizes initiatives that create the personal and systemic change to transform violence and suffering into opportunities for learning and healing.

Our flagship program, GRIP [Guiding Rage Into Power], is a one-year, intensive program that guides incarcerated people through a journey of deep transformation and accountability. GRIP is a proven model for prisoner rehabilitation and healing, developed over 24 years in the California State prisons, starting with San Quentin, by founder Jacques Verduin, in collaboration with thousands of life-sentenced (with parole) prisoners. 

GRIP’s perspective: “Leaving Prison Before You Get Out.” ™ 

Together we learn that being free it’s not just about finding oneself on the other side of the prison gate; it’s not just a geographic fact. At the heart of being free is not where you are, but who you are. We believe that nobody was born armed and dangerous, that violence is learned and that it is a tragic expression of an unmet need. Therefore, it can also be unlearned; GRIP’s methodology facilitates unlearning violent behavior to replace it with an attitude of insight, compassion and service. 

We are at an exciting stage in our growth. In the last 4 years, we have gone from serving 100 men in one prison (San Quentin), to serving 550 men and women in 5 prisons across Northern and Central CA. We anticipate doubling in size by 2022, to serve 1000+ students. We also are planning to pilot alternative delivery models to be able to scale to many thousands across California, and potentially in other states as well. The program is growing because it works: In the past 10 years, we have graduated 1,220 students from GRIP, a milestones accredited program. More than 421 GRIP graduates have been released. Our recidivism rate is 0.16% -- that is over 98% success rate.

If you have a passion for social and restorative justice, and want to support our deep commitment to personal and social transformation, come join our dynamic, growing team!