For many individuals leaving the justice system, the road back to stability isn’t just uphill, it’s often a dead end. But at Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, a transformative initiative called Goodwill New Beginnings is proving that with the right support, the cycle of incarceration can be broken for good.

At the heart of this mission is Dr. Trelles Evans, a leader whose twenty-year journey with Goodwill has been defined by evolution. While utilizing Goodwill’s tuition reimbursement to earn her MBA and PhD, Dr. Evans turned her academic rigor toward a glaring social gap: the revolving door of the prison system.

While working in Goodwill Commercial Services, Dr. Evans noticed a troubling trend among employees in work-release programs. "They were employing work-release individuals, but once they were released, they would disappear," she recalls. "Some were going back to prison. We asked, 'What can we do to provide more wrap-around support to keep them from returning to their previous way of life?'"

Driven by this question, Dr. Evans consulted with judges and justice-involved individuals to identify the true barriers to success. In January 2011, Goodwill New Beginnings was launched. What started as a six-month pilot with no formal funding has since expanded from a single site to 21 locations across the region.

The impact of Goodwill New Beginnings is best seen in its recidivism rates. While Indiana and Illinois typically see rates between 38% and 40%, Goodwill New Beginnings participants tell a different story: since 2011, overall recidivism rates have been around 10%. Even more impressive is the most recent recidivism rates for the last five years in which it stands around 4%. Even for those who don’t reach formal graduation, the program's "wrap-around" philosophy works; the vast majority of participants remain out of the justice system and in the workforce.

In 2021, the program evolved into a 4-tier model, adding a dedicated mental health coach. Prospective participants should know the program is rigorous. "We’re going to push you out of your comfort zone," Dr. Evans warns. "But if you follow the process, it will change your life."

When asked about the ultimate goal, Dr. Evans looks beyond the individual. “We’re trying to make a generational impact,” she explains. “What we’ve seen is that the changes are impacting the following generations. That means a community of change.”

If you’re ready to start your new chapter, click here to learn more about Goodwill New Beginnings.