FORGE is built on evidence, not assumptions — every element of the program is grounded in proven research and real-world outcomes.
Our Approach
Too many correctional programs are built on good intentions alone. FORGE takes a different approach: every curriculum choice, every structural decision, and every mentorship practice is drawn from programs with documented, measurable results. We studied 25+ programs across 8 states to identify what actually works — and built FORGE on that foundation.
The Data
The RAND Corporation's landmark 2013 meta-analysis of correctional education programs established the evidence base that informs FORGE's design.
Source: RAND Corporation, "Evaluating the Effectiveness of Correctional Education" (2013)
Proven Models
FORGE's design draws from the most effective correctional programs in the country. Each model contributed specific elements to FORGE's structure, curriculum, or approach.
Guiding Rage Into Power achieves a remarkable 0.5% recidivism rate through a year-long, intensive curriculum with peer co-facilitation at its core. GRIP demonstrated that incarcerated individuals can lead transformative programming.
The Prison Entrepreneurship Program pioneered the servant leadership pipeline, where 90% of staff are program graduates. PEP proved that a program can sustain itself through the leaders it creates.
The Resolve to Stop the Violence Project achieved an 80% reduction in violent rearrests by creating a therapeutic community where participants hold each other accountable for change.
Defy channels entrepreneurial energy into legitimate enterprise, achieving an 85% employment rate and less than 10% recidivism. Defy showed that reframing identity — from hustler to CEO — drives lasting change.
The credible messenger model operating across 33 California prisons. ARC and HART use formerly incarcerated facilitators to build trust and authenticity — proving that those closest to the problem are closest to the solution.
The Offender Mentor Certification Program established the standard for formal certification with a rigorous 4,000-hour internship requirement, proving that peer mentorship can meet professional-grade standards.
Curriculum Foundation
FORGE integrates curricula with the strongest evidence base in correctional programming. Each has been validated through rigorous research and real-world implementation.
Developed by the National Institute of Corrections, T4C is a 25-lesson cognitive-behavioral curriculum that integrates cognitive restructuring, social skills development, and problem solving. It is one of the most widely implemented evidence-based programs in U.S. corrections.
MRT is a systematic, cognitive-behavioral approach that treats a wide range of issues including substance abuse, trauma, and criminal thinking. With over 30 years of research support, MRT raises moral reasoning through a structured, step-by-step process.
An evidence-based model for treating trauma and substance abuse simultaneously. Seeking Safety focuses on stabilization and coping skills rather than exposure-based approaches, making it well-suited for correctional settings where safety and regulation are paramount.
SAMHSA's framework provides the overarching lens through which all FORGE programming is delivered. It ensures that every interaction recognizes the prevalence of trauma, avoids re-traumatization, and prioritizes physical and psychological safety.
Resources
Explore the detailed research that shaped FORGE's design. These documents contain in-depth analysis of the programs, curricula, and structural models we studied.
Analysis of GRIP, ARC, RSVP, and other California-based correctional programs
Review of T4C, MRT, Seeking Safety, and other validated correctional curricula
Comparative analysis of phased program structures, certification pathways, and mentorship pipelines
By the Numbers
The combined outcomes of the programs that inform FORGE tell a compelling story.
"We didn't invent these ideas. We studied what works — and built a program worthy of the men who will carry it forward."
— FORGE Founding Document