San Diego County Probation opened the Community Transition Center (CTC) 13 years ago as a centralized reentry program to support people immediately upon their release from prison. It remains the only program of its kind in California.
Located alongside the Lighthouse residential substance-use treatment program, the CTC brings critical reentry services under one roof. During a 2‑3-hour intake, a multidisciplinary team—licensed behavioral health clinicians, a nurse case worker, Medi‑Cal access staff, a Medication‑Assisted Treatment liaison, a residential treatment provider and Probation Officers—conducts assessments and starts case planning.
“CTC exemplifies our department’s commitment to delivering quality, evidence-based services to our clients,” said Chief Probation Officer Tamika Nelson. “Using a person-centered approach focused on rehabilitation, Probation helps connect our clients to services that are tailored to their needs, including housing, mental health, substance use treatment, medical care, and family support.”
Immediate Support from the Moment of Release
Each year, about 1,000 people on post-release community supervision (PRCS) come through the CTC, said Supervising Probation Officer Nathan Becraft…