This remarkable use-case is laudable, coming with a very particular set of challenges. We spoke to Geographic Solutions to discover how they adapted their market-leading job solutions to meet some especially unique needs – and how this qualified them for the most prestigious three-star DaVinci Award®.
Introduction
The primary challenge and priority of the Virtual OneStop Reentry Employment Opportunities (VOS REO) system and the Entry to Employment (E2E) Network project was to bring the modern online job search, using a secure platform, to justice-impacted individuals.
Our web-based software solutions are usually designed for public-facing state and local government agencies. With the E2E Network operating within prisons, our team had to adapt our software to meet the strict security requirements of the California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Authority (CALCTRA) (formerly known as the California Prison Industry Authority – CALPIA) and any correctional facility across America.
How did you address the obvious security challenges?
"We developed the E2E Network's infrastructure to operate off a secure desktop connection. Our team meticulously configured the platform to allow incarcerated individuals to use the state's workforce system, while also restricting internet, direct messaging, and public email access.
"All job search activity and communications made by inmates are monitored by authorized staff facilitators, who can control search results, exclude key phrases or words, monitor messaging, and block visibility to certain employers."
When were you able to go live?
"After months of dedicated development and strong collaboration, the first-of-its-kind E2E Network launched at California State Prison, Solano in January 2024. The system was successfully integrated with the state's workforce system, CalJOBS, and currently provides avenues for ongoing assistance, tracking, and reporting post release."
What’s your process of working through customer requirements?
"For many new projects, Geographic Solutions (GSI) begins by working with the customer through a contract phase that defines many goals, obligations, guardrails, and foreseeable hurdles.
"GSI Senior Project Manager, Loretta Hanson was involved in the development of VOS REO for several years and is also a longtime Project Manager for the State of California and its workforce development system, CalJOBS. It was important for Hanson to become familiar with CALCTRA and discuss the outcomes they wanted to achieve. Establishing clear objectives from the start was critical. Building strong relationships – both professionally and personally – also made a significant difference.
"At the beginning of the process, communication was frequent—often daily—as the teams worked through everything needed for the project kickoff. GSI and CALCTRA assembled a balanced project team that covered all aspects of the work."
With projects like these, trust is everything. We worked closely with the State of California and supporting them in every way possible was essential to a successful deployment, as the State needed to approve the new site and complete its own testing.
"This collaborative approach ensured a smooth system launch and set the foundation for long-term program success."
What hurdles did you overcome?
"VOS REO sites, such as the E2E Network, introduce additional complexity due to their restricted nature. These sites are built on Virtual OneStop Sapphire (VOS Sapphire) – Geographic Solutions' flagship software – but operate under significantly tighter controls. Unlike standard VOS environments, VOS REO sites are secured to allow access only from whitelisted IP addresses, with no guest login capability.
"Incarcerated individuals are unable to access external resources unless such access is explicitly facilitated and monitored by Department of Corrections staff. One of the primary challenges has been configuring VOS REO environments while preserving core VOS functionality.
"Additionally, these sites require continuous monitoring to ensure permissions remain unchanged, and that routine system updates to the core VOS product do not interfere with their heightened configurations. Additional key hurdles for the E2E Network project included:
Technical: Most of the technical challenges were on the customer side. This included ensuring staff were properly trained, not only on the software itself, but also on system configurations, and confirming that hardware such as laptops and tablets will function within the site's restrictions.
Operational: The customer needed support in mapping out their processes and aligning what they do operationally with the software, especially when deciding between manual processes and automation.
Legislative: It was important for the customer to be able to report on project outcomes and demonstrate positive results so they can continue receiving the support needed to sustain the effort.
Economic: Because reentry programs are not federally mandated, they are not always viewed as essential by the states. That is why it is important to ensure that customers receive the support they need to thrive. When funding becomes scarce, these sites are at risk of being discontinued."
It sounds like you rose to the challenge admirably. What results have you seen?
"To date, the CALCTRA E2E Network has been implemented in all 30 state correctional facilities, enabling over 600 registered individuals and counting to search for quality employment before their release. The system is posed to reduce the state's recidivism rates and improve public safety through targeted risk and employment-based interventions. Within two years, the E2E Network has shown promise. From system launch to March 2026, the E2E Network has posted impressive statistics. Pre- and post-release, CALCTRA's E2E Network has seen:
- 5,994 total system logins
- 857 total resumés created
- 7,889 total liked jobs
- 840 total job applications
"Based on these statistics, more than half of those who return home continue to log in and use the system. And while a smaller percentage has led to job applications post release, the act of applying and searching for jobs can be correlated with a drop in the overall recidivism rate in California."
Young captive meeting with advocate in pretrial detention
What wider impact has your innovation had?
"The wider impacts of this success with our customers at CALCTRA are far reaching. At the organizational level, it has helped to create new departments and job functions within Geographic Solutions, including new opportunities for sales, software development, project management, and business analysis.
"Additionally, it has given our company a chance to propose new opportunities to other state clients and prospects, which in turn has led to the reinvigoration of at least one project in Virginia, and new client projects in North Carolina and Louisiana. This success of the E2E Network has been a model to other states, locales, and communities who also have the opportunity to use technology to address employment barriers faced by approximately 70 million Americans with criminal records."
What is the most innovative aspect of your work?
"VOS REO, which powers CALCTRA's E2E Network, is unique because it builds career pathways from prison back into society, and, ultimately, the workplace. The E2E Network integrates with California's state workforce system, giving participants secure access to career tools and the state's list of 'second chance' employers who are willing to hire.
"The collaboration between Geographic Solutions and CALCTRA in support of the E2E Network gives employers an untapped talent pipeline that is trained, yet often overlooked. The E2E Network serves as a powerful bridge between rehabilitation and economic opportunity, delivering measurable value to individuals, employers, and the broader community alike."
Geographic Solutions was accredited with a three-star DaVinci Award for technology in 2026, one of the very first among a select few to achieve the highest level of excellence.
