In California, a law has been passed enabling prisoners who have worked in fire camps while incarcerated to become full-time firefighters after their release. Eligible ex-convicts must be nonviolent offenders. Once they are released, their criminal records will be expunged, allowing them to become firefighters more easily. This bill was proposed in light of the service many prisoners are providing by helping to fight the large number of devastating fires in California this year. California Governor Newsom said, “This legislation rights a historic wrong and recognizes the sacrifice of thousands of incarcerated people who have helped battle wildfires in our state, and I would like to thank the Legislature for passing this bill." There are exceptions to who is eligible for the program. According to NPR, inmates who have been convicted of violent felonies, “including murder, kidnapping and sex offenses are ineligible to fight fires as inmates and therefore also excluded from applying to have their records cleared.”

Assemblywoman Eloise Gomez Reyes is the legislator who wrote the bill. She tweeted “If we really want to bring about change and lower our recidivism rates, we have to ensure that those that have served their sentences have an opportunity for meaningful employment. Those that have served on the fire lines deserve a second chance." Many places refuse to hire ex-cons when they are released from jail, leading many former inmates to return to crime and return to prison. This law will help more convicted offenders to receive employment and keep them from returning to prison.

Additionally, former inmates who successfully get their criminal records expunged and parole waived when released from prison can apply for an emergency medical technician’s (EMT) license. Previously, in California, companies in emergency services were not allowed to give EMT certifications to a person who has “been convicted of two or more felonies, is on parole or probation or has committed any kind of felony within the last decade.” The benefit of this provision is exemplified by a man named Michael Gebre who was convicted for a robbery in 2011 at the age of 19. He was sentenced to ten years in prison. Four years into his sentence, he joined the firefighter program. He worked to control many of the state’s big fires. He was released early in 2019. He was a model worker and was recommended for the fire academy. However, he was not allowed to get an EMT certification, which could limit his job prospects in the future. According to Gebre, "If I'm up against three or four other guys and they all have EMTs, I'm not ever going to get the job." Now, with the new law in place, Gebre will be able to get his EMT certification which will expand his career opportunities.

Inmates who exhibit good behavior can join the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s fire camps. This program has been in place for decades. These firefighters are often the first people on the scene of a fire. They receive a lot of the same training as other firefighters and do a lot of the same work. They wear orange apparel, which distinguishes them from the other firefighters. However, they are usually only paid between $2 and $5 a day plus $1 an hour when there is actually a fire.

In the best of worlds, this new law will reduce recidivism and support California’s economy by putting more people to work as productive members of society rather than paying for their custodial care in the state-run prison system.