"The day you no longer burn with LOVE, many others will die of cold."

Friends Outside, Orange County was founded by Society of St. Vincent de Paul in 1978, providing services to ex-offenders and their loved ones. We invite you to use our services or to help us assist these people re-enter the community, and to readjust their lives after incarceration.

During the time of a loved one's incarceration, it was found that the families were under an extraordinary amount of anxiety, stress and worry over finances.  Early research also revealed that offenders were far less likely to return to confinement when they could maintain and return to their families upon their release.

It was also found that families of inmates often felt isolated from their community, and subjected to various other hardships. They are ostracized for crimes they did not commit. These events had negative effects which have altered their lives forever.


Last year in Orange County, over 30,000 services were performed by Friends Outside's staff and volunteers. That is over 30,000 men, women, and children with a fresh chance at a job, drug or alcohol rehab., housing, clothing, food, on-site support groups, and the knowledge that people do care. Men and women inmates, their families,  fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers are receiving the help they need--the support that we all need.