Get on the Bus Brings 100-Plus Families to Soledad Prison for Early Father’s Day Visits
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 21
Get on the Bus Brings 100-Plus Families to Soledad Prison for Early Father’s Day Visits
2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 21
Summary
More than 100 families spent six hours with incarcerated fathers at Soledad’s Correctional Training Facility on June 13 in an early Father’s Day gathering organized by the Get on the Bus program.
The Center for Restorative Justice Works provided free bus travel and meals to preserve parent-child bonds and support children’s mental health, especially for families that rarely manage in-person visits.
Costs are a major barrier: vending-machine food can run about $3 for a soda and $10 for a hot pocket, and one mother said a normal visit for her family can top $100.
The day let families share meals, celebrate milestones and birthdays, and send children home with teddy bears from their fathers after emotional goodbyes.
Organizers said maintaining those ties matters beyond the holiday because the fathers will eventually return home, and stronger family connections can ease children’s feelings of abandonment and shame.
If one bus ride can heal families, why isn't this restorative model a standard in every prison?
Do these emotional reunions risk more trauma for children when they must repeatedly say goodbye?
With its host prison facing closure, what is the future for this vital family reunification program?
The 2026 "Get on the Bus" Event: Connecting 100+ Families at Soledad Prison and Addressing Transportation Insecurity
Overview
The 2026 "Get on the Bus" event at Soledad Prison brought together over 100 families from across California, helping children connect with their incarcerated fathers for an early Father’s Day. Organized by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Center for Restorative Justice Works, the program carefully managed all logistics, including free transportation and meals, to remove barriers for families. This initiative is vital for supporting children with incarcerated parents and encourages rehabilitation by strengthening family bonds. The event’s thoughtful planning and focus on connection highlight its importance in fostering hope and emotional well-being for everyone involved.