Santa Rosa, a city of 175,000 in Sonoma County north of San Francisco, launched a tattoo removal program at the beginning of this year that could serve as an example for other communities to follow.
As part of the Santa Rosa Violence Prevention Partnership (formerly the Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force), the Clean Slate Tattoo Removal Program offers free tattoo removal services for qualified Sonoma County residents. The city brought a program it funded in house after Advocates for Youth, the nonprofit that had previously operated it, went out of business last year.
Clean Slate is expected to serve many purposes. “It helps to eliminate barriers to employment for those having their tattoos removed. They’re trying to better their lives and move on,” says Danielle Ronshausen, the city’s violence prevention program manager who oversees Clean Slate.
“It’s one of the many things that we’re doing to make Sonoma County a safer place for all people to live. The number one concern of most of the people coming through the program is personal safety and self-image. They really want to get their tattoo(s) removed. It’s part of the issue of addressing the gang problem here in Santa Rosa.”
Finding providers for tattoo removal services
In researching potential models for the program, Santa Rosa considered purchasing a machine and finding a doctor to run it. “We decided to go with a different approach, since we have several different clinics here that offer tattoo removal services,” says Ronshausen. “And our purchasing department put out a call for bids to all of the known clinics in Santa Rosa.”
Only two responded – North Bay Laser & Skin Care Center and Laser Fresh Aesthetics – and the city negotiated to get a reduced fee for the removals. “The clinics are very fully invested in the approach we are taking and like the fact that people coming through the program are trying to turn their lives around,” Ronshausen says.
So far 23 people have completed the intake process, and Ronshausen says that they can serve about 50 people per year with the current funding available.
How the Clean Slate Tattoo Removal Program works
After learning about the program online or by seeing one of the flyers circulated around town, potential participants call the city office and schedule an intake appointment. During the appointment they fill out paperwork, get their tattoos photographed and are informed about the requirements.
Tattoos must be visible – on head, neck, face, lower arms or hands – and be associated with gangs, hate groups or human trafficking. “If it’s a human trafficking related tattoo it doesn’t matter where it is, we’ll take it off,” Ronshausen says. “The most popular tattoos to be removed at this point have been white power, white supremacy tattoos, which really surprised me.”
Requirements to participate
Participants have to be residents of Sonoma County and agree to several requirements.
They must:
- Live a life free of gang membership or affiliation.
- Complete at least four life skills courses. These courses are offered through community partner organizations and include a financial literacy program offered by Redwood Credit Union, parenting classes, and workshops on job search techniques and setting boundaries. Some participants get their life skills classes at juvenile hall.
- Complete 20 hours of community service. “It can be any organization. It can even be their children’s schools. We have a couple of opportunities here at the city for volunteer possibilities, so we always give them that option,” Ronshausen says.
Victims of human traffic are not required to take the life skills courses or participate in community service.
Funding from Santa Rosa sales tax and Sonoma County grants
The Clean Slate Tattoo Removal Program is funded primarily through Santa Rosa’s public safety and prevention tax, a one-quarter cent sales tax originally approved by voters in 2004 with a 20-year extension passed in 2022. The one-time funding of $100,000 currently pays for the program for Santa Rosa city residents.
Sonoma County residents who live outside the Santa Rosa city limits have their tattoo removals paid for through a $25,000 one-time grant through the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.
Once the funding runs out, the city of Santa Rosa is determined to find a continuing financial source to operate the program.
“We’re funded through the sales tax measure. As long as we still have this funding, we will be sustainable. The tattoo removal will be a priority for us moving forward. We’re just going to have to figure it out,” Ronshausen says.
Thinking about creating your own tattoo removal program?
We at Jails to Jobs have put a tremendous amount of effort into raising awareness of the importance of getting anti-social and gang-related tattoos removed. And we hope that others will be inspired to create their own tattoo removal programs as a result. In order to do that Jails to Jobs provides a variety of resources to help those interested:
- A nationwide directory of free and low-cost tattoo removal programs that might serve as examples.
- A book on how anyone can start their own tattoo removal program.
- Articles on our website about the efforts of nonprofits, companies and individuals who are working in this area.
- Complimentary technical assistance. Questions?
