CDCR Press Office: (916) 445-4950

The Office of Public and Employee Communications (OPEC) is composed of a Press Office, the Office of External Affairs, the Office of Internal Communication, and the Office of Video and Website Communications. The goal of OPEC staff members is to provide timely and relevant information through various media that educates the public, the media, lawmakers and internal staff members on the policies, events and successes of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

OPEC coordinates press conferences, develops/disseminates public information via press releases, advisories, and website and social media postings. OPEC also facilitates media interviews, oversees documentaries, organizes media tours of prisons and other CDCR facilities, and provides training to Public Information Officers working the department’s 33 prisons, Juvenile Justice facilities, fire camps and parole regions.

Office of Public and Employee Communications (OPEC)

Name	Title	Email Address
Oscar Hidalgo	Assistant Secretary, Communications	Oscar.Hidalgo@cdcr.ca.gov

Press Office

Name	Title	Email Address
Jeffrey Callison	Press Secretary	Jeffrey.Callison@cdcr.ca.gov
Terry Thornton	Deputy Press Secretary	Terry.Thornton@cdcr.ca.gov
Dana Toyama	Information Officer	Dana.Toyama@cdcr.ca.gov
Luis Patino	Information Officer	Luis.Patino@cdcr.ca.gov
Bill Sessa	Information Officer	Bill.Sessa@cdcr.ca.gov
Brian Daly	Staff Services Analyst	Brian.Daly@cdcr.ca.gov

Office of External Affairs

Name	Title	Email Address
Vacant	Chief of External Affairs	(916) 445-4950
Thy Vuong	Associate Governmental Program Analyst, External Affairs	Thy.Vuong@cdcr.ca.gov

Office of Internal Communications

Name	Title	Email Address
(Vacant)	Chief, Internal Communications
Jonathan Parsley	Internal Communications	Jonathan.Parsley@cdcr.ca.gov

Video Communications & Website Development

Name	Title	Email Address
Jessica Mazlum	Manager	Jessica.Mazlum@cdcr.ca.gov
Thomas Gonzales	Webmaster	Thomas.Gonzales@cdcr.ca.gov
Scott Howe	Web & Graphic Designer / Web Developer	Scott.Howe@cdcr.ca.gov
Fred Harbott	Television Director	Fred.Harbott@cdcr.ca.gov
George Nyberg	Television Director	George.Nyberg@cdcr.ca.gov
Cam Applegate	Television Specialist	Cameron.Applegate@cdcr.ca.gov
Eric Owens	Television Specialist	Eric.Owens@cdcr.ca.gov
Scott Sabicer	Television Specialist	Scott.Sabicer@cdcr.ca.gov
Todd Spencer	Television Specialist	Todd.Spencer@cdcr.ca.gov

The Press Office also provides other services to media:

Inmate Check Line: (916) 557-5933

Media representatives needing information about a convicted felon sent to state prison in California can call the Press Office's Inmate Check Line. To request whether an individual has been sent to state prison, call (916) 557-5933. Please provide the full name and either the date of birth or the CDC number. Sentencing and/or release information will be faxed within 24 hours.

Stock Video Footage and Still Photographs

The Office of Public and Employee Communications maintains a library of stock video footage and still photographs and makes these available to the media upon request. There is current and archived footage and photographs of correctional facilities and programs, including restricted or limited access areas such as control booths, guard towers, the execution chamber, death row, and Administrative Segregation and Security Housing Units.

The video footage and still images included on the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's website are considered public documents, which are in the public domain. No signed licensed agreement is necessary for permissions. To request a higher resolution of stock video footage or still photographs, please contact OPEC at (916) 445-4950.

Media Inquiries

The Press Office researches and responds to inquiries from the media. Facts are gathered as quickly as possible and provided to the inquirer. If the requested facts are not known or are otherwise unavailable, the inquirer shall be informed and the reasons therefore.

Prison Industry Authority

The Prison Industry Authority (PIA) provides productive work assignments for inmates in California's adult correctional institutions to reduce idleness and improve job skills. Contact the Prison Industry Authority at (916) 358-1802.

Board of Parole Hearings

The Board of Parole Hearings (BPH) conducts adult lifer hearings, juvenile parole eligibility hearings, and parole revocation hearings.

For those who wish to email specific individuals in the Office of Public and Employee Communications, please put a period (.) between the names and then address the email to @cdcr.ca.gov

For example, Joseph Smith would be joseph.smith@cdcr.ca.gov