What’s New
Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run ceremony set for Monday
We are just one week away from the 2022 Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for Special Olympics! The DAI HQ Team has once again exceeded its fundraising goal and has 29 people registered for the event.
The team has raised $5,288 so far. To support the effort, you can join 70 other DAI HQ supporters to donate to the team.
3 ways you can support the DAI HQ LETR Team:
- Donate to one of our registered CDCR DAI HQ team members
- Purchase a $20 LETR cotton gray T-shirt as a SUPPORTER. Contact Martina Virrey for more information (email address in Global). You can wear your T-shirt on the day of the event and at the ceremony on the Capitol Steps on June 20
- Share the team page with friends and family, tell them about LETR and encourage them to support our team
Remember, 100% of your donation benefits Special Olympics Northern California.
CDCR Launches New Podcast
SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has launched a new podcast. After conducting a department-wide naming contest, the new podcast, titled “CDCR Unlocked,” will explore correctional issues including rehabilitation and reentry, peace officer recruitment, employee wellness and other criminal justice topics. It will also feature interviews with and profiles of CDCR executives, administrators, staff, incarcerated people, volunteers and community partners.
CDCR has many stakeholders including employees, victims of crime and their families, community- and faith-based organizations, law enforcement partners, legislators and other elected officials, and incarcerated people and their loved ones. CDCR’s platforms for communicating with the public include newsletters, press releases, working with the news media, and digital assets like the CDCR website and social media. This podcast enhances the Department’s efforts to be transparent and build public trust.
The first episode, “The New Normal,” features a conversation with all three of CDCR’s undersecretaries of administration, operations and health care services, Jennifer Barretto, Jeffrey Macomber and Dr. Diana Toche respectively, about the reopening of state prisons and offices after the COVID-19 pandemic.
New episodes will drop every other Thursday. The June 30 episode will feature an interview with Dr. Briana Rojas, chief psychologist and an associate director in CDCR’s Office of Employee Wellness.
The name “CDCR Unlocked” was chosen from more than 250 entries in a naming competition among CDCR and CCHCS employees. The winning name was submitted by Robert Miller, a Supervising Case Records Technician in the Division of Adult Institutions.
Listen to “CDCR Unlocked” on Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify and other streaming platforms. Transcripts and more information are available on the podcast webpage.
Reminder: Incarcerated student network shutdown
Enterprise Information Systems is currently in the process of redesigning the incarcerated student network. This restructure will add capacity to the DRP learning network by improving bandwidth and adding IP addresses to expand student access, among other things. The redesign has been undertaken to support the deployment of new student technology that will improve teaching and learning in all educational programs. Due to the scope of the work, the system will temporarily be taken offline.
The entire population network domain will be shut down from 5 p.m. Friday, June 24, to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 24. This will impact all student computers, all applications utilized by students, all DRP programming that utilizes the Inmate Ward Secure Network (IWSN), all law library population computers, and DRP-TV.
All student learning supported by access to programs requiring internet accessibility will not be available. This includes Aztec, Spark 3000, CyberHigh, Paradigm, CASAS online assessment, Canvas, NCCER, and other educational programs. Laptops deployed to students will not be able to connect to the DRP learning network when in areas covered by wireless connectivity.
Standalone computers that do not connect to the network will continue to be useful only for applications installed on those computers. Interactive white boards will continue to be able to project what is displayed on the teacher desktop computers.
The CDCR staff network, including email, Teams, and SOMS will not be impacted. Communications tablets issued to the general population will not be impacted, and library touch screen kiosks will not be impacted.
Rehabilitation
A special recognition ceremony was conducted recently at California Correctional Facility (CCI) Facility D. Three mentors from the Offender Mentor Certification Program (OMCP) have accumulated the required 2,080 internship-hours for certification. They are now certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselors in the state of California.
Upon graduating from the OMCP, these OMCP mentors are assigned and paid as co-facilitators in Cognitive Behavioral Interventions programs throughout all adult institutions.
In our Institutions
Sierra Conservation Center hosts Mass Casualty Incident training drill
Sierra Conservation Center (SCC) recently conducted a collaborative Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) training drill that included SCC custody, nursing, medical and CDCR Fire Department staff. Additionally, multi-agency participation and assistance were provided by the California Highway Patrol, Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office, Tuolumne County Fire, CalFire, Tuolumne County Ambulance (Manteca District Ambulance Service), Tuolumne County Emergency Medical Services, Tuolumne County Office of Emergency Services, PHI Air Med Air Ambulance, Adventist Health Sonora Hospital and Modesto Fire Department Hazardous Materials Special Operations Unit.
The MCI Drill/Scenario was initiated with a radio transmission reporting smoke emitting from the Institution’s laundry building. Upon the investigation of the smoke by custody staff, a Code 3 Alarm Response was activated for the training that involved a a structure fire with multiple casualties inside.
In total, 50 custody staff, 30 medical staff, five fire engine companies, three ambulance crews, one Haz-Mat company, one air ambulance and several other outside agency units participated in the successful multi-agency drill. The event was organized by SCC’s In-Service Training Department further establishing positive community relations and setting the example of what mutual aid is all about.
VSP gives back through ‘Badges with Buckets’
Valley State Prison (VSP) Investigative Services Unit officers, along with Community Resources staff, partnered with Chowchilla Starbucks for the inaugural Badges with Buckets fundraiser, raising more than $2,200 for the Special Olympics Northern California (SONC) Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) and our Madera Howlers.
This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the LETR, as the “Flame of Hope” is carried, to symbolize courage and celebration of diversity uniting communities around the globe, to this year’s 2022 Special Olympic Summer Games. Through these sporting events and opportunities, athletes learn new skills and strengths, gaining confidence in themselves. The Madera Howlers Special Olympics Athletes participate in year-round sports, including basketball, swim, bocce, track and field, football, and bowling. Money collected during the event helps fund athletes’ uniform, travel, sports, health screenings and other costs.
In the Media
Incarcerated people raise more than $8K for child’s Make-a-Wish trip
KERN COUNTY, Calif. (KGET) — Inmates at North Kern State Prison recently raised more than $8,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, to fund a young boy’s wish to go to Disneyland.
The inmates raised the money through food sales. Prison Warden Kelly Santoro says providing an opportunity for inmates to do something positive for the community encourages empathy, compassion and good behavior.
Read the full story. Read CDCR’s press release.
Inside CDCR Top 5
#1 with 4,529 views: Correctional Officer Craig Lee begins next chapter: retirement
#2 with 2,372 views: North Kern staff help college recruitment effort
#3 with 1,574 views: Pride Month raises awareness, celebrates diversity
#4 with 1,364 views: Mental health providers put patient care first
#5 with 1,217 views: CDCR reaffirms support of Special Olympics
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