Observations
CTF celebrates employees
Correctional Training Facility (CTF) held multiple events in honor of National Correctional Officers, Teachers, Nurses, and Public Service Recognition Week. The institution recognized and thanked all staff for their hard work and dedication.
Throughout the week, CTF health care managers and supervisors provided all staff with food and beverages. Staff participated in a talent show, games, received prizes, face painting, and other entertainment.
CTF Administration and the Employee Action Committee provided staff with coffee, beverages and doughnuts. Staff received meals during alarm response training where CTF staff barbecued chicken, ribs, and provided macaroni salad.
In Memoriam
CIM retired K9 Bosco passes
California Institution for Men (CIM) mourns the loss of retired K9 Bosco. The 11-year-old Belgian Malinois was a three-year veteran of the CDCR K9 Unit. K9 Bosco passed May 16, surrounded by family and his partner, retired K9 Officer M. Diaz.
K9 Bosco joined the CDCR K9 Team in July 2018 and retired November 2021. He had countless contraband discoveries throughout his successful career. Local, state, federal, and community organizations grew to depend on K9 Bosco and his reputation of excellence.
CDCR Unlocked
Mental Health Awareness with CDCR/CCHCS Experts
In this week’s episode of the CDCR Unlocked podcast, Public Information Officer Kyle Buis sits down with Dr. Amar Mehta, Deputy Director of Statewide Mental Health for CDCR, and Dr. Brianna Rojas, Associate Director and Chief Psychologist with the Office of Employee Wellness. They discuss the wellness challenges of both living and working in a correctional setting, and steps people can take to improve their mental health.
(Listen to the latest episode of CDCR Unlocked.)
In Our Institutions
DAI Director Gipson visits CTF
Connie Gipson, Director of the Division of Adult Institutions, scheduled a visit with Correctional Training Facility (CTF) to tour the programs and services the institution provides. Director Gipson met with executives to address recent policy changes. She thanked staff for all they do and spoke with members of the incarcerated population regarding programs they attended.
During her visit, she toured:
- Facility A, B and C
- Housing Units
- Health Care Clinics
- Administrative Segregation Unit
- Integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment (ISUDT) Programs
- Education / Vocational Programs
- Facility C Gymnasium Beautification Project
- Veterans Hub and Veterans Resource Center
- and CTF Micro-Home Project.
“I am so happy to see the Veterans Yard at CTF. The engagement of staff and the population in creating an environment conducive to staff and incarcerated persons wellness while promoting rehabilitation is a model to emulate. Awesome job CTF!” said Director Gipson.
Alternatives to Violence Project at CTF
Correctional Training Facility (CTF) hosted a three-day Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) event for the incarcerated population.
AVP is an experiential, multi-cultural volunteer program that dedicates resources to reducing interpersonal violence in society. AVP is a nonprofit educational corporation funded entirely by private sources.
Although the original mission was prison programs, they have extended their outreach to include:
- Homeless shelters
- Foster care agencies
- Correctional Officers
- Developmentally disabled adults
- and gang-prevention programs.
The workshops empower people to lead nonviolent lives through affirmation, respect for all, community building, cooperation, and trust. Throughout the three-day workshop, participants learned the three levels of training:
- Basic workshop
- Advanced workshop
- and how to become a facilitator.
DJJ
DJJ recognizes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week
The Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) participated in a march at the State Capitol during National Crime Victims Week.
The march was in support of restorative justice and allowed DJJ to give back to the community. Formerly incarcerated youth from the Anti-Recidivism Coalition helped set up various booths and assisted with other tasks. DJJ donated $8,000 to Victims of Murdered Children and the Luis G. Alvarez, foundation.
Upward Mobility
Leanna Lundy has been assigned as acting Warden at California State Prison, Los Angeles County (LAC).
Raquel Buckel has been appointed as Assistant Deputy Director, Division of Adult Institutions, Facility Support.
ISUDT
ISUDT poster release
The new Integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment (ISUDT) poster is out!
Institutions across the state received the poster following a lengthy submission, selection, and voting campaign. The ISUDT Insider received submissions and paved the way for voting among the population.
CDCR and CCHCS leadership reviewed the submissions with the most votes before a final selection. An incarcerated person at California State Prison Solano created the poster concept.
This poster’s colorful design focuses on the growth achieved through ISUDT. The focus being to thrive in recovery despite the root causes and risks associated with Substance Use Disorder.
The poster will be on display in institutions soon and is accessible to staff on the ISUDT Lifeline page.
ISUDT
SAC Shared Governance Kick-Off Event
California State Prison, Sacramento (SAC) nurses now have a formal role and a significant say in the decision-making process at the institution. Nurses must be considered concerning patient care protocols and work environments that have a direct impact on their practice outcomes. This achievement is possible with Shared Governance.
To celebrate Shared Governance at SAC, the institution organized a kick-off event. Attendees interacted with committee members, gained insights on the initiative, and received delightful treats. The presence of headquarters leadership at the event reinforced dedication and support for the program.
For more information about the event and SAC Shared Governance team, please contact Nickolas Arnett, Gerhard Situmorang, or LaNette Silva.
For information about starting a Shared Governance team at your institution, please -mail CDCR CCHCS Nursing Shared Governance.
Rehabilitation
LAC welcomes Defy Ventures
California State Prison, Los Angeles County (LAC) incarcerated population attended an informational session hosted by Defy Ventures. Defy Ventures is dedicated to fostering the potential in incarcerated people to become successful entrepreneurs.
Attendees participated in leadership development, business pitch competitions, and executive mentoring. The experience highlighted the redemptive, authentic community Defy seeks to build between volunteers and the incarcerated population.
Years of successful cohorts at LAC spoke on the impact Defy’s dedication has had on the population.
Incarcerated members in attendance included individuals from past cohorts looking to facilitate and those entirely new to the program. Both groups were given opportunities to grow in their rehabilitative process.
CRC college students receive Bachelor’s Degree
Eight incarcerated men at California Rehabilitation Center (CRC) completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Studies from Pitzer College.
All eight graduates started earning their degrees through Pitzer’s Inside Out program. Current Pitzer undergraduate students attend classes alongside the incarcerated students at CRC.
Four of the graduates attended the graduation in person. They have paroled or are currently residing in a Male Community Reentry Program.
The remaining four graduates had their names read mid-ceremony. These individuals will participate in the graduation ceremony of Vista Del Rio Adult School at CRC in June.
Recruitment
RJD hiring workshop
CDCR HR Specialized Recruitment Unit (SRU) conducted their second hiring workshop this year. The event focused on current and future workforce needs for Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility (RJD). SRU highlighted 12 classifications for over 30 vacancies at the institution.
SRU collaborated with Examinations, Upward Mobility, Employment and Classification Services, and RJD staff to provide hiring services to 75 attendees.
Hiring services provided at the event included:
- career counseling
- application services
- administered examinations
- interviews
- and Livescans.
Over 80 event participants and online applicants were scheduled for interviews.
SRU continues to provide these services to CDCR programs and institutions statewide. For assistance with your vacancy needs, connect with a recruiter by visiting CDCR’s Careers web page.
SCC Recruitment Team at Delta College Job and Internship Fair
Sierra Conservation Center’s (SCC) Recruitment Team participated in the Delta College Job & Internship Fair.
The event took place in the Marcopulos Gym at Delta College. Many local businesses and vendors participated in the event. SCC’s Recruitment Team consisted of Peace Officer and non-custody recruiters. More than 150 job seekers attended the event.
In the Community
CCWF participates in Every 15 Minutes program
Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) visited Golden Valley High School to participate in the Every 15 Minutes Program.
Britaney Gomez, who is incarcerated at CCWF and works in the institution’s firehouse, shared her story with over 800 high school students and staff to deter them from drinking and driving. Many of the Golden Valley students were in tears as they listened.
Those also in attendance for the program included:
- Eric Zuniga, California Highway Patrol Public Information Officer
- Douglas Myers, CCWF Litigation Coordinator
- And Lt. Monique Williams, Administrative Assistant/Public Information Officer.
SCC holds food sale for local nonprofits
Sierra Conservation Center’s (SCC) incarcerated population participated in a Girl Scout cookie fundraiser.
The fundraiser benefited the troops of Tuolumne County and the Infant Children Enrichment Services (ICES). For every box purchased the incarcerated population made a $2 donation to the ICES foundation. Over 2.9k boxes of cookies were purchased resulting in a donation of over $5,900 to ICES.
SCC presented a check to ICES at the Citizens Advisory Committee meeting.
In the Media
UC Santa Barbara Humanities Program Brings Literature Courses to Incarcerated Individuals in California State Prisons
It’s not the typical classroom situation, but then, these are not typical students. Their life journeys have taken them not to colleges and universities, but to one of the 34 facilities within California’s prison system. Most of them are serving life sentences.
And they are participating in Foundations in the Humanities, a correspondence program of UC Santa Barbara’s Interdisciplinary Humanities Center (IHC), where they explore the world of literature and broaden their perspectives in the process.
Visit the Santa Barbara Independent website to read the full article.
Chowchilla incarcerated people become Merced College graduates
Patrick Wollett graduated from Merced College on Thursday, May 18. He heard his name called, heard the cheers from his family and instructors, received congratulatory handshakes from dignitaries, and celebrated afterward with his classmates and loved ones.
Wollett received special recognition at Thursday’s ceremony, having earned the lofty Superintendent’s Honors by maintaining a 4.0 GPA with at least 60 units completed. He was also chosen by the English faculty of Merced College as the program’s Outstanding Student.
It sounds like the typical story of an all-star student and a distinguished Merced College graduate, with one exception: Wollett is incarcerated at Valley State Prison in Chowchilla.
Visit Merced College’s website to read the full article.
10 Mule Creek State Prison incarcerated people graduate from Sacramento State
IONE, Calif. — A cap and gown, and a second chance are what incarcerated people at Mule Creek State Prison in the Ione area of Amador County celebrated Wednesday morning.
A total of 10 incarcerated people received their bachelor’s degrees in communications from Sacramento State. One of them is Michel Owens, who’s served 25 years in prison after a life of crime on the streets.
He said being a college graduate was the last thing he’d ever thought he would be.
Visit KCRA3’s website to read the full article.
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