Inside CDCR News Blog
FEATURED STORIES
CDCR welcomes 139 new correctional officers
Class 3-26A’s 139 cadets graduated the Basic Correctional Officer Academy in a ceremony in front of family and close friends.…
VIDEOS
Transforming lives: How CDCR is redefining prison education
A sprawling education system, complete with accredited adult schools, college classes and career training designed to transform lives, exists within…
Meet the CDCR K‑9s: Skipper, Tokyo, Yankee
Three CDCR K-9s assisting their handlers to help keep institutions safe are Skipper, Tokyo and Yankee. Every day, CDCR K-9s…
Parole agents, DA, OCS partner for Operation Imperial Heat
In late August, the Chula Vista 2 Parole Unit partnered with Imperial County District Attorney (DA) investigators and CDCR’s Office…
BEYOND THE BADGE
Pelican Bay hosts annual Employee Appreciation Day
The annual Employee Appreciation Day at Pelican Bay State Prison (PBSP) in Crescent City brought staff together for camaraderie, competition…
CHCF thanks staff through third annual automotive show
The California Health Care Facility (CHCF) in Stockton recently hosted its third annual automotive show. This event provides staff with…
Meet Makenna Schroeder, OPOS northern testing manager
Makenna Schroeder, a supervisor serving as the northern testing manager for the Office of Peace Officer Selection (OPOS), strengthens CDCR’s…
LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS
Parole agents, DA, OCS partner for Operation Imperial Heat
In late August, the Chula Vista 2 Parole Unit partnered with Imperial County District Attorney (DA) investigators and CDCR’s Office…
Parole agents assist police in Operation Ground Truth
The Chula Vista Police Department worked with CDCR parole agents to conduct compliance checks during Operation Ground Truth. The Aug.…
Parole agents, Tulare County agencies find drugs, stolen vehicle
CDCR’s Division of Adult Parole Operations Community Compliance Unit (CCU) recently partnered with Visalia and Tulare County agencies to serve…
INSIDE CDCR VIDEOS
Transforming lives: How CDCR is redefining prison education
A sprawling education system, complete with accredited adult schools, college classes and career training designed to transform lives, exists within…
Level IV institution finds community through book club
California State Prison, Sacramento, is a Level IV maximum-security institution, but within its walls in a book club, there’s an…
CCWF leaders host Women in Law Enforcement Symposium
Leaders from Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) in Chowchilla hosted the second Women in Law Enforcement Symposium. Wendy Enos, chief…
Jobs, Training & Facilities
CDCR welcomes 139 new correctional officers
Class 3-26A’s 139 cadets graduated the Basic Correctional Officer Academy in a ceremony in front of family and close friends.…
CDCR Academy: Cadets learn essentials before graduating
When the Basic Correctional Officer Academy cadets graduate Friday, they will have undergone rigorous training to learn multiple aspects of…
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
RJD staff roll up sleeves to donate blood
RJ Donovan (RJD) Correctional Facility staff members rolled up their sleeves to support the community by donating life-saving blood to…
DAPO connects with community during National Night Out
The Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO) joined law enforcement agencies across California in celebrating National Night Out. From Northern…
CDCR, CCHCS help kids go back to school
CDCR and CCHCS staff are helping kids go back to school, gathering supplies and backpacks for youth in the community.…
FIREFIGHTERS & CAMPS
CCWF Fire Captain Ries is making a difference
While CDCR firehouses and camps are battling fires across California, Inside CDCR caught up with Fire Captain Robert Ries, a…
While rebuilding barbershop, camp participant rebuilds self
A participant at Fenner Canyon Conservation Camp #41 rebuilt the barbershop while ultimately rebuilding himself. At the camp in Valyermo,…
REHABILITATION
Transforming lives: How CDCR is redefining prison education
A sprawling education system, complete with accredited adult schools, college classes and career training designed to transform lives, exists within…
Why CSP‑Solano’s vocational programs are on the rise
When Summer Peterson officially started at California State Prison (CSP) Solano, last September, she came with an understanding of the rehabilitative…
Level IV institution finds community through book club
California State Prison, Sacramento, is a Level IV maximum-security institution, but within its walls in a book club, there’s an…
CDCR Weekender
CHCF thanks staff through third annual automotive show
The California Health Care Facility (CHCF) in Stockton recently hosted its third annual automotive show. This event provides staff with…
CTF staff enjoy Coffee, Food Truck Pop‑Up Day
The Correctional Training Facility (CTF) recently hosted its monthly Coffee and Food Truck Pop-Up Day. Dubbed What’s for Lunch Wednesday,…
CALCTRA
CALCTRA podcast features Dave’s Killer Bread co‑founder Dave Dahl
The California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Authority (CALCTRA) featured Dave Dahl, co-founder of Dave’s Killer Bread, on the latest episode…
CALCTRA honors graduates at Centinela State Prison
The California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Authority (CALCTRA) recognized 25 incarcerated individuals at Centinela State Prison for successfully completing their…
CALCTRA grad turns second chance into lifesaving mission
The recent Prison to Purpose podcast from California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Authority (CALCTRA) focuses on a former graduate and…
ABOVE THE CALL
Off‑duty WSP‑RC food manager credited with saving life
Wasco State Prison-Reception Center (WSP-RC) Correctional Food Manager II Louis Rodriguez is being credited with saving the life of a…
Governor honors 13 CDCR staff at State Employee Medal of Valor
At the State Employee Medal of Valor ceremony held June 12, there were 13 CDCR staff members honored for their…
DOGS IN CDCR
Meet the CDCR K‑9s: Skipper, Tokyo, Yankee
Three CDCR K-9s assisting their handlers to help keep institutions safe are Skipper, Tokyo and Yankee. Every day, CDCR K-9s…
Meet the CDCR K‑9s: Shadow and Sammy
Two CDCR K-9s assisting their handlers to help keep institutions safe are Shadow and Sammy. Every day, CDCR K-9s work…
Meet the CDCR K‑9s: Mayor, Penny, Ranger
Three CDCR K-9s assisting their handlers to help keep institutions safe are Mayor, Penny and Ranger. Every day, CDCR K-9s…
SPORTS
CIM welcomes Between the Lines for special event
The Between the Lines foundation brought “Beyond the Lines Travel Beyond the Walls” to California Institution for Men (CIM) at…
Calipatria State Prison hosts soccer championship games
Sports as a rehabilitative tool was on display at Calipatria State Prison as the incarcerated population on Facility A sought…
San Quentin Jailblazers capture back‑to‑back gold
A team of correctional professionals from San Quentin Rehabilitation Center (SQRC) and California State Prison, Solano, defended their title at the…
WEEK IN REVIEW
Week in Review: September 4, 2026
In this September 4 Week in Review, we highlight the observance of International Overdose Awareness Day, CMF’s inaugural Clover Awards and…
Week in Review: August 28, 2026
In this August 28 Week in Review, we highlight CDCR K-9s, ASP’s Anti-Recidivism Coalition graduation and DAPO’s Women’s Empowerment Event.…
CDCR HISTORY
Explore 80 years of CTF‑Soledad’s history
Explore the history of the state’s fifth prison, the Correctional Training Facility (CTF) at Soledad. Activated in 1946, CTF was…
1990: Folsom Prison prints calendar of historic photos
In 1989, Folsom State Prison’s vocational graphic arts class designed and printed a 1990 calendar packed with historic photos and…
California Institution for Men marks 85 years of public safety
In 2026, California Institution for Men (CIM) is celebrating 85 years of public safety. The Chino institution, the fourth state…
OBITUARIES
Pelican Bay State Prison mourns passing of Sabrina Marsh
Sabrina Marsh, an alcohol and other drugs counselor at Pelican Bay State Prison in Crescent City, passed away Sept. 3,…
High Desert mourns passing of Sergeant Brandon Seitz
Brandon Seitz, a correctional sergeant at High Desert State Prison in Susanville, passed away Sept. 3, 2026. Seitz began his…
Eric Callison, retired correctional officer
Eric Callison, a retired correctional officer from High Desert State Prison in Susanville, passed away Aug. 29, 2026. He worked…
CEMETERY TALES
Go behind SQ grave marker of Ah Sun
A photo of a grave marker in a local newsletter led San Quentin (SQ) Museum volunteer Jeff Craemer to ask…
Cemetery Tales: Harry Stewart, Fresno embezzler
In our final Cemetery Tales of the season, we look more closely at Harry Stewart, early 1900s embezzler, thief, and…
Cemetery Tales: Meet JE McKim, thieving drifter
In our third installment of this month’s Cemetery Tales, we look at a drifter with a long criminal record dating…
SAFETY & SECURITY UPDATES
SVSP investigating two separate attacks on correctional officers
Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) is investigating two separate attacks on correctional officers Sept. 1. In the first incident, at…
Wasco State Prison‑Reception Center investigating riot
A total of 48 incarcerated persons were involved in a riot at Wasco State Prison – Reception Center (WSP) on…
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