Inside CDCR News Blog
FEATURED STORIES
Watch: Parole Agent II Carla Fish shapes next generation
For three decades, Carla Fish has helped protect Californians, first as a firefighter, then a police officer and finally a…
VIDEOS
Watch: Agent Byrd memorialized at training center, CMF
Two CDCR memorial ceremonies honored fallen Parole Agent Joshua Byrd, marking one year since his passing. At California Medical Facility…
Week in Review: July 24
In this July 24 Week in Review, we highlight Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week, Parole Agent Carlos Deleon and…
CDCR parole agents target crime, maintain public safety
So far this year, CDCR parole agents have led or taken part in multiple coordinated efforts targeting crime, gangs and…
BEYOND THE BADGE
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…
DAPO softball game pitches in for Special Olympics
CDCR’s Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO) hosted its second softball fundraising event July 11 to support Special Olympics Northern…
Solano Fallen tourney raises over $12,500 for staff, families
Correctional professionals, law enforcement partners and community supporters came together to raise more than $12,500 during the recent Solano Fallen Resource…
LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS
CDCR parole agents target crime, maintain public safety
So far this year, CDCR parole agents have led or taken part in multiple coordinated efforts targeting crime, gangs and…
DAPO Los Angeles parole operation leads to six arrests
The Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO) led a compliance and enforcement operation of supervised persons in Los Angeles County,…
Operation Golden Grizzly: Parole leads multi‑agency sweep
Operation Golden Grizzly, a June 3 multi-agency parole compliance operation led by the Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO), resulted…
INSIDE CDCR VIDEOS
Watch: Agent Byrd memorialized at training center, CMF
Two CDCR memorial ceremonies honored fallen Parole Agent Joshua Byrd, marking one year since his passing. At California Medical Facility…
Watch: CMF sees 58 graduate Cognitive Behavioral Interventions
California Medical Facility (CMF) in Vacaville, the Division of Rehabilitative Programs and Amity Foundation recently hosted a graduation event for…
CDCR recognizes Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week 2026
(Editor’s note: This week, CDCR recognizes the hard work and dedication of staff during Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week,…
Jobs, Training & Facilities
Watch: Parole Agent II Carla Fish shapes next generation
For three decades, Carla Fish has helped protect Californians, first as a firefighter, then a police officer and finally a…
Rolling toward the future: CMF, RCS join forces at X Games
The CDCR Recruitment and Career Services (RCS) Unit brought community engagement to new heights at the X Games Sacramento, transforming…
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
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…
DAPO softball game pitches in for Special Olympics
CDCR’s Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO) hosted its second softball fundraising event July 11 to support Special Olympics Northern…
Solano Fallen tourney raises over $12,500 for staff, families
Correctional professionals, law enforcement partners and community supporters came together to raise more than $12,500 during the recent Solano Fallen Resource…
FIREFIGHTERS & CAMPS
In historic first, 8 incarcerated students earn forestry degrees
For the first time in the state, eight incarcerated students have earned associate of science degrees in forestry, marking the…
CMC’s Cuesta Camp trains for 2026 fire season
Cuesta Conservation Camp at California Men’s Colony (CMC) held their annual fire preparedness drills to be ready for the 2026…
REHABILITATION
Meet Cassandra Hamm: From FCRP participant to professional
When Cassandra Hamm arrived at the Female Community Reentry Program (FCRP) in Stockton, she was determined to change the course of her…
Watch: CMF sees 58 graduate Cognitive Behavioral Interventions
California Medical Facility (CMF) in Vacaville, the Division of Rehabilitative Programs and Amity Foundation recently hosted a graduation event for…
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…
CDCR Weekender
Solano Fallen tourney raises over $12,500 for staff, families
Correctional professionals, law enforcement partners and community supporters came together to raise more than $12,500 during the recent Solano Fallen Resource…
CDCR, CCHCS show up at US Police and Fire Championship
Staff from CDCR and California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) showed up at the recent US Police and Fire National…
CALCTRA
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…
Suzie Changus appointed CALCTRA director
The California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Board appointed Suzie Changus to serve as director of the California Correctional Training and…
ABOVE THE CALL
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…
LAC acting Fire Captain Diaz honored for saving child’s life
California State Prison-Los Angeles County (LAC) acting Fire Captain Jose Diaz was honored during a recent ceremony after saving a…
DOGS IN CDCR
Canine Companion puppies begin Kern Valley program
Kern Valley State Prison has implemented a new Canine Companion dog training program on their Level III Non-Designated Program Facility.…
Watch: Paws on a Mission finds meaning in training
The Paws on a Mission program at California State Prison-Solano provides incarcerated individuals with the opportunity to train rescue dogs.…
Rescue dogs graduate WSP‑RC training program
A partnership between Wasco State Prison-Reception Center (WSP-RC) and PAW Estate Rescue & Shelter reached a milestone April 21 as…
SPORTS
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…
Solano Fallen tourney raises over $12,500 for staff, families
Correctional professionals, law enforcement partners and community supporters came together to raise more than $12,500 during the recent Solano Fallen Resource…
Watch: CIM learns lessons from Saints’ softball team
The Saints, a traveling softball team spreading messages of hope inside prisons, played an exhibition game against California Institution for…
WEEK IN REVIEW
Week in Review: July 24
In this July 24 Week in Review, we highlight Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week, Parole Agent Carlos Deleon and…
Week in Review: July 17
In this July 17 Week in Review, we highlight Parole Agent Christopher Bell, SAC welcomes Prison Dog Program and DAPO…
CDCR HISTORY
History snapshot: Early parole officer urged youth diversion
In this installment of Unlocking History, we look more closely at early California state Parole Officer R.A. Lang. He originally…
Remembering Samuel Randolph, SQ Captain of the Yard
Like many in CDCR’s history, some staff go above and beyond the call of duty with one example being San…
Remembering Folsom State Prison Warden Clarence Larkin
In this installment of Unlocking History, we look at the life of Clarence Larkin, a longtime Folsom State Prison employee.…
OBITUARIES
San Quentin mourns passing of Officer Michelle Jones‑Harris
Michelle Jones-Harris, a correctional officer at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, passed away July 21, 2026. Jones-Harris began her career at…
Watch: Agent Byrd memorialized at training center, CMF
Two CDCR memorial ceremonies honored fallen Parole Agent Joshua Byrd, marking one year since his passing. At California Medical Facility…
Ismael Martinez, retired correctional lieutenant
Ismael Martinez, a retired correctional lieutenant from Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, passed away July 14, 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
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…
Salinas Valley State Prison investigating attack on 4 officers
Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) is investigating an attack on four correctional officers that occurred Friday afternoon. On Jan. 23,…
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