Inside CDCR News Blog
FEATURED STORIES
Staff, incarcerated get into holiday spirit
Across California, staff and the incarcerated population are getting into the holiday spirit through toy drives, food-sale fundraisers, building parade…
VIDEOS
Watch: Survivors, incarcerated gather at CIM for healing
In early December, incarcerated and survivors gathered at California Institution for Men (CIM) for the Victims and Survivors of Crime…
Headquarters staff roll up sleeves to donate blood
CDCR and CCHCS headquarters staff in Elk Grove donated blood during a blood drive held Dec. 17. Staff members rolled…
CCWF, VSP host crisis response team competition
The range at Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) became the proving ground during the first crisis response team (CRT) competition…
BEYOND THE BADGE
High Desert helps children with winter coat drive
For a decade, High Desert State Prison (HDSP) in Susanville has helped keep children warm through their annual winter coat…
Staff, incarcerated get into holiday spirit
Across California, staff and the incarcerated population are getting into the holiday spirit through toy drives, food-sale fundraisers, building parade…
SCC staff celebrate 60 years of public safety
Sierra Conservation Center (SCC) recently celebrated 60 years of public safety while also saluting staff during their annual appreciation day.…
INSIDE CDCR VIDEOS
Watch: Survivors, incarcerated gather at CIM for healing
In early December, incarcerated and survivors gathered at California Institution for Men (CIM) for the Victims and Survivors of Crime…
Watch: A look at day reporting centers
Day reporting centers serve rehabilitative purposes in the community, connecting parole-supervised individuals with services. Day reporting centers offer a one-stop…
Watch: VSP Asian Pacific‑Islanders celebrate Makahiki
The Asian Pacific-Islanders community at Valley State Prison (VSP) celebrated the ancient Hawaiian ceremony known as Makahiki. The Nov. 17…
REHABILITATION
Watch: Survivors, incarcerated gather at CIM for healing
In early December, incarcerated and survivors gathered at California Institution for Men (CIM) for the Victims and Survivors of Crime…
Watch: A look at day reporting centers
Day reporting centers serve rehabilitative purposes in the community, connecting parole-supervised individuals with services. Day reporting centers offer a one-stop…
Calipatria prison holds first PSSP graduation
Calipatria State Prison recently hosted their first Peer Support Specialist Program (PSSP) graduation for 20 incarcerated people. The graduates came…
FIREFIGHTERS & CAMPS
Puerta La Cruz camp honors 10 graduates
Ten female fire crew members recently graduated the Forestry Fire Training program at the Puerta La Cruz Conservation Camp, hosted…
From camp program to CAL FIRE employee
Troy Senegal has gone from being incarcerated in the camp program to being a CAL FIRE employee. Intervention in Senegal’s…
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Headquarters staff roll up sleeves to donate blood
CDCR and CCHCS headquarters staff in Elk Grove donated blood during a blood drive held Dec. 17. Staff members rolled…
High Desert helps children with winter coat drive
For a decade, High Desert State Prison (HDSP) in Susanville has helped keep children warm through their annual winter coat…
Staff, incarcerated get into holiday spirit
Across California, staff and the incarcerated population are getting into the holiday spirit through toy drives, food-sale fundraisers, building parade…
CALPIA
CALPIA recognizes 90 graduates at CMC
Ninety incarcerated individuals received job certifications and/or apprenticeships from the California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA) at California Men’s Colony (CMC).…
CALPIA launches new CTF Joint Venture Program
The California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA) in partnership with Surplus Service and CDCR opened a new Joint Venture Program at…
DOGS IN CDCR
Golden retriever therapy dogs visit CSP‑Solano
California State Prison (CSP) Solano staff were seeing gold last week thanks to golden retriever therapy dogs. The dogs, part…
Getting up close with new ISP dog program
The Ironwood State Prison (ISP) Dog Training Academy is a newly developed program working in collaboration with Mal’s House Rescue.…
CIM honors contraband‑detecting K‑9s
California Institution for Men (CIM) in Chino recently held its first ceremony to honor the K-9s who work tirelessly to…
SPORTS
Watch: Twinning Project, Angel City FC at CIW
CDCR, the Twinning Project and Angel City Football Club (FC) teamed up to launch two new cohorts of a leadership…
CIM hosts soccer tournament
The California Institution for Men’s (CIM) A-Yard, B-Yard, and C-Yard populations gathered for a soccer tournament. Speakers were set up…
Watch: SATF goes Between the Lines
Volunteers from Between the Lines recently brought their rehabilitative program to the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility (SATF) and State Prison…
WEEK IN REVIEW
Week in Review: December 12, 2025
In this December 12 Week in Review, we spotlight the Boots on the Ground Golf Tournament, ASP’s multi-institutional alarm response…
Week in Review: December 5, 2025
In this December 5 Week in Review, we spotlight donating bikes for kids, a Tip-A-Cop fundraiser in Sonora, and CALPIA…
CDCR HISTORY
Echoes from the Past: Restoring history’s missing pages
While researching stories for the Unlocking History series, we often find damaged documents, missing photos, or incomplete information. One example…
Family seeks information on 1903 counterfeiter
A recent question came across the Inside CDCR desk regarding a counterfeiter who was incarcerated at San Quentin in 1903.…
Ships shaped early California prison system
After California became a state in September 1850, the Legislature passed a law establishing all county jails would serve as…
OBITUARIES
Pelican Bay mourns passing of Officer Daniel Read
Pelican Bay State Prison has announced the passing of Correctional Officer Daniel Read on Dec. 14, 2025. Read began his…
Vickie Lynn Wetherell, retired parole agent
Vickie Lynn Wetherell, a retired parole agent, passed away at home Nov. 14, 2025, according to her family. Wetherell served…
Daniel Grenfell, retired correctional officer
Daniel Grenfell, a retired correctional officer, passed away Dec. 8, 2025. He worked for the department for more than 28…
ABOVE THE CALL
CDCR transportation officers assist crash victims
While returning to California Men’s Colony from a southern California transport, two CDCR transportation officers recently assisted victims in a…
CDCR officer finds missing hunter during trip
A missing hunter is home safe for the holidays thanks to a California State Prison-Corcoran correctional officer and his two…
CEMETERY TALES
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…
Cemetery Tales: Raymond Blade and Henry Hunt
The second installment of this month’s Cemetery Tales looks at two incarcerated people at different stages in their lives when…
SAFETY & SECURITY UPDATES
California State Prison, Sacramento investigating riot
Approximately 20 incarcerated persons were involved in a riot at California State Prison, Sacramento on Monday, Nov. 10. Officers immediately…
Salinas Valley State Prison investigating riot
Approximately 90 incarcerated persons were involved in a riot at Salinas Valley State Prison at Soledad on Wednesday, Oct. 1.…
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