Inside CDCR News Blog
FEATURED STORIES
CSP‑Solano Honor Guard trains with CPOF
The Correctional Peace Officers Foundation (CPOF) invited the Honor Guard team from California State Prison (CSP) Solano to their annual…
VIDEOS
Watch: Two staff graduate Innovation Fellows program
Two CDCR employees have graduated the first cohort of the Governor’s Innovation Fellows program. Samantha Kissane and Chris Siino, both…
VSP recruiters attend Fresno’s Support Blue Run
On behalf of the Peace Officer Recruitment Unit, Valley State Prison (VSP) recruiters proudly participated in the annual Support Blue…
Centinela hosts Saints Prison Ministry softball
Saints Prison Ministry visited Centinela State Prison (CEN) to engage incarcerated persons on three facilities in friendly yet competitive softball…
BEYOND THE BADGE
Watch: Two staff graduate Innovation Fellows program
Two CDCR employees have graduated the first cohort of the Governor’s Innovation Fellows program. Samantha Kissane and Chris Siino, both…
VSP recruiters attend Fresno’s Support Blue Run
On behalf of the Peace Officer Recruitment Unit, Valley State Prison (VSP) recruiters proudly participated in the annual Support Blue…
CHCF hosts second staff promotional ceremony
California Health Care Facility (CHCF) in Stockton hosted its second promotional ceremony on Friday, Feb. 20, honoring nine staff members…
INSIDE CDCR VIDEOS
Watch: Two staff graduate Innovation Fellows program
Two CDCR employees have graduated the first cohort of the Governor’s Innovation Fellows program. Samantha Kissane and Chris Siino, both…
Watch: Observing Patient Safety Week 2026
Editor’s note: Patient Safety Week is observed March 9-13, 2026. Most incarcerated people leave institutional life at some point and…
Watch: Ear Hustle Live records podcast at CCWF
Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) in Chowchilla recently welcomed Ear Hustle Live to record their award-winning podcast inside the institution.…
REHABILITATION
Centinela hosts Saints Prison Ministry softball
Saints Prison Ministry visited Centinela State Prison (CEN) to engage incarcerated persons on three facilities in friendly yet competitive softball…
Probation, education leaders tour VSP
Valley State Prison (VSP) recently welcomed probation and education leaders on tours to learn more about rehabilitation efforts. The two…
Vic Blends makes surprise visit to Valley State Prison
On a recent afternoon, the newly renovated Valley State Prison barbershop was buzzing with excitement, but students had no idea…
FIREFIGHTERS & CAMPS
Watch: CMF Fire demonstrates new rescue tools
Thanks to grants and the hard work of staff, the California Medical Facility (CMF) Fire Department now has new tools…
Mexico prison staff tour Oak Glen Conservation Camp
Corrections staff from the Queretaro State Prison in Mexico toured Oak Glen Conservation Camp to learn about California’s fire camp…
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
VSP recruiters attend Fresno’s Support Blue Run
On behalf of the Peace Officer Recruitment Unit, Valley State Prison (VSP) recruiters proudly participated in the annual Support Blue…
SCC staff take Polar Plunge for Special Olympics
Sierra Conservation Center (SCC) staff jumped in Lake Don Pedro for the 2026 Polar Plunge held Feb. 21. Chief Psychologist…
OCS special agent rides to honor Agent Byrd
For CDCR Special Agent Albert Franco, an upcoming cycling ride holds special meaning: honoring the memory of Parole Agent Joshua…
CALCTRA
CALCTRA graduates earn job certifications at FSP
California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Authority (CALCTRA) recognized 126 incarcerated individuals during a graduation ceremony at Folsom State Prison (FSP).…
CALCTRA launches Prison to Purpose podcast
The California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Authority (CALCTRA) launched its new podcast, Prison to Purpose: Building Futures Behind Bars, in…
DOGS IN CDCR
K‑9 searches find contraband at Gabilan, Wasco
Two recent searches led by the CDCR Central Region K-9 Unit turned up contraband at Gabilan Conservation Camp and Wasco…
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.…
SPORTS
Centinela hosts Saints Prison Ministry softball
Saints Prison Ministry visited Centinela State Prison (CEN) to engage incarcerated persons on three facilities in friendly yet competitive softball…
OCS special agent rides to honor Agent Byrd
For CDCR Special Agent Albert Franco, an upcoming cycling ride holds special meaning: honoring the memory of Parole Agent Joshua…
Guns and Hoses 2026 honors Parole Agent Byrd
Two years after father, husband and parole agent Joshua Byrd took the field at the Guns and Hoses football game,…
WEEK IN REVIEW
Week in Review: March 13, 2026
In this March 13 Week in Review, we spotlight RDN Tessa Gaynor, two staff graduating the Innovation Fellows program, and…
Week in Review: March 6, 2026
In this March 6 Week in Review, we spotlight Procurement Analyst Sommony Pech, PVSP staff speaking with students about careers,…
CDCR HISTORY
Roosevelt Clopton served state as officer, agent
For military veteran Roosevelt “Ted” Clopton, being a lifelong student guided his choices from joining the Army to becoming a…
SQ Captain Rivera Smith served nearly 4 decades
Rivera Smith was the longest serving staff member at San Quentin (SQ) when he passed away in 1950, serving nearly…
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…
OBITUARIES
Jewerl Thomas, retired correctional officer
Jewerl Thomas, a retired correctional officer, passed away Feb. 20, 2026. He worked for the department from 1995 until 2018.…
Reginald Sears, retired parole deputy administrator
Reginald “Reggie” Sears, a retired parole deputy administrator, passed away Feb. 8, 2026. He retired in 2004 after 30 years…
Angel Freeman, retired correctional officer
Angel Leigh Freeman, a retired correctional officer, passed away March 5, 2026. She served as a correctional officer for the…
ABOVE THE CALL
CMC officers help driver after truck burst into flames
Two correctional officers from California Men’s Colony (CMC) helped a driver after her truck burst into flames on Interstate 5.…
Inside CDCR 2025: A look back at the top stories
From tales of heroism and community involvement to rehabilitation and the people behind those efforts, Inside CDCR looks back at…
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
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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