Inside CDCR News Blog
FEATURED STORIES
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).…
VIDEOS
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,…
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…
Meet Vera Valdivia‑Abdallah, assistant principal
At California State Prison, Los Angeles County (LAC), Vera Valdivia-Abdallah brings the same perseverance to her role in education that carries her…
BEYOND THE BADGE
Meet Vera Valdivia‑Abdallah, assistant principal
At California State Prison, Los Angeles County (LAC), Vera Valdivia-Abdallah brings the same perseverance to her role in education that carries her…
Meet Breann Cantu, Academy administrator
For 18 years, Academy Administrator Breann Cantu has helped the department fulfill its public safety mission. She began in 2008…
High Desert holds second promotional ceremony
High Desert State Prison (HDSP) in Susanville celebrated their second promotional ceremony recognizing individual achievements of those staff members advancing…
INSIDE CDCR VIDEOS
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,…
Watch: CIM Remembrance Memorial honors fallen officers
Staff gathered at the California Institution for Men (CIM) in Chino for the 21st annual Remembrance Memorial honoring Correctional Officer…
Watch: CPOST 2025 Impact Award ceremony
In mid-December, CDCR’s Commission on Correctional Peace Officer Standards and Training (CPOST) honored employees at the 2025 Impact Award ceremony.…
REHABILITATION
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).…
SATF coach starts CrossFit program
Inspired by Avenal State Prison, a coach at the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility (SATF) recently started a CrossFit class for…
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…
FIREFIGHTERS & CAMPS
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…
Ventura Training Center visits CMC’s Camp Cuesta
Participants from the Ventura Training Center (VTC) hit the road to talk with incarcerated fire crews about the center’s resources.…
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
CDCR, CCHCS staff March for the Dream
CDCR and CCHCS staff joined thousands for the 44th annual MLK365 March for the Dream at Sacramento City College on…
Incarcerated at PVSP donate hygiene items
The incarcerated population at Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP) in Coalinga held a multi-month campaign to gather hygiene items for…
Mule Creek State Prison donates $23k to charities
Mule Creek State Prison food sales generated $23,157, resulting in donations to several charities. The donations demonstrate the prison’s strong…
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…
New year, new name: CALPIA becomes CALCTRA
The new year rang in a new name for the California Prison Industry Authority or CALPIA. The organization officially changed…
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
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,…
PVSP starts population flag football league
Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP) staff and incarcerated peer support specialists collaborated to create a population flag football league. Recreation…
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…
WEEK IN REVIEW
Week in Review: February 20, 2026
In this February 20 Week in Review, we spotlight Assistant Principal Vera Valdivia-Abdallah, SCC firefighters, and RJD officers connecting with…
Week in Review: February 13, 2026
In this February 13 Week in Review, we spotlight Academy Administrator Breann Cantu, the CDCR Academy launching new social media…
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
CSP‑Corcoran mourns passing of Javier Estrada, mechanic
California State Prison (CSP) Corcoran is mourning the passing of Maintenance Mechanic Javier Estrada. He passed away Feb. 18, 2026.…
Anthony Malone, retired correctional officer
Anthony Malone, a retired correctional officer, passed away Feb. 8, 2026. He worked for the department for 26 years. After…
Craig Cline, retired correctional officer
Craig Cline, a retired Centinela State Prison correctional officer, passed away Feb. 4, 2026. Cline began his career with CDCR…
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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