By Division of Adult Institutions staff
Staff from the Division of Adult Institutions (DAI), Headquarters and Folsom State Prison (FSP) participated in the “My Future Starts with Me” conference held at Woodland Community College on Saturday, Oct. 5.
The conference was hosted by Friends Care, a nonprofit organization providing prevention for at-risk youth and children of incarcerated parents. Folsom State Prison Warden Rick Hill and Ernie Valencia, public information officer for the prison, led the workshop “Choices have Consequences,” giving inmates a chance to speak to the youth.
Inmates housed at Folsom State Prison and Folsom Women’s Facility had the opportunity to share their stories with the youth via a live closed-circuit television. The offenders gave youth advice on not making the same mistakes that leads to prison. The youth were encouraged to ask questions.
Folsom State Prison Investigative Services Unit also hosted a Gang Awareness Workshop led by Lt. Emily Castro, Sgt. Jason Pagan and Correctional Officer Lindsey Schroeder.
The final workshop was organized by Sonia Mercado. Capt. Patrice Davis served as the moderator and the panel consisted of honorable Judge Steven Basha, DAI Director Connie Gipson, Warden Hill and Valencia. Students had the opportunity to ask the panel questions which varied from questions about their childhood to questions about their current roles within the department.
