From trauma-informed services to learning about crime victims, rehabilitation is varied throughout CDCR, including Valley State Prison (VSP).
Visiting made special for holidays, observances
Holidays ranging from Halloween to Father’s Day see festive visiting rooms at Valley State Prison (VSP). Staff go the extra mile, decorating and organizing activities. In 2023, for example, dads and their loved ones were treated to the inaugural Fathers Day BBQ Picnic and Special Visit.
Families enjoyed games, hotdogs, snacks, desserts and beverages. For the children, they were given a stuffed animal and book. Making it even more special, families met Circle T Ranch therapy horses and mingled with the four-legged participants of the VSP Freedom Dog Program.
Warden (A) M. McVay and management staff welcomed, greeted and spoke to visiting fathers and their families. By hosting such events, VSP seeks to normalize prison life while strengthening family bonds.
“The population seeing and visiting with their children is crucial,” McVay said. “These occasions create a sense of normalcy and reaffirm that fathers remain integral to their children’s lives, despite their circumstances.”
VSP rehabilitation sees awareness, fundraising for victims
During the annual Crime Victims’ Rights Week in April, VSP held a special event to honor victims. They raised funds and invited survivors and community speakers to share their stories.
The gymnasium had over 350 incarcerated attendees, raising over $4,000 for victim rights organizations.
Survivors’ testimonies provided profound insights into how surviving a violent crime has affected them, their families, and their lives.
Guest speakers included formerly incarcerated person Michael Baldwin and Youth Offender Program (YOP) Officer N. Gonzalez. Both shared their unique insights into rehabilitation, supporting the rights of crime victims.
Submitted by Lt. H. Gastelum, AA/PIO
Valley State Prison