CDCR celebrated Halloween by inviting families of staff and the incarcerated to the institutions for some frighteningly fun festivities.
ASP spooky car show and visitation excites
Avenal State Prison (ASP) hosted two Halloween events at the institution. ASP’s 2nd Annual “Show and Shine” Car Show and Halloween visiting events both welcomed families.
The Trick-or-Treat themed car show included:
- ISU K9 demonstration
- Alarm Response demonstration
- costume contest with prizes
- vendors
- carnival games
- obstacle course
- free snow cones
- cotton candy
- popcorn
- and of course, cars.
“This event keeps getting bigger and better. We can’t wait to see what spine-tingling surprises await us next year,” said a Correctional Sergeant.
Over 400 people attended the car show.
Visitation hosted a Halloween Party for the incarcerated families. Hosting a costume extravaganza and arts and crafts bash, kids left with candy bags, smiles, and memories.
Submitted by Lt. Jose Reyes
CCWF goes all out for Halloween celebrations
Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) hosted a Halloween visitation and Family Night events to celebrate the holiday.
CCWF visitation staff dressed up, played games, and danced with incarcerated families. The Halloween event brought smiles and laughter to the children as they enjoyed the event.
CCWF Warden Anissa De La Cruz hosted the 33rd Anniversary of the institution’s Family Night Trunker Treat.
Over 500 family and community members attended the event. The event included:
- Merced Sheriff’s Department Animal Shelter booth with 11 pups for adoption
- DJ playing music
- Children in costumes
- Silent Auction Halloween baskets donated by Trunker Treat booths
- Demonstrations from CCWF Crisis Response Team, Investigative Services Unit K-9, and our Fire Department
- Performance by Chowchilla High school cheerleaders
- Free chicken tacos, hot dogs, beverages, popcorn, cotton candy,
- Car and Motorcycle Show
- Cake Walk with over 25 cakes donated.
- Face painting line with 2 face painters
- Photo booth
- And CEA P. Mallory provided Blood Pressure checks at his booth for Family Night.
“I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for joining us at Family Night. It was truly a pleasure to have you and your family as part of our special evening. It was an honor meeting your loved ones,” said Warden Anissa De La Cruz.
Story by Lt. M. D. Williams
Photos by Chris Medina
CHCF Spooktacular Halloween event
California Health Care Facility (CHCF) visiting department organized a Spooktacular Halloween Event. They brought the incarcerated population and their loved ones together for a day of festivities. Visitors dressed in costumes and trick-or-treated throughout the visiting areas. Children hand-picked their pumpkins from CHCF’s Pumpkin Patch and designed them to their likings.
CHCF provided a washable-tattoo station, along with Halloween Party Favors filled with popcorn balls, Rice Krispies, cotton candy, and balloons. In attendance included:
- Visitors
- Incarcerated Population
- Visiting staff, and
- CHCF Warden Jones.
All those at the event took memorable photos with Spooktacular Inflatable Halloween decorations. The day consisted of competitive games such as pumpkin-shaped cornhole, witch hat ring toss, and Halloween-themed bowling.
Story by Sgt. Fong Lenh
CIM 5th Annual Drive-Thru Trunk-or-Treat
California Institution for Men (CIM) hosted their 5th Annual Drive-Thru Trunk or Treat event. Thirty-one participants displayed their decorated vehicles.
Chino Valley Employee Association (CVEA), California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA) and CIM staff donated candy and treats.
The City of Chino and CIM staff showed their costumes as they drove through the parking lot to grab candy and treats at every station.
Submitted by Lt. Paul Ybarra
CIW visitation brings the holiday fright
California Institution for Women (CIW) visitation celebrated Halloween with incarcerated members and their families. Visiting children dressed up in their favorite costumes and received a trick or treat bag which they could decorate. The bags were later filled with candy donated by Chino Hills City Councilman Art Bennett.
Activities for the event included:
- Scavenger hunt
- Halloween themed trivia
- Decorating Halloween picture frames, and
- Disney Halloween backdrop.
Best children’s costumes received candy garlands as a prize.
Submitted by Lt. William Newborg
CMF enjoys Halloween with staff and families
California Medical Facility’s (CMF) Employee Activity Committee hosted a Trunk or Treat. Staff, their families, children, and friends attended the event. Activities for the day included:
- car show
- food trucks
- vendors
- DJ playing music
- costume prizes and tons of trunk or treat vehicles of various Halloween themes to enjoy.
Submitted by Lt. Priscilla Gonzalez
COR brings Halloween to family and friends
California State Prison, Corcoran (CSP-COR) welcomed staff family and friends to the institution for a Halloween Community and Family event. The evening hosted a range of events and activities for the almost 600 guests in attendance.
Guests enjoyed:
- Music from a DJ
- Food trucks
- ree food and drinks
- Trunk or Treat car section
- Free popcorn
- Snow cones
- Cotton candy
- Multiple fire trucks
- K9 demonstration
- CRT repelling demonstration
- ISU booth
- CRT booth
- Free photo booth
- Corn hole
- and a plastic ax throw.
Submitted by Lt. Robert Clifton
FSP hosts two spooky Halloween nights
Folsom State Prison (FSP) hosted a Trunk or Treat and a Halloween visitation event on separate days for staff and incarcerated to enjoy.
The Trunk or Treat invited staff families to bring their children in costumes for a day of decorations, treats, and celebration. The event included:
- Cars in spooky and creative themes
- Costumes
- DJ playing music
- Canned food drive
- and the incarcerated firefighting crew, who proudly displayed their fire truck and engaged children.
The FSP visitation event brought more than 150 attendees to the institution’s visiting office.
FSP hosted activities, including:
- games
- music
- prizes
- candy
- and a surprise visit from two special Dinosaur guests.
More than 60 children and 50 adults received gifts.
Submitted by Lt. Chad Deal
MCSP celebrate with local community
Mule Creek State Prison’s (MCSP) Employee Association organized the Trunk or Treat event at the local Castle Oaks Golf Course in Ione. All MCSP staff, families and the local community were invited. CAL FIRE, Ione Police Department, and local businesses all participated in the event. MCSP staff interacted with the local community as the event carried through the day.
MCSP visiting hosted their Spooktacular Halloween Event. Children 12 and under participated in a Costume Contest and the winners were voted by the inmates’ family members. Children received Halloween goodie bags and the costume winners received prizes.
Submitted by Lt. Beau Campbell
SQ Halloween Fright Night
San Quentin Rehabilitation Center (SQ) visiting staff hosted a Halloween Fright Night in the main visiting room. The day included:
- Gift bags and toys for the children of the residents
- Live contemporary music by incarcerated member
- Popcorn and cotton candy from Chief Deputy Warden Oak Smith and his wife
- Face paint done by Smith’s daughter
- Decorations
- Photos
- and goody bags of candy for the visiting children.
“I have spent a lot of holidays behind these walls spending time with my husband, but this is by far the most amazing holiday I’ve got to spend with him,” said Felicia Colbert, incarcerated person’s wife.
Submitted by Lt. Guim’Mara Berry
SSRO staff celebrate Halloween at HQ
CDCR’s Staffing Solutions and Retention Office (SSRO) celebrated the Halloween holiday in office at HQ. Festivities for the day included:
- Pumpkin carving
- Costume contest
- and children Trick-or-Treating at each cubicle.
Photos submitted by Chief Jackie Dean
SVSP, CTF host second Trunk-or-Treat
Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) and Correctional Training Facility (CTF) welcomed employees and family to its 2nd annual Trunk-or-Treat.
Entertainment included a Chili Cook Off, pumpkin carving, a variety of food vendors, music, and games for children.
SVSP and CTF welcomed approximately 300 members and their families to enjoy food and entertainment. Approximately 16 staff and departments decorated their vehicles and handed out candy.
“I was overjoyed with the event. Seeing staff rush home after a long shift and then bringing their family back into work was inspiring. The sense of community was readily apparent and makes me excited for next year’s event,” said SVSP M. Brown, CDW (A).
Submitted by Lt. W. Fonseca
VSP brings Halloween fun to visiting children
Valley State Prison (VSP) recently held a spooktacular Halloween celebration visiting event that brought smiles and laughter to the visiting children and their families. VSP staff and Inmate Family Council (IFC) hosted pumpkin decorating and face painting activities in the institutions visiting rooms.
Staff ensured every child in attendance had a chance to transform into their favorite spooky character or create a souvenir to take home.
“We hope these activities will bring some much-needed festive cheer to the lives of those within the VSP community along with their families who show continuous support through visiting,” said A. Sawma VSP Visiting Lieutenant.
Submitted by Lt. H. Gastelum
HDSP’s annual Halloween Trunk or Treat a success
HDSP was in the spirit hosting a family-friendly Halloween event that was spooky fun for all.
As part of the recognized California Model, HDSP hosted a Halloween event known as trunk or treat where the incarcerated families and children were able to dress in a costume and spend the day filled with fun and laughter.
Families were greeted by Investigative Service Unit staff with their K-9s dressed in costumes. They also received a Halloween pumpkin. The family visiting event sported face painting, pumpkin decorating, coloring, and trick or treating.
Visitors and their incarcerated loved ones said by changing the normal prison environment allowed this day to be special.
“It was like spending the day as a family outside of the walls,” said one incarcerated person.
Submitted by Lt. J. Micone, AA/PIO
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