The CDCR Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services (OVSRS) attended a Pathway Group graduation hosted by Valley State Prison. Pathway recognized those incarcerated participants who had completed the Accountability Letter Bank writing workshop.
Letter Bank staff coordinators Antonette Ramirez-Rhode and Veronica Pedraza, along with 22 incarcerated people, attended this Pathway program.
Martina Lutz Schneider of the Ahimsa Collective facilitated the program. The graduation proved to be a positive experience for CDCR staff members as well as the incarcerated group.
“What we learned from our August visit was most of the men really took to heart the information we provided such as what they should or should not be addressing in their letter writing or, how to address the letter particularly to the addressee,” said Ramirez-Rhode.
Some incarcerated will continue to work on their letters with the goal of submitting to the Pathway’s Healing Partners. They must first meet all expectations of the Accountability Letter Bank project. Letters will be submitted to OVSRS for processing so victims or victims’ family members can request them.
To learn more about the Accountability Letter Bank Program you can visit their website at www.cdcr.ca.gov/victim-services/alb/ or email OVSRS-ALB@cdcr.ca.gov
Submitted by Michael Cortese, Office Technician
OVSRS
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