Week in Review: February 2, 2024

In the Week in Review for February 2, 2024, Avenal State Prison pays tribute to fallen officers, Central California Women’s Facility observes a Transgender Day of Action, Corcoran prison unites to fight cancer, and 271 officers join CDCR in January.

Staff Spotlight

ASP pays tribute to fallen Officers

Avenal State Prison (ASP) paid a heartfelt tribute to their fallen Officers, Officer Robert Contreras and Sergeant Bobby Crews. The incarcerated population commemorated a captivating mural of the fallen staff.

The collaborative efforts between staff and incarcerated volunteers captured the authenticity of these dedicated individuals. The work of the incarcerated volunteers ensures that the memories of Officer Contreras and Sergeant Crews will live on.

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Coworker donates kidney to ailing lieutenant

When Juan Ruiz heard about a coworker in need of a kidney transplant, the 27-year-old correctional officer stepped forward.

For over a year, Lt. Salvador Bermudez has battled kidney failure and was placed on a transplant list. Both employees work at California State Prison, Los Angeles County, with the 41-year-old Bermudez on the job for 17 years. Meanwhile, Ruiz is a relative newcomer, with two years of service.

“I hope people realize the department is more than just coworkers. We are family and my family has been very supportive,” said Juan Ruiz, Correctional Officer and kidney donor, California State Prison, Los Angeles County.

Visit Inside CDCR to read the full story.

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271 officers join CDCR in January

CDCR welcomed 271 new correctional officers with the first graduation of the year at the Richard A. McGee Correctional Training Center on Jan. 12.

The 271 cadets from Class 1-24A took the oath and officially became correctional officers for CDCR.

The event was a culmination of dedication and hard work as cadets successfully completed a rigorous 13-week Basic Correctional Officer Academy. Family and friends gathered to witness the transformative journey these individuals undertook, marking the beginning of their crucial roles in maintaining security and order within the correctional system.

Visit Inside CDCR to read the full story.

Observations

Black History Month

February 1 marks the beginning of Black History Month. Since 1976, Black History Month has been federally recognized to celebrate all Black individuals in the United States, and the world.

Here at CDCR, we honor Black History, and those in the department who represent the culture. We are dedicated to ensuring inclusion and equity within the CDCR community. Inside CDCR will be highlighting staff throughout the month.

CCWF celebrates Transgender Prisoner Day of Action

Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) recently celebrated Transgender Prisoner Day of Action. This day recognizes the experiences of transgender and all gender-minority incarcerated people. It focuses on working together and breaking through the isolation of incarceration and establishing new relationships.

One hundred and fifty incarcerated individuals attended the event to set goals and solidify plans for upcoming self-help workshops. The groups broke off into various group circles which included letter writing for legislation changes relating to gender minorities. Community Resource Management department provided barbecue hamburgers for lunch, donated by the Madera Food Bank.

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In Our Institutions

Corcoran prison unites to fight cancer

In early December, the staff and population at California State Prison, Corcoran, came together for a greater cause: to fight cancer.

The walk to end cancer was the first of its kind at the Corcoran prison. According to Facility 3B staff member Monica Bonilla, donations were well over $10,000. By the end, over $10,600 was donated to Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera.

The walk was inspired by a vision from Eric Estrada to bring awareness to the destructive disease of cancer. His plan was to demonstrate a united front in the fight to end cancer, uniting staff with the incarcerated population.

Visit Inside CDCR to read the full article.

50 years for women’s El Prado Adult School

California Institution for Women’s El Prado Adult School recently celebrated its 50th anniversary with a hip-hop-themed luncheon.

The Jan. 23 luncheon honored the student advisory council and physical education trainers for their contributions to the mission of El Prado Adult School at the women’s prison in Chino.

During the event, participants received awards and enjoyed music, photo opportunities, and games. The luncheon included pizza and refreshments, followed by a variety of gourmet cookies for dessert.
Everyone had a great time taking pictures in the photo booth while wearing microphones, boomboxes, and bucket hats.

Visit Inside CDCR to read the full story.

Correctional Training Facility cheers football team

Cheering on the local high school football team were staff and incarcerated firefighters from the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad.

The Palma Chieftains High School football team passed the institution on their way to the Division IV State Football Championship game, providing a great opportunity for a show of support.

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In the Community

Special Olympics Northern California kicks off 2024

Special Olympics Northern California kicked off 2024 with an event in Sacramento on Jan. 23, highlighting their 2023 fundraising achievements.

The impactful mission, inclusive community efforts, and the significant milestones of Special Olympics in the past year.

Special Olympics Northern California’s mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Their commitment to creating an inclusive community is evident in the connections, healthy lifestyles, and success stories they foster.

All programs are offered free of charge, ensuring equal opportunities for everyone.

Visit Inside CDCR to read the full story.

ASP donates to Refuge Armona

Avenal State Prison donated over $2,400 to Refuge Armona and their volunteer’s. The donation goes towards nurturing the well-being of Kings County Youth. This support enables Refuge Armona to provide a haven for kids, free from the influence of drugs and gang. The group offers free meals and valuable mentorship from dedicated volunteers who genuinely care about the kids.

Calipatria hosts kids’ correctional academy

Calipatria State Prison recently hosted its second Junior Correctional Academy for staff and their kids.

Children of current employees attended the Junior Correctional Academy with their parent.

The children were exposed to some of the functions and trainings to which their parents have gone through. The academy provided a fun event, creating lasting memories for Calipatria prison employees and their children.

Visit Inside CDCR to read the full article.

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CCJBH

2023 Medi-Cal Utilization Project (MCUP) Report

The Council of Criminal Justice and Behavorial Health (CCJBH) is excited to announce the posting of the 2023 Medi-Cal Utilization Project (MCUP) Report. This 2023 report builds upon the examination of Medi-Cal enrollment, Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan (MCP) selection, and Medi-Cal mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) service utilization for individuals released from CDCR in Fiscal Year (FY) 2018-19 by similarly examining these data for individuals released from CDCR in FY 2019-20.

• Unique to this year’s report is an examination of COVID releases as compared to scheduled releases. The former showed higher rates of MCP selection and service utilization, specifically within the first month of release, which may be indicative of state and local staff working expeditiously to ensure connections to community-based care because of the public health emergency, despite the fact that they had little time for reentry planning.
• In addition, a comparison to FY 2018-19 releases revealed that Medi-Cal enrollment, MCP selection, and behavioral health service penetration and engagement rates remained fairly consistent for individuals released in FY 2019-20.
• CCJBH remains concerned with the low utilization rates of Medi-Cal behavioral health services for individuals released from prison with identified behavioral health needs who are enrolled into Medi-Cal, which could be due to a variety of factors, such as transition processes, beneficiary choice, etc. As such, CCJBH will continue to examine these rates in future reporting efforts.

Learn more about the report other projects on the CCJBH website.

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Rehabilitation

CTF hosts Anti-Recidivism Coalition graduation events

Correctional Training Facility (CTF) with Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) hosted two graduation events for 161 incarcerated individuals. These ceremonies celebrated the completion of intensive 12-week courses designed to foster personal growth and rehabilitation.

The events featured guest speakers, the presence of family members, a formal graduation ceremony, and a banquet. Graduates completed at least one of the following 12-week courses to receive their certificate of completion:

• Youth Offender Mentoring Program (YOMP)
• Criminal Gang Members Anonymous (CGA)
• and the Board Parole Hearing (BPH) program.

“These graduation ceremonies are a testament to the resilience and potential of every individual. Through dedication and hard work, our graduates have taken a significant step towards positive change, not just for themselves, but for our community as a whole,” said CTF Warden (A) Edward J. Borla.

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In the Media

Cerro Coso Community College graduates 35 students

Cerro Coso Community College, along with Dr. Sonya Christian, State Chancellor of California Community Colleges, is proud to announce the graduation of 35 students from our Incarcerated Student Education Program at the Tehachapi California Correctional Institution.

Combined, these students earned nearly 100 associate degrees.

Those include Arts & Humanities, Social & Behavioral Sciences, Psychology, Administration of Justice for Transfer, Anthropology for Transfer, and Business Administration for Transfer.

Visit Mojave Desert News to read the full article.

‘First in the Country’: Incarcerated students in CPH degree program eligible for federal financial aid

Incarcerated students enrolled in a groundbreaking program at Pelican Bay State Prison to earn their bachelor’s degrees from Cal Poly Humboldt are now the first in the nation eligible to receive Pell Grants to pay for their education.

Access to the aid opened up this summer under federal legislation signed in 2020, reversing a previous policy that denied the financial aid to prisoners for nearly 30 years.

Visit North Coast Journal’s website to read the full article.

Formerly incarcerated Cal State LA students get help landing jobs with new program

Allen Burnett was serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole when he sought the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree in communication.

“Never thought I was going to get out of jail, you know,” Burnett said.

Gov. Gavin Newsom commuted Burnett’s sentence, and in 2020, he was released. Burnett enrolled at Cal State L.A. to finish earning his degree, earning a master’s and co-founding a nonprofit – the Prism Way.

“It was literally one of those things that really changed my life,” he said.

Visit ABC 7 to read the full article.

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Top Inside CDCR Stories

CIM honors memory of Officer Manuel Gonzalez

Car show revs up at Valley State Prison

271 officers join CDCR in January

Week in Review Jan. 19: Skateboards, ARC graduation

Substance Abuse Treatment Facility milestones

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