Visiting events tied around holidays, such as Valentine’s Day, normalize experiences inside prisons to help reentry efforts after incarceration.
(Editor’s note: Submissions from institutions so far include Centinela State Prison, California Rehabilitation Center, California Health Care Facility, and California Men’s Colony. As submissions are received, this story will be updated. If your institution has a submission, send it to Don Chaddock — email can be found in Global.)
Centinela offers Valentine’s visiting event
Saturday visiting at Centinela State Prison featured a Paint-and-Sip event just in time for Valentine’s Day. The visiting department, along with the Inmate Family Counsel, hosted the event, providing paint brushes, paint, and canvas. Each visiting room had a coffee station set up along with hot chocolate and pastries.
Visitors said the Feb. 10 Valentine’s visiting event had a better turn out than the previous Christmas and New Year’s events. For couples, they said this made them feel like they were on a date with their significant others.
Submitted by Visiting Sgt. Miguel Molina and Lt. Dustin Loop
California Rehabilitation Center brings Valentine’s fun to families
On the weekend of Feb. 10-11, the California Rehabilitation Center (CRC) held an early Valentine’s event.
Incarcerated individuals expressed their affection with flowers. Loved ones were greeted in the visiting center with flowers and candy, provided by CRC’s Inmate Family Council members and The Father’s House. This event is one of the many aimed at fostering a positive connection between incarcerated individuals, families, and staff.
CRC will continue to strive to normalize life in prison to resemble life in the community by promoting The California Model.
Submitted by Lt. Joe Lopez
California Health Care Facility offers Bingo game during visiting
California Health Care Facility (CHCF) hosted its first Valentine’s Day Bingo Event on Feb. 10. With the continued help and support of CHCF’s Inmate Family Counci, the Visiting Department was able to offer a Valentine’s Bingo event to the incarcerated population and their loved ones. Family and friends of the incarcerated population created memories as they sipped hot cocoa, coffee, and ate pastries as they played a friendly game of Bingo. Incarcerated persons were able to walk into the visiting room with a heart shaped box of chocolates and hand the gift to their loved ones. Bingo winners enjoyed prizes such as chocolate roses, heart shaped boxes of chocolates and teddy bears.
Story by CHCF Visiting Officer D. Hernandez
Submitted by Lt. Michelle Orozco
California Men’s Colony offers Sip-and-Paint event
Staff from the California Men’s Colony visiting department and the Inmate Family Council hosted a special Valentine’s Day event dubbed “Sip-and-Paint.”
Paint, paint brushes and canvases were donated by the council members for use by the incarcerated persons and their loved ones. The event allowed the opportunity for collaboration while creating and enjoying their visit together. As a special treat, coffee bar and hot chocolate station was on scene to enhance the event.
The California Men’s Colony staff enjoys hosting these type of events as they bring a sense of normalcy for the incarcerated persons and their families.
Submitted by Lt. T. Eilers
Learn more about the California Model on the CDCR website.
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