This installment of the Week in Review for February 16, 2024, highlights Black History Month, Heart Health Month, and the many rehabilitation efforts of CDCR.
Black History Month
1971: Griggs was first black warden
Bertram Griggs made headlines in 1971 when he became California’s first black prison warden. He was appointed to lead the California Institution for Men in Chino. Nearly a decade earlier, he became the first black person to promote through corrections to become a regional parole administrator.
In 1952, Griggs joined the department’s parole division as an agent in southern California.
He worked his way up. In 1963, he became the first black regional parole administrator in the state.
According to news accounts, the region he oversaw handled the largest caseload in California, overseeing 7,000 adult parolees.
Visit Inside CDCR’s website to read the full article.
Observations
February is Heart Health Month
CDCR and CCHCS encourages everyone to take action to protect #OurHearts.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States – 1 in 5 people die from it each year, even though it is largely preventable. Research shows that many Americans will likely develop some form of heart disease, but you don’t have to be one of them. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), you can take action by making small lifestyle changes that help reduce your risk and improve your overall health.
To learn more about how to take action for your heart and prevent heart disease, visit www.hearttruth.gov.
Lunar New Year
February 10 celebrated the Lunar New Year, marking the beginning of the Year of the Dragon. Lunar New Year, commonly called Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, is an important celebration worldwide. The 15-day holiday marks the start of the lunar calendar year, beginning with the first new moon and ending with the first full moon.
Lunar New Year is a time to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new year. It is a time for honoring customs, ancestors, and deities, connecting with family, and expressing hope for the future. While Lunar New Year is celebrated differently depending on the region, family reunions, and special feasts are central to the holiday.
Rehabilitation
Tattoo removal continues at Ironwood
Ink Doctors once again visited Ironwood State Prison to provide laser tattoo removal services to incarcerated individuals. This was their third visit to the institution.
The tattoos targeted for removal, selected by the incarcerated population, usually represent gang activity or their lives as career criminals. Some were tattooed prior to incarceration and some during incarceration.
Visit Inside CDCR to read the full article.
Coaches gather for professional development
For the California Correctional Coaches of CDCR, the fall is a time when they gather to attend their annual three-day professional development.
Traditionally, this in-person event has been held at various correctional training facilities in the Sacramento area. However, this year the coaches collaborated with the Bakersfield College Rising Scholars Program to create an event allowing for more community stakeholders, as well as athletic facilities, to provide more physical activity for the coaches.
The coaches plan to use this professional development to mentor and inspire others who provide leadership within the prisons.
Visit Inside CDCR’s website to read the full story.
CDCR visiting staff make Valentine’s special
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.
Visit Inside CDCR’s website to read the full article.
Staff, population training seeks to bridge gap
To help bridge the gap between staff and the incarcerated population, the Correctional Training Facility at Soledad held a special training event. The initiative, led by the nonprofit organization Why’d You Stop Me, fosters understanding, communication, and leadership skills among everyone who works and lives in the institution. The training enhances overall safety and interactions within the facility.
The Jan. 25 event was divided into two sessions, one for staff and the other for the incarcerated population. Each session focused on providing its participants with practical tools and strategies to navigate and improve their daily interactions.
Visit Inside CDCR’s website to read the full story.
In the Community
CHCF raises money for Special Olympics NorCal
California Health Care Facility’s (CHCF) “Hot Tamales” supported the 2024 Greater Sacramento Polar Plunge & 5K Trail Run.
The event raised money for Special Olympics of Northern California. Attendees ran the 5K trail and made a splash, as they plunged into Browns Ravine in El Dorado Hills, California.
CHCF’s Hot Tamales raised a total of $2,800. Special Olympics of Northern California event raised a total of $97,199.
All proceeds benefit the Special Olympics of Northern California which provides sports, education, leadership and health programs to children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Read the full story and watch the video.
SAC Honor Guard attends training
California State Prison, Sacramento Honor Guard participated in training with the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation Honor Guard. The training was held in Sacramento with Honor Guard members from as far away as New Jersey. The training included Flag Folding, Color Guard, Marching and Rifle Team skills. These trainings are critical for improvement and team building.
California Model
SATF hosts inaugural Battle of Complex IV Flag Football game
Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison’s (SATF) hosted a Battle of Complex IV inaugural Flag Football game between Facilities F & G. Facility G’s band provided musical entertainment. SATF’s California Model team put the event together. The team took photos with SATF’s executive staff including Warden Bryan Phillips and Chief Deputy Warden Raul Morales. Read the full story on Inside CDCR.
In the Media
Uncuffed: Striking Out Stigma
People in prison are no stranger to stigmas and stereotypes — the outside world can often perpetuate ideas about who is incarcerated and how they act that have very little to do with reality.
But stigmas exist within the prison environment too. On the newest episode of Uncuffed, we hear about a HIV diagnosis that changed a baseball player’s life, and the unlikely support he found in his team.
Visit the KALW website to listen to their podcasts.
Kardashians visit men and women’s prison in Central California
Two well-known reality TV stars were in Central California Friday.
ABC7 in Fresno learned that Kim and Khloé Kardashian visited the men’s and women’s prison in Chowchilla. Their cameras were there as the sisters’ black Cadillac SUV drove onto the Valley State Prison property along with several other vehicles.
Kim and Khloé were later seen boarding Kim’s private plane at the Madera airport.
Visit ABC7’s website to watch the video.
Top Inside CDCR Stories
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Officer tribute, donation, ARC Graduation
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