Week in Review: April 19, 2024

April 19, 2024

In this Week in Review for April 19, 2024, Division of Adult Parole Operations Ukiah holds Parolee and Community Team meeting, High Desert State Prison and Centinela State Prison celebrate Integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment graduates, and California State Prison, Corcoran, hosts Health & Wellness Fair.

K-9

PVSP Correctional Officer adopts program pup

Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP) Correctional Officer Chase Stringer recently adopted “Nacho” from the Second Chance K-9 dog program at PVSP.

PVSP currently works hand in hand with Gimme Love shelter in Coalinga and Wiley’s Wish Animal Rescue.

Officer Stringer plays a huge role in the program at PVSP.

CDCR Unlocked

CDCR Field Training Sergeants and the Job Shadowing Program Pt.1

This episode features new position for CDCR: a Field Training Sergeant (FTS) and the Job Shadowing Program (JSP). On this episode, three staff members from California Health Care Facility (CHCF): Sergeant William “Billy” Bartow who is the field training sergeant and runs the program at CHCF; Officer Strickland, who helps teach and mentor new staff on how to do the job; and Officer Chacon, who participated in the program and is nearing his one-year mark after graduating the Correctional Basic Academy. This episode discusses how this job shadowing program is changing how new officers learn their institutions and the learning process within the JSP.

Visit RSS.com to listen to the podcast.

Recruitment

HDSP Recruiters attend Lassen Career Opportunities workshop

Recruiters from High Desert State Prison attended the second annual Lassen Career Opportunities workshop located at Lassen High School.

This event focused on soon to be graduating seniors from Lassen High School as well as surrounding area High Schools. Recruiters provided information to interested students for custody and non-custody positions within CDCR.

Many students were surprised to know, upon being 18 years of age and graduating from High School they could obtain a job with the state.

Upward Mobility

Jason Schultz has been assigned as acting Warden at California State Prison Solano.
Thomas Tyler has been assigned as Chief Deputy Warden at California Health Care Facility.

Division of Adult Parole Operations

DAPO Ukiah holds PACT meeting

Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO) Ukiah Parole Unit Parolee and Community Team (PACT) held a meeting on April 10. Newly released Parolees along with Community Resource members from Ukiah attended. Resource representatives in attendance included:

Child Support Services
Department of Rehabilitation
Career Point
GEO Reentry
MCAVHN House
and A Space Alano Club with Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous.

The PACT meetings assist parolees in providing the necessary resources to achieve a successful reintegration into our communities.

Resource representatives provide a brief presentation at the beginning of the meeting. These include an overview of their program and what they offer to meet the needs of people on parole supervision.

Rehabilitation

CEN ISUDT graduates shaking hands with staff

79 honored at Centinela CBI Graduation

Centinela State Prison and the Division of Rehabilitative Programs partnered with Phoenix House California to congratulate 79 Cognitive Behavioral Interventions (CBI) graduates. The Integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment (ISUDT) participants completed CBI-Outpatient or CBI-Life Skills in the last six months.

Several guest speakers offered words of encouragement, recognizing the graduates’ hard work and dedication. An OMCP mentor (intern) shared personal stories of transformation and highlighted how ISUDT’s teachings have positively impacted their daily lives and relationships.

HDSP ISUDT grad shaking hands with staff

ISUDT graduate at HDSP shakes hands with staff

HDSP celebrates ISUDT graduates

High Desert State Prison celebrated 32 Cognitive Behavioral Interventions graduates of the ISUDT program. Several guest speakers presented speeches explaining how they were in denial about their disease, but now for the first time they look forward to sober living. Warden Rob St. Andre provided words of encouragement to all graduates.

In Our Institutions

Corcoran Health & Wellness Fair

California State Prison, Corcoran, hosted a Health & Wellness Fair on April 11.

CTF spelling bee competitors sitting together

CTF hosts spelling bee

Correctional Training Facility hosted a spelling bee competition in the gymnasium for the incarcerated population. Approximately 47 members of the population participated in this event. Education staff and a Correctional Sergeant assisted in the event, acting as judges.

In the Media

At San Quentin, training puppies to be service dogs an act of learning, redemption

The sky is gray over California’s most notorious prison. Rain threatens. In the West Block Yard of San Quentin, a dozen inmates focus on their dogs.

Chase Benoit and Travis Fendley are working with Wendel, a black Labrador.

Benoit, who has put in seven years at “The Q,” part of his 16 years to life sentence, walks forward about 25 paces, turns and calls out: “Wendel, here, here.”

Visit The Press Democrat to read the full story.

Inmates at Soledad Correctional Training Facility graduate with job certification certificates

On Tuesday afternoon, KION got a rare look at a program that is changing the lives of inmates at Soledad Correctional Training Facility.

The California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA) held a ceremony for nearly 100 inmates who earned recognized job certifications or apprenticeships.

“I am never coming back to this place,” Timothy Jackson who graduated from the program said. “It’s, significantly important because, you know, like, I think the perspective of our rehabilitation sometimes is just misunderstood.”

Visit Kion 46 to read the full story.

Week in Review archive

Week in Review: April 26, 2024

In this Week in Review for April 26, 2024, CDCR observes World Day of Safety & Health at Work, ‘The 50’ film screened with the department, and Mule Creek unites to support staff.