Week in Review: May 24, 2024

May 24, 2024

In this issue of Week in Review for May 24, 2024: CSP-Solano’s Officer Berry visits local elementary school, CCJBH honors Mental Health Awareness Month, and the Correctional Training Facility celebrates recent program graduates.

Rehabilitation

CTF celebrates recent program graduates

Correctional Training Facility (CTF) recently celebrated two separate graduations. In all, 62 incarcerated individuals completed the Choices for Life self-help program, while 34 participants completed the 12-month Prison Fellowship Academy program.

Choices for Life was developed by CTF’s Jewish Chaplain, Rabbi Yochanan Friedman, in collaboration with his father, Rabbi Manis Friedman. The program aims to instill a philosophy of being needed rather than needy.

The Prison Fellowship Academy, the cornerstone program of Prison Fellowship, is offered in select prisons across the United States. This faith-based initiative aims to address the criminogenic risk factors that often contribute to criminal behavior, incarceration, and future recidivism.

First Youth Offender Mentor program graduates at CCI

California Correctional Institution (CCI) recently saw its first cohort of Youth Offender Mentors (YOP) graduate the program.

The 40 graduates completed 80 hours of classroom training with mentor trainer Monica Hammonds. They are now working on completing their required 500 hours of intern mentoring before being officially certified.

While mentoring is the core of the Youth Offender Program, mentors are also busy creating and facilitating self-help groups tailored to young people. Other offerings include fitness classes, recreational activities, and occupation-focused classes. It is the mission of the YOP at CCI to provide opportunities and motivation for change to Youth Offenders through partnerships with all mentors and facility staff.

VSP incarcerated receive scholarships

Valley State Prison incarcerated individuals Jasper Stallings and Jonathan Chow are both currently enrolled in Merced College.

Stallings and Chow belong to the Alpha Gamma Sigma Honors Society and were recently selected as recipients for scholarships.

Stallings received the only volunteerism and community service award given out in the entire State of California. Chow received one of nine statewide awards for academic excellence.

Both awards are great honors for the work these students have done.

Office of Correctional Education would like to commend these individuals for the work that they have accomplished in CDCR’s Post Secondary and Continuing Education programs.

Staff Spotlight

Officer Berry, CSP-Solano, visits local elementary school

SOL Officer Berry with elementary school students

California State Prison-Solano Correctional Officer Kevin Berry recently visited Wagner-Holt Elementary School to read to the students.

The school’s vice principal shared the following message with Officer Berry:

Dear Officer Kevin Berry,

I wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to read to the students at Wagner Holt.

Your engagement with the three classrooms you read to was truly appreciated.

Your presence made a significant impact on our students. They were captivated by the stories you shared, and the joy of reading was evident in their reactions.

It’s community moments like these that can spark a love for reading and make a lasting difference in young lives.

I’ve taken the liberty of attaching some photos from the day, capturing the wonderful moments you created with our students. I hope these images serve as a pleasant reminder of the positive influence you’ve had.

Looking ahead, we would be delighted to welcome you back next year for another reading session. Your contribution to our school’s literacy efforts is invaluable, and we are grateful for your support.

Upward Mobility

Cynthia Rojas has been appointed as Chief Deputy Warden, Central California Women’s Facility.

CCJBH

CCJBH honors Mental Health Awareness Month

Council on Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health (CCJBH) hosted four Lunch and Learn sessions in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month.

Topics covered at these sessions included:

juvenile justice and education
older adult mental health and loneliness
policy initiatives like the CARE Act
and the importance of equity in behavioral health.

Reducing the stigma surrounding mental health initiates the process of breaking cycles of incarceration and promoting long-term recovery and reintegration into society.

CCJBH members also expressed gratitude for the Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO) efforts to promote mental health. Through t-shirt sales, DAPO raised funds for a mental health organization. Read the full story on Inside CDCR.

In the Media

Program allows students and Soledad inmates chance to learn from each other

KSBW 8 went behind prison walls at the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad to get a first-hand look at a unique program that allows Palma High School students to interact face-to-face with prisoners.

In most cases, those prisoners are convicted killers serving life sentences. The partnership is a two-way street helping to shape youngsters while bringing positive change to inmates.

Visit KSBW’s website to read the full story.

Incarcerated individuals graduate at Centinela State Prison

30 incarcerated men at Centinela State Prison graduated Thursday after training for jobs they could qualify for once they’re back in society.

The men earned the job certifications through the California Prison Industry Authority.

“People always talk about when I get out I am going to do this when I get out when I get out I am going to do that… if you don’t do it now then you aren’t going to do it then it starts right now… success begins with opportunity,” said Tony Curtis, a former graduate who is now a co-owner of a construction company and senior pastor at a local church.

Visit KYMA’s website to read the full story.

LIFTED: Transforming lives through higher education

Thinking of a prison setting, the image of incarcerated individuals reading novels like Frankenstein and The Yellow Wallpaper and engaging in deep literary discussions likely doesn’t come to mind.

But at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility near San Diego, this is exactly what you will find students doing on any given day thanks to the UCI LIFTED program.

Visit UCI’s website to read the full story.

Judge locks in deadline for California prisons to start mental health treatment program

A federal judge on Monday ordered the state of California to implement a pilot program for inmates suffering from personality disorders.

It’s the latest move by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Kimberly Mueller in a sprawling class action over the number of mental health professionals in California prisons.

The seven-page order stems from a hearing last month where the judge discussed a joint statement about implementing a pilot program at two facilities — San Quentin Rehabilitation Center and Valley State Prison — by Aug. 31.

Visit CourthouseNews website to read the full article.

Life after prison: Helping inmates get a fresh start as entrepreneurs

Maybe you can’t go home again, but you can go back to prison.

In January 2016, I — along with Taner Halicioglu, Mark Bowles, Tom Tullie and others plus a strong gift from Union Bank — helped raise $110,000 to launch the Defy Ventures entrepreneurship program at RJ Donovan Correctional Facility.

Since that time, I have taught other programs at the prison and have had the pleasure of helping some of the graduating entrepreneurs in training start businesses and get jobs. Also, a shout out to Bowles who has done this as well.

Visit San Diego Union Tribune website to read the full article.