Week in Review: July 12, 2024

July 12, 2024

In this issue of Week in Review for July 12, 2024: Spartan Race, Mule Creek sponsors Amador County Sober Grad, and a new parole agent assists in crash.

Observations

Disability Pride Month

Governor Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation declaring July 2024, as “Disability Pride Month.”
The text of the proclamation can be found below:

PROCLAMATION

California joins communities around the nation in recognizing July as Disability Pride Month, an opportunity to celebrate the many ways that people living with disabilities – whether visible or invisible, mobility or cognitive, vision or hearing, learning or sensory, developmental or acquired – add to the diversity and strength of our state.

Observed in July, Disability Pride Month marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a major civil rights milestone signed into law on July 26, 1990. Sponsored by California Congressman Tony Coelho, the ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, removing barriers to employment, transportation, public services and other critical areas.

California is home to more than 7 million adults with disabilities and provides one in seven kids with disability services in schools. Our state has for decades been instrumental in driving inclusion and integration of people with disabilities in all aspects of life. My Administration is working to expand educational opportunities, employment options, health and home-care access, civil rights, and community living for people of all ages with disabilities. The state also continues to prioritize accessibility of all state services and is deepening our commitment to employment opportunities for people with disabilities within state service.

Diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility are integral parts of our ongoing work to build a California for all. As we celebrate Disability Pride Month, let us reflect on the essential contributions of people with disabilities to our communities, our state, and our nation, and reaffirm our commitment to their rights and independence.

NOW THEREFORE I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim July 2024, as “Disability Pride Month.”

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 9th day of July 2024.
GAVIN NEWSOM
Governor of California

CDCR Unlocked

Part 1 Preview

CDCR Unlocked Podcast: The California Model, Part 1 & 2

Join us on the CDCR Unlocked podcast for an insightful two-part series featuring CDCR Secretary Jeff Macomber and CCHCS Receiver Clark Kelso as they discuss the California Model. This series covers the implementation, goals, and future impact of this transformative approach.

Visit Rss.com to listen to the podcast.

Part 2 Preview

Visit Rss.com to listen to the podcast.

Upward Mobility

Bryan Phillips has been assigned as acting Associate Director, High Security Mission.

Amber Williams has been assigned as Chief Deputy Warden, Avenal State Prison.

CCJBH

A Statewide Look at Mental Health Diversion

The Council of State Governments Justice Center (CSG), in collaboration with the Council on Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health (CCJBH), has released the comprehensive report “A Statewide Look at Mental Health Diversion.”

This document thoroughly analyzes California’s mental health diversion efforts, highlighting the effectiveness of current policies and offering robust recommendations to enhance and standardize diversion practices statewide. CSG’s extensive engagement included surveys, interdisciplinary learning communities, and virtual listening sessions, involving a diverse array of stakeholders, from academics and practitioners to judges and defense attorneys.

Key discussions centered on implementation challenges such as:

substance use disorder treatment
housing
health insurance connectivity
and places a strong emphasis on racial equity.

The report assesses existing diversion programs while also proposing actionable strategies to expand them statewide.

Click here to read the full report.

Click here to visit CCJBH’s page on the CDCR website.

Division of Adult Parole Operations

Parole Agent Justin Luckinbill assists in highway accident

Parole Agent Justin Luckinbill recently assisted in an accident he passed while on Angeles Forest Highway.

He passed a blue car with the front end smashed in and part of the car still on the roadway. Two female occupants were still in the vehicle.

Agent Luckinbill assisted both occupants out of the vehicle and instructed another bystander to drive up to the firehouse and notify emergency personnel but then return to confirm.

Once US Forestry arrived, they were able to block the other lane of traffic until CHP and ambulance services arrived.

Nobody was seriously injured in the accident.

In Our Institutions

Badges with Buckets at Central California Women’s Facility

Central California Women’s Facility Warden Anissa De La Cruz and the Community Resource Office sponsored the Badges with Buckets event. Over $1,600 was raised by the institution gate house and staff visitor entrance. The proceeds will support the Madera Howlers Special Olympics Team at the Northern California Special Olympics.

SATF, COR host Spartan Race

California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and California State Prison, Corcoran, hosted the inaugural Spartan Race event. Facility E Capt. Jesus Vaca and Lt. Joey Brainard proposed the idea with the incarcerated population. Brainard has experience participating in these events. He worked with Coach Luis Valencia who agreed to supply awards as well as some items they could use for the event.

Brainard designed a race for the ambulatory and non-ambulatory population. Obstacles included racing around the track and various exercises. First through third place finishers received a certificate. All participants received candy bars and sodas following the event.

Rehabilitation

Mule Creek State Prison proudly sponsors Amador County Sober Grad

Mule Creek State Prison had a great opportunity to be a sponsor for events at Amador County Sober Grad.

The annual event allows Amador County youth to have a safe environment to enjoy the accomplishments they’ve achieved through their years in high school free of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco.

Sober Grad hosts many fun events and games such as casino night games, with prizes to win. When they entered, the seniors were given door-prize tickets to win a new car. Local businesses came together to host a night of fun and food. Thanks to Mule Creek State Prison and other local businesses, the graduates all attended free of charge.

In the Community

Ironwood State Prison supports local schools

Ironwood State Prison’s (ISP) Employees’ Association (EA) donated four electric scooters to two local elementary schools, Felix J. Appleby and Ruth Brown. Children with outstanding academic achievements and remarkable character were nominated by their homeroom teachers as commendable candidates. The final recipients selected were presented their scooters at the closure of the school year.

ISP also awarded over $5,000 to 11 graduating high school students during the 2023/2024 school year. Six $500 scholarships were awarded to students at Palo Verde High School in Blythe and five $500 scholarships were awarded to children of ISP employees. The selection process was based on academic achievement, community and school involvement, personal accomplishments, and an essay submission.

ISP would like to congratulate all the students selected on a job well done.

HDSP golf tournament goes towards charity

HDSP Charity Golf Tournament

High Desert State Prison’s (HDSP) Employee Liaison Program hosted its inaugural HDSP Charity Golf Tournament. The tournament raised over $10,000 which will be used to support causes in the local area. About 100 golfers participated in the event held at Diamond Mountain Golf Course.

Town and Country provided an additional 20 golf cart rentals to accommodate all the participants. The all-day event included lunch, swag bags for the participants, 18 holes of golf, and numerous prizes. Prizes were given to the winners of the longest drive, closest to pin and putting contest.

HDSP would like to thank all the individuals and businesses that sponsored the event.

“None of this would be possible without staff’s leadership and the willingness of the volunteers that gave up their own time to make it all happen. The generosity of our local sponsors and some of them getting involved to actually come play made this a community event,” said Warden St. Andre.