Weekender Digest: Badges, bands and basketball

This Weekender Digest focuses on the Battle of the Badges, battling bands, and the first basketball clinic at Calipatria. Compressing the week’s stories into this new weekly digest is another way to help keep our busy staff up to date with the latest news.

Awards & Appreciation

Awards and Appreciation highlights CDCR and CCHCS staff being recognized by the department, institution or outside groups for their outstanding work.

Car show, health fair at Kern Valley State Prison

Kern Valley State Prison held their annual staff health fair, drawing over 30 vendors ranging from food to health care. Coordinated by the Return-to-Work Office and Personnel, the health fair offers staff a chance to get information about health insurance and other California State Employee benefits. This year, Kern Valley food vendors, healthcare services, local businesses, and even a golf simulator awaited staff in the parking lot. As part of a staff appreciation event, there was also a car show. Read the story by Lt. J. Hernandez.

CSP-Solano holds staff appreciation day

For all three shifts at California State Prison, Solano, staff were treated to food, games, and music. To show staff their hard work and dedication are not going unnoticed, management grilled burgers, hotdogs, and veggie burgers. Read the story by Lt. Sarah Benavidez.

Beyond the Badge

In Beyond the Badge, we highlight CDCR employees and retirees, their careers and efforts to achieve work-life balance through hobbies, volunteering and community involvement.

Battle of the Badges boxer highlights mental health

A correctional officer who wants to help put the spotlight on mental health, is taking his message to the Oct. 19 Battle of the Badges. Ironwood State Prison Correctional Officer D. Torres is a boxer who uses the sport to help balance his home life with his career. Read the story by Quinn Sheppard.

Cemetery Tales

San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, Folsom State Prison and Preston School of Industry in Ione each have a cemetery where incarcerated people are buried, marked only with their inmate numbers. Using state records and published newspaper accounts, Inside CDCR is unlocking stories of those buried in the prison cemeteries. In early 1958, a change in policy ended the practice of burying people at state prisons. See all Cemetery Tales.

Cemetery Tales: Strange, Noyer buried a century ago

In October 1924, two men were buried at the cemeteries at San Quentin and Folsom. A century later, we dig into their stories using state records and newspaper accounts published at the time. Read the story by Don Chaddock, Inside CDCR editor.

Community Involvement

CDCR is committed to community involvement at all levels, from fundraising for nonprofit causes and leading parades to attending community events.

Kern Valley, Wasco Honor Guard salute officer of year

Kern Valley and Wasco State Prison Honor Guard members took part in the Kern County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year ceremony. The CDCR Honor Guard members were part of a multi-departmental team at the 36th annual ceremony held Oct. 10. Read the story Lt. J. Hernandez.

Recruiters wear pink for Breast Cancer Awareness

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, CDCR peace officer recruiters proudly wore pink to show their support. As part of the 30 x 30 initiative, recruiters engaged with the community at women’s events throughout October. Where will they be next? Recruiters will be wearing pink at the Oct. 27 American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Sacramento. Read the story by Lauren Hieb with the Peace Officer Recruitment Unit.

Rehabilitation

From learning job skills to earning diplomas, rehabilitation is a cornerstone of the department.

Mule Creek hosts first motorcycle show to mark new seminary program

Thanks to community partnerships and collaboration, Mule Creek State Prison now offers a chance to earn a seminary degree. The Community Resource Manager’s office collaborated with Paid in Full California and SUM Bible College to offer a seminary bachelor’s degree program. The free-of-charge seminary program at Mule Creek is the first of its kind in the California prison system. To mark the occasion, Mule Creek hosted its first-ever motorcycle show and barbecue for the population housed on Facilities D and E. Read the story by Lt. Beau Campbell.

Battling bands at Avenal State Prison

Three bands from Facility E and F competed to be crowned the Battle of the Bands champion. The stage, Facility F recreation yard, buzzed with excitement, eager to see who would claim the crown. Read the story by Lt. A. Schuller.

Hoops & Hope: Between the Lines offers first Calipatria basketball clinic

Calipatria State Prison recently collaborated with Between the Lines to host the organization’s first basketball clinic at the institution. The Oct. 10 clinic was offered to the incarcerated population on Facility C. The day began with the Between the Lines basketball players arriving to the institution at 7 a.m., loaded with equipment and gear. The players were eager to put their skills to good use against the Facility C teams. Read the story by Lt. E. Uribe.

SATF celebrates inclusion with A Day of Abilities

Facility G at the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility (SATF) and State Prison at Corcoran recently hosted A Day of Abilities. The event was put together by the Facility G population, SATF mental health department, custody and many other staff members. Read the story by Lt. Brent Urban.

Week in Review

The CDCR Week in Review publishes every Friday and features news and updates from the department.

Week in Review: October 18, 2024

In this Week in Review for October 18: California Health Care Facility holds first Bridging the Gap meeting (shown above); Governor Newsom proclaims Indigenous Peoples’ Day; and Avenal State Prison celebrates graduates. Read the Week in Review, compiled by Quinn Sheppard.

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The CDCR Weekender Digest is compiled by Don Chaddock, Inside CDCR editor.

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