Weekender Digest: 49ers, films and festivals

This Weekender Digest focuses on the 49ers inspiring change at San Quentin, the power of films, and Halloween festivals. 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.

Appointments and Promotions

Acknowledging staff appointments and promotions for CDCR, Division of Adult Parole Operations and California Correctional Health Care Services. View the Appointments and Promotions category.

Centinela holds promotion ceremony for new leaders

Centinela State Prison recently held a promotion ceremony for newly appointed Warden Fidencio Guzman and Chief Deputy Warden Andres Esquivel. Hundreds of staff and visitors gathered to witness the recognition of both individuals. Attendees included dignitaries such as the county sheriff and district attorney, Calipatria State Prison Warden Roberto Arias, local Naval command staff and many more. Read the story submitted by Lt. S. Cazares.

Awards & Appreciation

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

Horses help show staff appreciation at CCWF

Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) in Chowchilla recently held a staff appreciation and team-building event featuring horses. Read the full story by Don Chaddock, Inside CDCR editor. Video (above) by Chris Medina, director, TV communications center, specialist.

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. Read all the Beyond the Badge stories.

Meet Michael Melendrez, LAC lieutenant

For nearly two decades, Michael Melendrez has helped CDCR fulfill its public safety mission. Today, he’s a lieutenant at California State Prison, Los Angeles County (LAC), in Lancaster. Read the story by Lt. Daniel Schumacher.

Cemetery Tales

Every October, Inside CDCR researches the stories of the people who were buried at San Quentin and Folsom State Prison. After policy changes in 1958, people were no longer buried in state prison cemeteries. View all the Cemetery Tales stories.

Cemetery Tales: The farmer and a self‑appointed king

Our fourth Cemetery Tales looks at farmer-turned-double-murderer George Biggs and Judah Benjamin, a self-proclaimed king. Both men ended up in the cemeteries at Folsom and San Quentin. Read the story.

Community Involvement

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

Institutions invite families, community to trunk-or-treat events

Across California, CDCR institutions got into Halloween through festivals, family days, and trunk-or-treat events. See how California Institution for Men, the Correctional Training Facility, and Folsom/CSP-Sacramento got into the Halloween spirit. Read the round-up.

Rehabilitation

From learning job skills to earning diplomas, rehabilitation is a cornerstone of the department. This week, numerous rehabilitation-related stories highlighted the teamwork among staff, providers, volunteers, and the incarcerated population. View all stories in the rehabilitation category.

49ers bring NFL’s Inspire Change initiative to San Quentin

The San Francisco 49ers visited San Quentin as part of the NFL’s Inspire Change initiative to promote social justice and criminal justice reform. Read the story by Ashton Harris and watch the video (above) by Chris Medina, Office of Public and Employee Communications.

Films make impact at San Quentin and SATF-Corcoran

Powerful films impacted audiences at San Quentin and the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison (SATF) at Corcoran (video below).

The first San Quentin Film Festival (video above) showcased work from current and previously incarcerated filmmakers and demonstrated the power of artistic innovation on rehabilitation. The festival is streaming through Oct. 29.

Meanwhile, the documentary film “26.2 to Life” was shown at SATF. Read the full story.

Celebrating sobriety at CIW

Community groups, parole and institution staff celebrated sobriety with a resource fair for incarcerated individuals at California Institution for Women (CIW). Read the full story.

Soledad staff visit Visions of Hope art exhibit

CTF-Soledad staff visited the art show at the Marin County Civic Center. The show featured artwork created by incarcerated people from California state prisons, including CTF. Read the full story.

ISUDT Insider publishes 50th issue

Last month, participants of the Integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment (ISUDT) Program received their printed copy of the 17-page newsletter, the ISUDT Insider. This marked the 50th issue of the magazine. Read the story.

Observing International Overdose Awareness Day

CDCR and CCHCS staff across the state did their part to observe International Overdose Awareness Day. One institution included Fresno Skateboard Salvage (video above). Read the story submitted by Ike Dodson, information officer II, California Correctional Health Care Services.

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