Inside CDCR 2024: A look back

December 20, 2024

Throughout 2024, Inside CDCR published stories on staff, rehabilitation, history, and community involvement. These are some of the more popular stories we published during the year. To see more, check out the Year in Review.

Meet the people behind the department

CDCR honors staff at Medal of Valor

Two people received CDCR’s highest honor, the Medal of Valor, while many others received honors for their actions going above and beyond. Read the full story and watch the multiple videos.

200 new CDCR correctional officers celebrate their academy graduation with hugs and tears. — CDCR welcomed 200 new correctional officers from Class 4-24A.

200 new correctional officers graduate academy

In June, the department welcomed 200 new correctional officers as they graduated the academy. This story was the most viewed academy graduation. Read the original story.

Aged lieutenant badge worn by Glenn Trujillo. — Glenn Trujillo has worked for the department since 1975.

Meet Glenn Trujillo, state’s longest serving lieutenant

For nearly a half century, Glenn Trujillo has helped the department fulfill its public safety mission. He began his career with the department in 1975 at California Institution for Men. When he started, there were 12 state prisons in California. He was promoted in 1991, making him California’s longest service lieutenant in terms of seniority. Inside CDCR caught up with Trujillo in May 2024. Read the original story.

San Quentin nurse moves forward on America’s Got Talent

Dee Dee Simon, a San Quentin registered nurse, moved forward after the live performance of her life on America’s Got Talent, thanks to a golden buzzer. Learn more about her journey, originally published Aug. 23.

Generations of service at CCWF

Generations of service were evident during Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) first promotional ceremony. Recently appointed Warden Anissa De La Cruz was surprised by managers when her father arrived to pin her warden rank. Retired Correctional Officer A. De La Cruz, along with other family members, showed up at the first CCWF promotional ceremony to recognize the recently appointed warden. Read the Aug. 12 story.

Most viewed videos

CDCR launches Condemned Inmate Transfer Program

Published April 3, the story was the most viewed in 2024. This initiative marked the closure of segregated death row units at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center and the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla. Approved on Jan. 31, 2024, the program relocated individuals with death sentences to different CDCR facilities. Read the story.

Kardashian sisters tour two California prisons

Published Feb. 27, this video and text story focused on Kim and Khloé Kardashian as they toured two California prisons in Chowchilla: Valley State Prison and Central California Women’s Facility. On Feb. 9, they recorded footage for their streaming TV show. Read the original story.

Top California Model & Rehabilitation stories in 2024

Two-part California Model podcast

CDCR Secretary Jeff Macomber CCHCS Receiver Clark Kelso discussed the California Model and how it will be implemented in a two-part CDCR Unlocked video podcast. Read part one and part two.

California Model: Flag football at SATF

The California Model team was on hand at the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility (SATF) for the Battle of Complex IV flag football game. Teams from Facilities F and G faced off on the field for a friendly game. Read the story, originally published in February.

Natie AMerican man playing song at Powwow — The group played many songs, including a medicine gather song, a sneak song, and an honor song.

Native American Powwow at San Quentin

San Quentin held the first Native American Powwow since the pandemic. See the story published in April 2024.

History

Explore the Big House Museum at Folsom State Prison

Just outside the granite walls of Folsom State Prison is the Big House Museum, boasting a collection rich in corrections history. Read the story published in August.

The Norconian Club, later California Rehabilitation Center, under construction with 1920s cars and equipment around. — The Norconian Club under construction in 1928. Photo courtesy Huntington Library.

CRC History: From resort to hospital to prison

Published as part of the CDCR Time Capsule history series, this story was originally published in the printed newsletter in 1985. Read the restored story, published in June.

Folsom prison incarcerated person, two oxen, a dog and a horse. — Oxen and horses were used to help build the walls at Folsom Prison. The dog was owned by the guards who took the pet with them around the prison. (Photo circa 1910)

Prison pets throughout history

One of the most popular Unlocking History stories dealt with pets. Published in May, the story looked at the unlikely friendship of a cat and bird at Folsom State Prison, a San Quentin turtle’s escape, and Eel River Conservation Camp dogs Wishbone and Belle. Read about the pets in CDCR history.

Two mugshots overlaying the Folsom State Prison cemetery. — Meet two cooks featured in Cemetery Tales: Charles Barry, left, and Charles English. (Background: Folsom State Prison Cemetery.)

October’s Cemetery Tales series is always popular but this year, these stories drew extra interest from other organizations, historians, researchers and a few museums. The most popular of the series was Cemetery Tales: Case of Two Crooked Cooks (read the story). With the popularity of the series, Inside CDCR created a Cemetery Tales history subcategory.

Compiled by Don Chaddock, Inside CDCR editor

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