Weekender Digest: Parole, podcast, and appreciation

In this Weekender Digest, we look back at the week’s stories including Parole and Community Team meetings, the new podcast, and more.

Staff Appreciation

CDCR shows staff appreciation through football

CDCR institutions showed staff appreciation through a shared love of football. California State Prison, Corcoran, grilled burgers and hotdogs for a Superbowl-themed event. Meanwhile, at California Medical Facility, staff donned hats emblazoned with football team logos. Read the full story.

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Community Involvement

Ironwood State Prison volunteers visit nursing home

On Valentine’s Day, nursing facility residents were surprised with cards, roses, and kind words from Ironwood State Prison (ISP) staff volunteers. Read the full story.

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Inside CDCR videos

PACT meetings offer resources

Erik Tinoco, Parole Agent III with DAPO’s Community Reentry Unit (shown above), explains the benefits of PACT meetings. He said they also produce many success stories. Read the story.

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CDCR Unlocked podcast

Podcast highlights CTE

The latest CDCR Unlocked podcast highlights the Career Technical Education (CTE) program through a conversation with Dr. Joseph Piazza, who oversees CTE.

Read the full story.

Listen to the podcast on RSS.

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Visiting

Visiting staff, volunteers get into Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day was celebrated in CDCR and camp visiting areas as staff and volunteers decorated to make the day special. The first institutions to submit information were California Rehabilitation Center and Centinela State Prison. Submit a write-up and photos to Don Chaddock (email found in Global). Read the round-up.

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Firefighters & Camps

By the numbers: 2024 California wildfire response

In 2024, California faced another intense wildfire season, with thousands of fires scorching more than a million acres across the state. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) reported that hand crews provided 4,375,811 emergency hours battling wildfires. A significant portion of that effort came from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (CDCR) Conservation Fire Camps, where incarcerated fire crews played a critical role in emergency response. Read the full story.

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Obituaries

Recent obituaries include three retired correctional officers, warden’s assistant

Recent obituary notices include (from left) retired Correctional Officer David Hernandez, retired Correctional Officer Josh Byrd, retired Correctional Officer Michael Perry, and Sierra Conservation Center Warden’s Executive Assistant Kristin Barajas. For their stories, read the obituaries section.

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Weekender Digest is compiled by Don Chaddock, Inside CDCR editor

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