Weekender Digest: Awards, awareness & Waban

March 14, 2025

In this Weekender Digest, we look at an awards ceremony, Patient Safety Awareness Week, and the fist women serving sentences on the Waban prison ship. Get caught up on this week’s stories in the Weekender Digest.

Awards & Appreciation

CDCR first Impact Award with someone speaking at a lectern and others seated nearby.

CDCR hosts first Impact Award ceremony

CDCR honored employees with the first Impact Award ceremony held at the department’s Advanced Learning Institute in Sacramento.

“The Impact Award, presented by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (CPOST), recognizes employees for their significant contributions, showcasing innovation, effectiveness, creativity and dedication to the welfare of CDCR employees,” said CDCR CPOST Capt. Kelly Rainwater. Read the full story on Inside CDCR.

Awareness

Patient Safety Awareness Week

CDCR Secretary Jeff Macomber, Receiver J. Clark Kelso, Brittany Brizendine, Bryan Phillips, and Dr. Joseph Bick spoke about patient safety in a series of videos.

Watch them on Inside CDCR.

Unlocking History

Early California state prison register showing Agnes Read as one of the first women sent to the prison ship, the Waban, in 1852.

Women’s History Month: Meet the first women sent to prison ship

Women serving sentences in state prison began with Agnes Read who was sent to the prison ship, the Waban, in 1852. The Waban was purchased by San Francisco Sheriff John Coffee “Jack” Hays, a former Texas Ranger and military veteran of the Mexican American War. After acquiring the Waban, the ship was converted to a prison, using 5,500 feet of redwood lumber to build cells. In December 1851, he received the first 40 people sentenced to state prison and headed to Angel Island. In July 1852, Agnes Read was received on the ship to begin serving her sentence. Read the full story.

Firefighters & Camps

Unlocked: Conservation camp program

In this episode of the CDCR Unlocked podcast, we take an in-depth look at the Conservation (Fire) Camp Program, highlighting its critical role in responding to the California wildfires.

We explore how the program provides vital firefighting support to communities in need, while also offering rehabilitative opportunities for incarcerated individuals.

Read the story on Inside CDCR or listen to the podcast.

Captain Fred Money, CDCR Unlocked podcast discussing the Conservation (Fire) Camp Program.

Rehabilitation

Twinning Project finishes second Solano session

The Golden State Warriors, collaborating with the Twinning Project and CDCR, recently completed its second basketball clinic at California State Prison (CSP)-Solano.

Designed to offer incarcerated individuals more than just basketball skills, the program provided participants with valuable life lessons such as teamwork, leadership, and conflict resolution.

“We use basketball as a catalyst for change,” said Hilton Freund, Global Executive Officer of the Twinning Project. “We deliver up-skilling and employability life skills through the power of sports.”

Read the full story.

Flag football players in a huddle at California State Prison, Solano.

Referees and others at Solano for a football game.

CSP‑Solano hosts first intramural flag football game

California State Prison (CSP) Solano held the first intramural flag football game with Level II and Level III squaring off for bragging rights Feb. 8. While it was a warm sunny day, the field was muddy but both teams were excited to play. Read the story on Inside CDCR.

Obituaries

Augustin Lopez, retired correctional administrator, obituary image. — Augustin Lopez

Obituary image for Nicole Manning, Avenal State Prison employee. — Augustin Lopez

CDCR, CCHCS mourns recent losses: two staff, two retirees

Augustin “Augie” Lopez, a retired correctional administrator, passed away March 11 at 83 years old. His career spanned three decades at multiple institutions across California. Nicole Manning, an accounting officer specialist at Avenal State Prison, passed away March 10, 2025. She worked for CDCR for eight years. High Desert State Prison Correctional Officer Joseph Cruz-Solis unexpectedly passed away March 7, 2025. He worked for CDCR for eight years. Christopher Padalinski, retired clinical psychologist, passed away Feb. 26. View all obituaries.

Week in Review

In this Week in Review for March 14, we talk about conservation (fire) camps with Capt. Fred Money, meet Correctional Counselor Lee Walker, and the Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services launches a pilot program. Read the Week in Review.

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