Making Amends: Volunteer barbers learn trade

April 15, 2025

Acting Warden Raul Morales congratulates the volunteer barbers at the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility at State Prison at Corcoran.

Incarcerated volunteer barbers are celebrating a milestone, completing 2,000 haircuts in less than a year.

The volunteers are cutting hair in Facility F at the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison at Corcoran.

Richard Johnson worked closely with Facility F chairperson Alphonso Williams to create Making Amends, a barbershop for incarcerated individuals.

“They saw the potential for something more than just a place to get a hair-cut—they envisioned a place where incarcerated persons could learn real skills and mentor one another,” said organizers. “The barbershop also fosters a sense of normalcy and camaraderie. Together, they crafted a proposal that was more than just about grooming; it was about growth, trust, and community building.”

Corcoran resident Emmet Duran has helped get the project going.

Duran, a local barbershop owner. donated new clippers, trimmers, capes, combs, and clips, making sure the shop has everything it needs to provide quality cuts.

Duran also trains the volunteers, offering tips on what to do in certain situations.

When he sees Duran enter the facility, acting Warden Raul Morales thanks him for his mentorship, donations and contributing to Facility F’s success.

According to the incarcerated people involved in the volunteer program, they are learning life skills they can use when they are released.

Submitted by Lt. Brent Urban