Week in Review: May 2, 2025

May 2, 2025

In this May 2 Week in Review, we spotlight Dr. Gail Fernandez, Chief of Mental Health; the Baker to Vegas race; and CSP-Corcoran’s Fittest Man competition.

Staff Spotlight

3 Questions with Dr. Gail Fernandez, Chief of Mental Health

A Journey of Purpose and Passion

After nearly two decades in academic medicine, Dr. Fernandez, Chief of Mental Health, traded lecture halls for prison gates. What might seem like an unlikely move became a calling. At the California Institution for Women (CIW) in Chino, she found challenge, purpose, and a deeper kind of impact. At CIW, she’s touching lives in crisis and reshaping futures from within the system.

We asked her three questions about her journey, her work, and what keeps her balanced.

What brought you to CDCR?

After 17 years directing the child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at UC Irvine, she was ready for change. A former colleague encouraged her to consider the Psychiatric Inpatient Program at CIW. The reciprocal retirement systems made the transition easier—but that wasn’t the only factor. “Honestly, I was just ready to leave academics,” she says. “And the position at CIW popped up.”

What’s changed since you started?

Dr. Gail Fernandez and her horse, Belinda, competing in a horse show.

She’s been at CIW nearly 13 years. She started as a staff psychiatrist, became chief psychiatrist within five years, and now serves as one of CDCR’s first Chief Psychiatrists in the Chief of Mental Health role. During that time, the prison population has gone down—but the severity of mental illness has gone up. “Acuity is just as high as when we had a larger population,” she explains.

How do you find balance outside of work?

Horses and music help her recharge. Dressage challenges her mentally and physically and piano gives her a way to focus and reflect. “Caring for the horses takes your mind off daily struggles,” she says. “You can’t fake it—it requires full attention.” After years in academic pressure, she finds more work-life balance at CIW than she ever had before.

Upward Mobility

Scott Woodhouse, appointed Acting Chief Executive Officer, Health Care, at Wasco State Prison

In Our Institutions

CDCR, CCHCS get into Take Your Kids to Work Day

Avenal State Prison Kids Day 2025 in chalk

At institutions and divisions across the state, CDCR and CCHCS staff got into Take Your Kids to Work Day. Read the full round-up.

CCWF Paper Trail Featured on Local News

Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) recently welcomed KSEE24 and CBS47 Morning Reporter and Anchor Viviana Hinojos for a feature story on “The Paper Trail,” CCWF’s in-house publication. Hinojos and her crew met with members of the Paper Trail Editorial Board, composed entirely of incarcerated individuals.

CCWF hosts KSEE24 and CBS47 The Paper Trail

“I am proud to give incarcerated individuals a voice and a platform to create meaningful content to share with the world.”
Warden Anissa De La Cruz

Jesse Vasquez, a CCWF volunteer and Pollen Initiative director, joined the editorial board in sharing the program’s impact. “The experience with Ms. Viviana and her team was great, and we appreciated her featuring our team,” said Amber Bray, editor of the Paper Trail.

The Paper Trail is the first Media Center Journalism Guild in a California women’s facility, with about 24 incarcerated participants.

Read article: We can still do good: How Chowchilla incarcerated women are making a difference

San Quentin Celebrates Staff Appreciation Day

Associate Warden Nicole Avile preparing and serving food.

San Quentin Rehabilitation Center celebrated Staff Appreciation Day, honoring the hard work, dedication, and team-spirit of correctional officers, non-custody staff, and medical personnel.

Organized by San Quentin’s executive team, staff enjoyed lively music, food and delicious treats. They also took part in activities to boost morale and foster teamwork.

Chief Deputy Warden Eric Patao was in his suit and tie when entering the gate and allowed the staff on shift to throw their water balloons.

“Staff appreciation day reminds us that we do care about the hard work they do,” Patao remarks. “It creates an environment that boosts morale and helps reduce the stress of working in a correctional setting.”

Chief Deputy Warden Patao

Throughout the day, staff shared laughs, enjoyed delicious food, and participated in many games. The day’s successes reflect leadership’s appreciation for the staff’s dedication and hard work. The event was more than just a celebration, but a reminder of the vital role staff plays in transforming lives, building a stronger and more compassionate community within SQRC.

staff smiling behind a table full of healthy fruits and veggies

Staff posing for the camera behind a grill full of hotdogs and hamburgers

CSP-Corcoran Hosts 2025 Fittest Man Competition

From February to March, the California State Prison (CSP) Corcoran Recreation Department held the 2025 Fittest Man Competition. Participants included those housed in Facilities 3A, 3B, and 4B, as well as the Firehouse. The competition consisted of a series of events such as sprinting with weight bags, pull-ups, burpees, squats, and a grueling 200-pound tire flip.

Incarcerated person running with weights

Of the dozens of incarcerated individuals signed up to compete, less than 20 completed all phases of the competition.

“Honestly, I didn’t think I’d be able to finish,” said one contestant. “But a deeper part of me said stop making excuses, to push myself beyond what I’m used to.”

Competitors agreed they were pushed to their mental and physical limits during the event. Many said they wanted to quit but pushing themselves beyond what they thought they were capable of; residents are ready to push even further next year.

Rankings

3A Fittest Man First Place: B. Banks
3B Fittest Man First Place: S. Scarber
4B Fittest Man First Place: O. Ruiz
Firehouse Fittest Man First Place, Overall Champion: T. Strong

Art Event at CSP-Solano Showcases Healing Through Creativity

CSP-Solano hosted the Occupational Mentor Certification Program (OMCP) art event April 17 to highlight healing through expression. The event offered incarcerated individuals a chance to share personal struggles with addiction and demonstrate growth through art.

Participants created artwork reflecting their journey from criminal and addictive thinking to prosocial values and accountability. All art pieces were donated and auctioned to support Opportunity House, a Vacaville-based nonprofit serving Solano County residents.

Proceeds from the auction benefit programs providing shelter, resources, and support for individuals working toward self-sufficiency.

The event encouraged reflection on mental health, wellness, and the value of restorative justice and charitable giving. Held in the Division of Rehabilitative Programs area, the event celebrated transformation, talent, and a commitment to personal change

In The Community

Baker to Vegas Relay Race is Teamwork in Action

Officer Perezchica competing in baker to vegas relay race

The annual Baker to Vegas relay race is about more than crossing a finish line, it’s about teamwork. For CDCR and CCHCS staff volunteers, the run is the culmination of months of planning and training.

Giovani Perezchica, a correctional officer at Wasco State Prison, is one of those who laces up his shoes to hit the pavement.

“When it comes to Baker-to-Vegas, I start getting serious about the beginning of the year in January,” he explained. “I start increasing my runs, doing longer runs. (Also) I start doing more workouts.”

The run traverses 120 miles of pavement in 20 stages beginning in Baker, Calif., and ending in Las Vegas, Nevada. Read the full story on Inside CDCR.

Pleasant Valley State Prison Bike Shop Donates to Local Kids

PVSP and Boys & Girls Club officials standing next to six bikes donated by PVSP bike shop

The Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP) Bike Shop program repaired and donated six bikes to the Harris Farms Boys & Girls Club in Huron. The Harris Farms Boys & Girls Club is a hub of activity, with a mission of enabling youth to reach their full potential. Gustavo Gonzalez, Unit Director expresses his gratitude, “We appreciate your continued support for the Harris Farms Boys & Girls Club.”

The PVSP Bike Shop program receives second-hand bikes recovered by law enforcement in need of repairs. After refurbishing, the program donates the bikes to local community organizations.

Fox Studios Donates $100K in Clothing to Support Reentry Efforts

FOX Studios is helping individuals rebuild their lives by donating $100,000 in clothing to nonprofit Chrysalis. The donation was delivered last month to Chrysalis’ Downtown Los Angeles office and will benefit individuals supervised by the Division of Adult Parole Operations. Parole units across Southern California—including Riverside, Compton, San Diego, and others—participated in the event.

DAPO and FOX team taking clothing donations

DAPO staff helped unload the studio truck and stocked district closets with high-quality apparel for those in need. The clothing came from popular FOX productions like Interior Chinatown, 9-1-1, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and the FOX Costume House. Donations included denim, casual wear, dresses, evening attire, and professional outfits for job interviews.

This effort highlights FOX Studios’ ongoing partnership with Chrysalis and commitment to supporting reentry and community programs. Chrysalis will continue updating DAPO on future donations to ensure ongoing support for reentry efforts.

DAPO officials expressed deep gratitude to FOX Studios and Chrysalis for the meaningful impact of this collaboration. These donations bring dignity, opportunity, and hope to those working to build a better future.

Observances

Fentanyl Awareness Day – April 29

A time to recognize the growing impact of fentanyl in our communities and institutions. This potent synthetic opioid is often hidden in other substances and can be fatal in extremely small amounts. Staying informed about the risks, signs of overdose, and proper response protocols is essential. Awareness saves lives. Learn more: Corporate & Communities | National Fentanyl Awareness Day | April 29

At the Capitol

CDCR Staff Honored at State Assembly for Holocaust Remembrance Day

On April 28, the California Assembly gathered to remember the Holocaust, and to recognize the work of Sonia and her family.

Certificate from State Assembly recognizing Sonia Edwards

Sonia Edwards and her family at the Assembly

Sonia Edwards, an Information Techology Manager at CDCR, is the daughter of Andra Bucci, a survivor of the Holocaust. Edwards has spent many years with her mother traveling to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland. There, she has helped her mother tell schoolchildren her story of how she was taken from her parents and deported to the concentration camp. Andra and her sister, Tati, were two of the youngest survivors of the camp and the only children to be reunited with their parents.

The mother and daughter have spent many years dedicated to telling the story in hopes of preventing anything like the Holocaust from ever happening again. Read the full story.

Rehabilitation

FCRP Hosts Garden, Easter Events in Sacramento

The Female Community Reentry Program in Sacramento recently hosted a dual event focused on healing, creativity, and family connection.

Participants took part in Garden Day by planting vegetables, painting rocks, and adding names and handprints to the tool shed. Snacks were shared throughout the day as a way to build community and support recovery through positive activities.

The Easter celebration welcomed participants’ families, where children received gift baskets and took photos with the Easter bunny. These events strengthen family reunification, recovery support, and engagement in rehabilitative services.

Staff from CDCR and St. John’s participated alongside program participants and their loved ones.

Reentry Graduates Recognized in Sacramento and Auburn

CDCR recently celebrated the success of justice-involved individuals at two graduation ceremonies in Sacramento and Auburn.

On April 23, the Female Community Reentry Program (FCRP) and Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) honored their fourth graduating cohort in downtown Sacramento. The event recognized graduates’ progress through structured reentry services and featured speeches from staff and supporters.

DRC Graduation HHSC Auburn — DRC Graduation

The next day, Placer County’s Day Reporting Center (DRC) hosted its Celebration of Success at the Health and Human Services Center in Auburn. Graduates were recognized for completing rehabilitative programming focused on education, employment, and behavioral health.

Both events highlighted the strength, perseverance, and achievements of individuals working to rebuild their lives. Family, staff, and community partners gathered to show support and celebrate each graduate’s journey.

These ceremonies reflect the impact of meaningful second chances and the importance of community in supporting successful reintegration.

In the Media

Fox 40 LA interviews Cal State LA student Jocelyn Chau-Goh

Cal State LA celebrates re-entry week giving inmates a second chance

Cal State Los Angeles held a resource fair tied to the university’s work on prison rehabilitation and its prison college degree program. In attendance were professors, a judge, support organizations, and a number of men and women formerly incarcerated. Watch the full story.

Pitzer College's fourth cohort at the CRC in Norco

Pitzer’s fourth cohort reflects on their journey with the Inside-Out Bachelor’s Degree Program

In May 2024, Pitzer’s fourth cohort of incarcerated students embarked on their academic journey from behind the walls of California Rehabilitation Center at Norco. Read the full story.