Week in Review: June 6, 2025

June 6, 2025

In this June 6 Week in Review, we spotlight correctional officer Joaquin, Folsom’s Murph challenge, and three institutions leading the way in firefighter training.

Staff Spotlight – 3 Questions with Officer Joaquin

Correctional Officer Genesis Joaquin was looking for something different when she joined the department five years ago.

“I was working as a nursing assistant, but it wasn’t my passion,” Joaquin said. “I was looking for a new career path.”

She earned her badge at the academy in 2020 and began her career at High Desert State Prison in Susanville, working the control booth.

“There was a lot of camaraderie at High Desert but there were also challenges and difficult situations,” she recalls. “Thanks to some on-the-job learning and good partners who guided me, my confidence was boosted.”

Thanks to this confidence, two years later, she transferred to Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla. Now she can be found working in receiving and release (R&R).

She said everyone she’s worked with has helped her in her career and home life in some way.

“We are like one big family,” she said of her coworkers.

We caught up with Joaquin to discuss her career, work-life balance, and any advice she might have for others looking to join the department.

What’s a typical day like in your job?

Any new incarcerated people coming into the prison, we do the intake process. I deal mostly with people who earned parole and handle their processing and release.

How do you balance work and home life?

officer joaquin and teammate in baker to vegas run

This is where my hobbies come in. I leave the prison job at the gate and don’t take work home. Running has been the best thing for me. It helps me get my mind right and gain clarity. It’s my time to step away and get peace. Work can be loud and chaotic. I decided to run in Baker to Vegan this year after a coworker urged me to do it. Once there, the energy was amazing. The camaraderie was great. Also, it was great being able to go out there and represent the department.

I feel offers don’t have a lot of opportunities to represent the department in the community, so this was great.

Running helps keep me in shape and makes me feel stronger at work. I noticed I was also in a better mood and have more energy. The incarcerated population notices if you’re weak and sluggish so it was also a safety concern. Health and fitness are extremely important in this career. I also want to be healthier for my kids.

What advice to you have for others thinking about joining CDCR?

Always separate your work from your home life. Spend time with those who mean the most to you. They are the ones who are going to support you and your mental health to keep you on track.

Learn how to become a correctional officer.

Observances

Pride Awareness Month

In Our Institutions

ASP becomes first incarcerated-led CrossFit affiliate in state

CDCR, in collaboration with CrossFit, opened CrossFit 1 Kings Way, the first institutional affiliate to be led by incarcerated athletes at Avenal State Prison (ASP).

ASP leaders, CrossFit Seminar staff, and a representative from the office of Assemblywoman Rosalinda Alexander attended the ribbon cutting ceremony May 29 to show their support for the new incarcerated CrossFit coaches.

“What makes me most proud of this program is that I did not give up on myself, and that’s because of the incarcerated population,” said coach Eskew. “When I felt like I was losing momentum on this project, they pushed me and helped me through it.”

In February, CrossFit held a two-day seminar at ASP where 15 incarcerated individuals trained and became certified as level 1 CrossFit trainers. That certification allowed ASP to apply and become an official CrossFit affiliate.

As an affiliate, the incarcerated level 1 trainers are professional coaches, learning business operations by taking on important roles such as head coach, data manager and head of programming. They track their coaching hours, which will help them gain employment once released.

“CrossFit has fundamentally changed me as a person. It’s my passion (and has) given me direction in life. Tt’s given me a grander purpose,” said incarcerated CrossFit coach Adam Baker. “One day when I get out of prison, my desire is to be able to bring this to other institutions and help men or women like me who may feel stuck in their life.”

CIM provides rehabilitation through higher education

A first-of-its-kind campus space opened at California Institution for Men (CIM) in Chino helping to provide more access to rehabilitation through the transformative power of higher education.

In collaboration with Cal State Los Angeles, CDCR announced May 27 the campus grand opening of the Prison Graduation Initiative (PGI) at CIM.

The new education classrooms were transformed from space no longer being used by parole. After two years of construction, the area is now dedicated to education with technology, instructional classrooms, and room for student tutoring and support.

At the campus opening, the first cohort of 68 students to enroll in the PGI program at the Chino facility were presented with admission letters. This marks the largest cohort of students to be admitted to the program to date.

Genevie Candelaria, superintendent of CDCR’s Office of Correctional Education, attended the grand opening.

“It’s amazing to see so many students challenging themselves and succeeding in the Cal State LA bachelor’s degree program,” she said. “I could hear and see their confidence and a stronger sense of self, which we know contributes to their academic success and normalizes the college community at CIM. I’m thrilled that CIM and Cal State LA were able to work together to find and transform this space, creating more opportunities for our students and an ability to grow this partnership.”

FSP honors Lt. Michael Murphy in Murph Challenge

FSP Murph challenge participants running

Staff members and the incarcerated population at Folsom State Prison (FSP) participated in the Murph Challenge to honor U.S. Navy SEAL Lt. Michael Murphy, who sacrificed his life serving our country.

The Murph Challenge is an exercise challenge consisting of a one-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 air-squats, and completed with another one-mile run. The challenge serves to honor fallen soldiers while fostering a sense of unity among the incarcerated population, staff, and the broader community.

The event was officially inaugurated by Folsom’s incarcerated veterans’ color guard. They presented the United States flags, followed by the singing of the national anthem.

Surrounded by staff and spectators, participants divided into two groups, each consisting of multiple teams. The first group began running the initial mile as incarcerated trainers from the athletic department monitored each team’s progress. Throughout the race, attendees offered encouragement and support.

“With two kids in the military, I wanted to participate in something that was meaningful to them,” said one participant. “I also wanted to be part of something that showed everyone on the yard that it’s possible to push through barriers and succeed together.”

Financial literacy comes to ASP

Avenal State Prison’s (ASP) incarcerated population from Facilities A and B graduated from the Financial Liberation Training Academy (FLTA).

In collaboration with Clinton Drummer, founder and executive director of FLTA, the institution hosts weekly Reentry Finance Programs. Designed to equip students with essential financial knowledge, the program covers topics such as credit, saving, budgeting, and employment skills. The goal is to mitigate financially related triggers that often arise from a lack of financial literacy. This can lead to recidivism, financial crimes, and personal challenges like divorce.

SATF hosts York Correctional Institution

The California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility (SATF) Resource Team hosted members from York Correctional Institution (YCI) in Connecticut.

This job shadow event provided correctional staff from YCI an opportunity to learn from the Resource Team at SATF.

SATF and YCI meeting with peer counselors

Through this immersive experience, participants gained insight into the day-to-day operations that focus on fostering proactive engagement with incarcerated people, reducing isolation, and improving overall outcomes. The YCI Activity Team spent part of the first day learning the program goals and activities and worked side-by-side with SATF staff to gain hands on experience.

By witnessing these best practices in action, the YCI Activity Team will be able to adapt similar strategies to suit the goals of their own institution. This visit serves as a foundation for future collaboration and innovation as the participating institutions work towards creating safer, more effective correctional environments.

KVSP celebrates mental health

Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP) Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP) Health and Healthcare Access Unit Leadership served ice cream sundaes to the Mental Health staff in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month.

KVSP Mental Health staff were recognized for their hard work and dedication to providing correctional mental health treatment. The team discussed how they maintain a work-life balance and spread awareness of mental health initiatives in their daily work.

In the Community

FSP supports homeless veterans

The incarcerated men at Folsom State Prison (FSP) came together to demonstrate their support for homeless veterans, recognizing their greater need for assistance.

In observance of Memorial Day and prompted by the number of veterans incarcerated at Folsom, participants collectively donated food and hygiene products to the non-profit organization Swords to Plowshares. The organization is dedicated to assisting veterans in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Volunteers went cell-to-cell, respectfully requesting residents to contribute what they could from their possessions. Many responded by retrieving items such as soups, rice, beans, fish and meat pouches, canned goods, and hygiene products. Additionally, community artists contributed by creating greeting cards and signs featuring artistic calligraphy and inspiring phrases like gratitude, faith, and strength. “My father was a veteran, and his passing deeply touched me. Supporting veterans is very meaningful,” said one artist.

The cards were circulated so community members could write encouraging messages, which were then forwarded to veterans as a gesture of appreciation for their sacrifices. This was also a way to acknowledge those experiencing homelessness and feelings of invisibility.

With the support of Folsom State Prison’s Hooks and Needles Group, over 65 beanies were knitted for the donation. The incarcerated individuals directly involved had the opportunity to personally present these donations to a representative from Swords to Plowshares, expressing their gratitude for the organization’s efforts.

Over 583 incarcerated men participated, offering items ranging from their last supplies to personal talents, and most did so anonymously. Their collective actions sent a powerful message of solidarity, illustrating that anyone can contribute positively to support of veterans within their community.

CTF supports Tunnel to Towers Foundation

The incarcerated population at the Correctional Training Facility (CTF) at Soledad successfully raised $3,527 for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. The money was raised through a special food sale event.

CTF tunnels to towers ceremonial check donation

The foundation, established in honor of firefighter Stephen Siller who lost his life heroically saving others during the 9/11 attacks, is dedicated to supporting veterans, first responders, and their families. The organization provides mortgage-free homes to families of fallen heroes and offers financial assistance to critically injured service members and first responders, ensuring they receive the dignity and independence they deserve.

The culmination of this initiative took place at Facility A, where the facilitators from the population and CTF staff presented a ceremonial check to the foundation.

“This fundraiser is a powerful testament to the meaningful rehabilitation taking place at CTF,” said Warden Borla. “It demonstrates our incarcerated population’s genuine desire to give back to society by supporting veterans, first responders, and their families through the remarkable work of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.”

Southern Region DAPO supports LETR

Southern Region Division of Adult Parole Operations runners carry flags during the Law Enforcement Torch Run benefitting the Special Olympics Southern California.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for Special Olympics Southern California saw parole agents and staff running to raise funds for athletes.

The ten-day event and 1,500 mile run features multiple legs, where officers from different agencies run alongside athletes, volunteers, and supporters. The Torch Run is part of a larger effort spanning Southern California, culminating in the Special Olympics Summer Games in Long Beach.

The Southern Region Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO) staff and retirees raised a total of $3,500. Contributions go directly toward providing training, competitions, and essential resources that empower athletes with intellectual disabilities to thrive in sports and life. These donations create opportunities for them to achieve their goals, experience the joy of teamwork, and inspire communities across the globe.

The run kicked off in Chula Vista, traversing through eight Southern California Counties. Also, the San Diego parole complex was able to raise $545. They ran a 2.6-mile leg with local law enforcement and Special Olympic athletes.

San Diego Parole Complex staff at the Law Enforcement Torch Run in Chula Vista.

Staff from the San Diego Parole Complex take part in the Law Enforcement Torch Run in Chula Vista.

Fire Response

COR, SATF, ASP lead the way in Firefighter Training

firefighters training on fuel mitigation

California State Prison, Corcoran (COR), the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility (SATF), and Avenal State Prison (ASP) have taken a monumental step in rehabilitation and career advancement with the first incarcerated firefighter NWCG certification training.

Partnering with Reedley College, this program is designed to equip incarcerated individuals with National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) certifications, providing them with skills to prepare them for meaningful careers post-incarceration.

Through this program, incarcerated firefighters receive hands-on training in wildland fire suppression, fuels management, and emergency response. These certifications are widely recognized in the firefighting industry, increasing employment opportunities upon release.

The program benefits extend beyond the classroom. With participants receiving professional certifications, employment prospects, physical and mental resilience, and a second chance with purpose. More than just a training course—it’s a pathway to new beginnings, allowing participants to transform their futures while contributing to vital wildfire mitigation efforts.

In the Media

168 new correctional officers sitting during ceremony

California celebrates 339 new public safety officers in multi-agency graduation

California welcomed 339 graduates from Cal Fire, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the California Highway Patrol to the state’s already robust contingent of public safety officers.

California Inmate Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Scheme to Deliver Drugs into State Prison by Drone

Michael Ray Acosta, 48, an inmate at Pleasant Valley State Prison, was sentenced Monday to five years in prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana inside of the prison, acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.