Week in Review: June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

In this June 27 Week in Review, we spotlight Lt. Joseph Brainard, OPEC TV director Scott Sabicer’s retirement, and ASP’s Summer Jam.

In Our Institutions

ASP hosts Summer Jam for staff

Avenal State Prison (ASP) kicked-off summer with a Summer Jam event to celebrate staff.

Employees enjoyed live music, games, and treats all in a festive atmosphere. The dunk tank was a popular activity, bringing lots of laughs and camaraderie.

In addition to the festivities, information booths were staged to provide staff with valuable resources and services.

Staff members also donated blood to the Central California Blood Center, demonstrating their commitment to community and service.

Fire Captain Duane Contreras smiles while donating blood.

Staff smiling at the dunk tank. Acting Chief Deputy Warden Edward Burden is giving the thumbs up from inside the dunk tank — Fire Captain Duane Contreras smiles while donating blood.

NKSP hosts inaugural apiary program graduation

NKSP apiary program graduates - 13 graduates pictured

North Kern State Prison (NKSP) hosted a graduation ceremony for its inaugural apiary program cohorts.

The program aims to shift participants’ understanding of bees, revealing the importance of pollinators. Participants graduating are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to raise, nurture, and harvest honey.

Graduates in this program are provided a pathway to rehabilitation and vocational training, with a unique opportunity to connect with nature while learning a valuable trade.

Learn more about the program in this 2024 video.

Staff Spotlight

3 Questions with Lt. Joseph Brainard

Lt. Joseph Brainard brings more than just a law enforcement background to CDCR – his passion for the arts drives his success in the department.

With a personal background in investigations and a family history in law enforcement, Brainard knew his career choice also needed to include job security for his family. After some research, he headed to the Basic Correctional Officer Academy in 2008.

His first post was at North Kern State Prison (NKSP), where he later promoted to correctional sergeant and transferred to the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility (SATF) at State Prison at Corcoran in 2013. There, he earned an additional promotion to correctional lieutenant and started SATF’s newspaper, The Progressive Road.

We caught up with Lt. Brainard and asked him about his career, hobbies, and the start to The Progressive Road.

Q&A with Lt. Brainard

What prompted you to start the newspaper at SATF?

I started the newspaper to create a means of positive communication between the incarcerated population and staff. I approached my captain at the time, Capt. J. Vaca, and we discussed the idea of creating not just a standard newspaper, but one that would highlight the positive steps towards rehabilitation. It was important to create a paper speaking about real problems or positive experiences within the institution.

The Progressive Road offers Facility E residents and staff a platform to share their art, articles, news, and poetry, reflecting their road of progress and growth in this community. The staff are also on the road to progress consistently adapting, changing and growing within the institution. I have worked on Facility E for a while now and have seen dramatic shifts in the yard and myself as a correctional employee. And, I can honestly say it’s a good thing.

What’s a typical day like in your job?

I start my job by speaking with the staff and incarcerated population. I meet with the captain to discuss any changes within SATF or the department. After I review my emails, I begin to hear RVR’s or Grievances.

Time management is very important as a lieutenant. I have specific days set aside to complete certain tasks which prevent me from falling behind in my immediate responsibilities. I dedicate 10 to 15 hours of my own personal time in between my regular duties to write, edit, and review the newsletter before it’s sent to administration and the population. Without effective time management skills, it would be easy to fall behind in my regularly assigned duties.

Lt. Brainard holding a portrait he painted of his parents

How do you balance work and home life?

I work hard on leaving work at work but honestly, that’s a lot easier said than done. I try to balance both (and) I like to write. Often when I’m at home or have experienced something I think could benefit the population I immediately write it down. I try to track a good majority of my thoughts which help me deal with times of stress from work or at home.

Exercising helps me de-clutter my mind and put certain thoughts or frustrations in a more conducive perspective. Strength training is important as our career choice can be hard on our bodies. Being fit helps to protect our overall longevity.

I also paint which I find to be very relaxing, almost meditative. I try to dedicate about two hours on the weekend for myself, whether painting, cleaning the yard, reading a book or watching a movie. But those two hours are mine, which helps me achieve balance.

OPEC TV director Scott Sabicer retires

Scott Sabicer, a longtime CDCR photographer and TV director, is retiring. He’s been with CDCR for over 20 years.

Read the full story

Upward Mobility

Peter Halloran, appointed Chief Deputy General Counsel of Employment Advocacy and Prosecution

Krista Dunzweiler, appointed Chief Deputy General Counsel of OLA Enterprise Group

Phillip Lindsay, Chief Deputy General Counsel of OLA Operations Group

In the Community

CDCR, CCHCS shine at Sacramento Pride 2025

The CDCR and California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) collaborated to attend and support the two-day Sacramento Pride event.

The 2025 Pride Festival was momentous, celebrating the five-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling protecting employees from discrimination based on sexual or gender identity. It was also the ten-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision for the legalization of marriage equality nationwide.

The event drew over 20,000 attendees and was a great avenue for CDCR and CCHCS to showcase community support.

Recruiters were on hand to share their experiences working with the department and to answer questions about CDCR/CCHCS careers. Staff also contributed by donating Pride swag, further enhancing the sense of comfort and community at the booth. “We are allies, through and through,” affirmed a spokesperson.

“We were repeatedly recognized as ‘allies,’ which was incredibly impactful in dispelling negative stereotypes,” said one of the recruitment representatives. “People from diverse backgrounds – from those curious about careers to current state employees, and even those with previous negative perceptions of our department – left feeling grateful for our presence and demonstrated ally-ship.”

The event was a testament to the power of community partnership, with numerous volunteers dedicating their time to communicate department needs and what it means to be a part of state service.

SATF, CCWA awards four students with scholarships

The California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility (SATF) and State Prison at Corcoran, in partnership with the Chicano Correctional Workers Association (CCWA), awarded scholarships to four local students.

As part of an essay writing contest, the winning students each received $500 to help with higher education needs.

The 2025 CCWA scholarship recipients are:

Dulce Martinez, daughter of Staff Services Analyst Claudia Magallan
Justyne Sanchez, daughter of Capt. Jason Sanchez
Alina Rodriguez, daughter of Personnel Specialist Caren Rodriguez
Priscilla Mata-Suarez, daughter of Licensed Vocational Nurse Maira Mata

Awardees were presented with their scholarship checks by Warden Raul Morales, Chief Deputy Warden Matt Jones, and CCWA leaders.

Rehabilitation

MCRP participants reenter communities as graduates

Five Keys Charter School held a graduation ceremony for over 200 students while 11 of those were from the Male Community Reentry Program (MCRP).

The 11 MCRP graduates were current and former MCRP members, who earned their high school diplomas through the HealthRIGHT 360 reentry program.

The graduates shared their stories of struggle and the challenges they overcame to pursue reintegration into their communities. Five current MCRP Five Keys students also attended the ceremony, witnessing the success of their peers with the same goal of graduating next year.

CRC celebrates higher education

The California Rehabilitation Center (CRC) at Norco celebrated the graduation of 81 incarcerated individuals achieving college degrees.

The degrees conferred included 67 associate degrees from Norco College, four associate degrees from Palo Verde Community College, two associate degrees from Coastline College, and one associate degree from Cuesta College. Additionally, seven graduated with Bachelor of Arts degrees from Pitzer College.

CRC’s commitment to rehabilitation through education is displayed by the exceptional dedication and perseverance of these 81 graduates.