Beyond the Badge, CDCR Weekender, Inside CDCR Video

CIM holds Junior Academy for staff children

July 11, 2025

The California Institution for Men (CIM) at Chino recently held their first Junior Peace Officer Academy for staff children.

The June 25 event featured a day long academy aimed at educating, inspiring, and connecting the next generation. The academy instills the core values of responsibility and teamwork demonstrated daily by California’s correctional professionals. Staff children gained insight of working in a correctional institution and the daily public safety responsibilities their parents face.

Held on CIM grounds, the event welcomed 108 children between the ages of 8 and 18. Staff volunteered their time, representing various departments including:

custody
administration
medical
fire
and California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA)

These staff volunteers ran hands-on activities to give the young attendees an inside look at the important work performed by staff.

Watch the video (story continues below):

CIM staff children get a taste of prison work at junior academy

Activities included:

baton training and mock cell search exercise by in-service training staff
water balloon toss
K-9 demonstrations from the Investigative Services Unit (ISU)
The Crisis Response Team (CRT) hosted a discuss their roles and responsibilities
Additional displays included the CALPIA Dive School equipment and an overview of available CALPIA job opportunities
CDCR Southern Transportation bus tour and display
a hands-on fire truck demonstration by the CIM Fire Department, allowing children to operate the fire hose.
CIM Medical Department offered a Narcan discussion and a proper hand-washing demonstration using black light, as well as a CPR overview.
The event concluded with an Incident Command Post demonstration conducted by Administration.

The CIM Junior Peace Officer Academy is part of the institution’s larger commitment to employee wellness, family engagement, and community building. These values have been at the heart of CIM since its founding in 1941.

Story by Angela Wirth, Community Resources Manager
Photos/video by Ryan Herrera, TV Specialist
Submitted by Lt. Ignacio Vera