Inside CDCR caught up with Hector Castillo, a parole agent in Salinas who works with the GPS unit. He discussed his career, the duties of a parole agent and achieving public safety through successful reentry.
“We work with supervised persons who are released from prison and help them reintegrate successfully back into the community,” he explained.
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Castillo knows a thing or two about the region.
“I was born and raised in Salinas,” he said.
He began his career with the department as a correctional officer.
“(As an officer), I saw one side being within the walls and then promoting to a parole agent, it’s a totally different mindset,” Castillo explained.
Helping connect supervised persons to services is a large part of the job.
“(As an agent) it’s more about, you know, helping them get on the right path,” he said.
Agents connect them to resources offered in their communities.
“We have a good relationship with the faith-based community,” he said. “Victory Mission is a big one. They do help out not only with the community but the parole population as well. So, we’ll take them in for housing, if needed. They also provide case management, food, shower, shelter. I mean, you name it.”
Parole staff work with communities
Peppered throughout the state, organizations like Victory Mission work with county probation and state parole to benefit the formerly incarcerated population.
“They work closely with us (and) they keep us updated,” Castillo said. “It’s kind of a team building kind of thing.”
He said it’s beneficial for the community, the supervised population, and those responsible for providing supervision, whether probation or parole.
“A lot of these guys, when they come out, they don’t have somewhere to live,” he explained. “They’re always looking for hygiene kits, food, simple items just to get them by.”
Video by Bernadette Durley, TV Specialist
Story by Don Chaddock, Inside CDCR editor
Office of Public and Employee Communications
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