Week in Review: January 23, 2026

January 23, 2026

In this January 23 Week in Review, we spotlight CDCR staff attending March for a Dream, sheriff’s office staff touring WSP-RC, and Malibu camp celebrating a new education center.

Staff Spotlight

3 Questions with Officer Moran-Rodriguez

Meet Correctional Officer Marcos Moran-Rodriguez who has been with California Medical Facility (CMF) in Vacaville for more than two years.

Tahoe Midnight Run runner CMF Officer Marcos Moran-Rodriguez. — CMF Officer Marcos Moran-Rodriguez at the Tahoe run.

When he’s not maintaining public safety, he can be found lacing up his shoes as an endurance runner.

We caught up with Moran-Rodriguez to talk about his career, advice he has for people thinking about endurance running, and what comes next.

Why did you take up endurance running?

I wanted to challenge myself in a way I’ve never experienced before. (For my first endurance race,) I slowly built-up endurance by increasing weekly mileage over the span of five months.

What would you tell someone who is considering endurance running?

My advice to someone who wants to take up running is to start slowly then gradually increase training. Also, believe in yourself. Embrace the challenge.

What’s next?

I’m set to go to the Crisis Response Team academy Feb. 4 and will be a Crisis Response Team operator after Feb. 13.

Upward Mobility

Patrick Eaton, Deputy Director, Facility Support, Division of Adult Institutions

Observances

CDCR walks in solidarity at MLK365 march

Embodying the spirit of unity and progress, CDCR representatives joined the community Jan. 19 for the 44th annual MLK365 March for the Dream.

The morning began at the Sacramento City College campus, where a diverse contingent of CDCR staff gathered to honor the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event, a cornerstone of Sacramento’s civic engagement, saw peace officers and administrators standing shoulder-to-shoulder with residents to celebrate Dr. King’s vision.

“Walking through these streets today, you feel the heartbeat of Sacramento,” San Quentin Rehabilitation Center Warden Chance Andes said. “This march is a powerful reminder that we are part of this community, not separate from it. For law enforcement and correctional leadership, showing up here is about building trust and ensuring that the ‘dream’ is reflected in the way we protect and support our neighbors.”

The presence of CDCR staff from various divisions underscored a department-wide dedication to Dr. King’s principle: “We cannot walk alone.”

In Our Institutions

Riverside deputies tour WSP-RC

When staff from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) requested to tour Wasco State Prison-Reception Center (WSP-RC), correctional counselor Kauffman quickly answered the call and went to work to make it happen.

Acting Warden A. Williams saw it as an opportunity for staff from both agencies to continue collaboration efforts, providing safe custody and housing of the incarcerated population. RCSO staff wanted to take a tour to learn how WSP-RC operates as it carries out its Reception Center mission of receiving incoming incarcerated persons from various California counties. The deputies wanted to better understand and facilitate the transfer of incarcerated individuals in their custody prior to being transferred to WSP-RC.

WSP-RC staff took this opportunity to exchange information with the deputies, hoping to expand the free flow of information between both agencies. Sheriff’s office staff toured receiving and release and casework management. They also observed individuals in Facility D undergoing reception center processing, and the level III population in Facility A.

Staff from both agencies found the tour beneficial and were able to put a face to the name of the person who is sometimes on the other end of the phone call. The tour helped bridge the gap between the correctional counselors and correctional lieutenants seeking information from the county jails. The deputies left with a better understanding of CDCR’s intake process and how information provided from them assists with the processing and housing of new offenders.

RCSO deputies on tour, posing for a photo

Fire Response

Malibu Conservation Camp celebrates education center’s grand opening

CDCR, in partnership with Gordon Philanthropies, celebrated the grand opening of the Malibu Conservation Camp Outdoor Educational Center.

The purpose of the camp’s new Outdoor Educational Center is to provide a safe, welcoming space where incarcerated women firefighters can spend meaningful time with their children. Research shows strong parent-child connections help reduce recidivism and support children as they navigate the challenges of having an incarcerated parent. This new space is about connection, healing, and hope.

More than 40 adults and kids, along with their moms, recently came together for the opening celebration, complete with a ribbon-cutting and backpacks filled with books and toys.

man with giant scissors cutting blue ribbon during ceremony

speaker at grand opening of education center at malibu conservation camp

Meet support crews behind Vallecito camp

A Vallecito Conservation Camp truck responds to storms.

Behind efforts to help communities during disasters are crews working in support roles such as those at Vallecito Conservation Camp. Incarcerated fire crew strike teams and their captains hike deep into canyons and mountains to help protect communities during natural disasters and wildfires. To keep these teams operating at peak efficiency, other incarcerated people diligently maintain the equipment and keep fire crews fed.

High school students visit the academy

PHS students posing with academy staff for photo

Students from Pitman High School’s criminal investigations class attended a tour at the Richard A. McGee Correctional Training Center last week. The Turlock school students gained firsthand exposure to the standards, expectations, and opportunities within CDCR.

During the visit, students observed key training areas, learned about the academy’s rigorous preparation process, and engaged directly with CDCR staff to discuss career pathways in custody and non-custody roles. The experience offered a realistic and informative look into the profession, helping students better understand the commitment, discipline, and purpose required for a career in law enforcement.

“Academy tours give students the opportunity to see beyond the badge and understand what a career with CDCR truly looks like,” said Lauren Hieb, with CDCR’s Peace Officer Recruitment Unit. “By exposing them to our training environment and having open conversations about expectations and career options, we help future candidates make informed decisions and envision themselves in roles where they can serve their communities with integrity and professionalism.”

The tour also served as an important outreach opportunity for CDCR, allowing staff to connect with students who have expressed an early interest in public service and criminal justice careers. By engaging with students at this stage, CDCR continues to build awareness and strengthen its future workforce pipeline.

PORU engages the community at CSUS basketball game

CDCR’s Peace Officer Recruitment Unit (PORU), with help from the Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO), continued its Northern California outreach efforts at a Sacramento State men’s basketball game.

The recruiters engaged with students, alumni, and community members interested in careers in public safety. The event provided strong visibility for CDCR and served as an effective platform to promote correctional peace officer opportunities to a broad and diverse audience.

PORU recruiters staffed an informational booth inside the venue, where attendees received information on CDCR career pathways, academy training expectations, benefits, and opportunities for professional growth and advancement.

Engagement remained steady throughout the game, with many visitors expressing interest in the stability, purpose, and long-term career potential associated with CDCR. Recruiters provided on-site application guidance, answered questions, and shared informational materials tailored to individuals considering a career in corrections and public service.

Law Enforcement Operations

CDCR joins other law agencies to target gang operation

Operation Dead End with CDCR staff and Salinas Police Department as they target a large-scale gang operation.

Partnering with federal and regional law enforcement agencies, CDCR assisted in targeting a large-scale gang operation. Called “Operation Dead End,” the investigation involved the Salinas Acosta Plaza (SAP) Norteño street gang, resulting in multiple federal indictments. “This large-scale operation reflects the successful collaboration among our law enforcement partners in combatting the dangerous influence of criminal gangs,” said CDCR Office of Correctional Safety Chief Jim Harden.

Gordon Philanthropies staff and CDCR staff cutting ribbon

Gordon Philanthropies and Community Leaders Mark the Opening of the Children’s Center Serving Fire Camp Families

Gordon Philanthropies (GP) and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) this week celebrated the grand opening of the Malibu Conservation Camp Outdoor Educational Center, a safe and welcoming space for incarcerated women firefighters to connect with their children.