Watch: SATF’s Touch of Class barber program

May 19, 2026

The Touch of Class barber program is helping incarcerated people learn a trade before they are released. At the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility (SATF) and State Prison at Corcoran, incarcerated barber students are taking steps to prepare for careers beyond prison.

For Alphonso, an incarcerated student barber, the Touch of Class barber program has been a blessing.

Man sitting in a barber chair getting a haircut at SATF in Corcoran, California.

From empty lot to programming opportunity

“We always want to thank Warden Morales for giving us that chance. This was an empty space, an empty lot. When we asked (about) opportunities, he gave us this opportunity to create this environment from scratch,” he said. “(This program) changed my outlook on life. (It also shows) what I can do and what I can be able to accomplish when I get out of here.”

Richard, another incarcerated barber student, wrote a letter seeking donations for the program. Paul Mitchell, a company focusing on hair care products, responded.

Incarcerated barber cuts hair at SATF in Corcoran, California.

“Without equipment, there is no program,” Richard said. “(They said they) love the story behind the barbershop, the Touch of Class.”

The company offered to supply the barbershop with everything they required. About a month later, a pallet of was delivered to the prison. It contained $8,000 worth of clippers, trimmers, combs, capes, powder, shampoo, brushes, gels, and just about anything else they might need to get the barbershop running.

Changing attitudes one haircut at a time

Custody staff, even those with decades of service, are learning to embrace the barbershop and what it represents.

“People who were hesitant, who’ve been working here for 15, 20 years, who’ve never had that interaction, (now) sit down next to someone who’s incarcerated. (It’s great to see them adjust to) being in that same immediate environment and seeing their facial expressions when they’re done,” Alphonso said.

Richard said it’s about much more than simply cutting hair.

“Every time somebody sits in my chair, I’m their therapist, their barber (and) the person they laugh and joke with. So that brings me great pride in coming to work every day, giving it my all,” he explained.

Watch the video:

Video by Chris Medina, Director (specialist), TV Communications Center
Story by Don Chaddock, Inside CDCR editor
Office of Public and Employee Communications

Follow CDCR on YouTube, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter).