Week in Review: May 22, 2026

May 22, 2026

In this May 22 Week in Review, we highlight CDCR’s Athletes-to-Officers initiative, staff participation in the Law Enforcement Torch Run, and SCC training for the 2026 fire season.

In the Community

CMF carries the torch for Special Olympics

Participants at the 2026 Law Enforcement Torch Run

Participants embrace at the 2026 Law Enforcement Torch Run

Led by Warden Sircoya Williams, staff at California Medical Facility (CMF) participated in the 2026 Law Enforcement Torch Run, raising $5,500 for Special Olympics Northern California.

CMF staff received the torch from the Vacaville Police Department and ran about four miles to the institution’s front entrance. There, supporters and volunteer runners from California State Prison, Solano, waited for the ceremonial passing of the flame.

The annual torch run brings law enforcement agencies together to support Special Olympics athletes and strengthen community connections. Funds raised help provide programs and services for children and adults with intellectual disabilities throughout Northern California.

CTF, SVSP team up with law enforcement for Law Enforcement Torch Run

CTF and SVSP participants assemble at the Law Enforcement Torch Run

About 30 staff members from the Correctional Training Facility (CTF) and Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP) participated in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run supporting Special Olympics Northern California.

Staff joined local law enforcement agencies for three relay legs totaling more than five miles across Monterey County. Participating partners included the Soledad Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Salinas Police Department, Salinas Probation, CDCR Parole and the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office.

“We are proud to stand alongside our law enforcement partners and look forward to making next year’s Torch Run even bigger and better,” said Correctional Counselor I Shannon Dunaven, who coordinated this year’s fundraiser and staff participation.

The annual event raises funds and awareness for Special Olympics athletes and programs while strengthening partnerships among public safety agencies.

CMC staff support suicide prevention walk

Team CMC and participants at the San Luis Obispo Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Campus Walk

Mental health staff from California Men’s Colony (CMC) participated in the San Luis Obispo Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Campus Walk, promoting mental health awareness and suicide prevention.

Team CMC, organized by the institution’s SPRFIT coordinators, joined community teams for the event hosted by California Polytechnic State University’s Campus Health and Wellbeing and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Speakers shared personal stories about the impact of suicide, reducing stigma and encouraging help-seeking.

Team CMC ranked fifth out of 17 fundraising teams, raising about $565. Collectively, the event raised more than $20,000 to support local mental health programs, suicide prevention efforts, research and survivor services. CMC staff and family members also used the event as an opportunity for community outreach and wellness.

Participant at the Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Campus Walk wearing a shirt that reads "Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about"

Upward Mobility

Eric Mejia, Warden, California Institution for Men

Fire Response

SCC-Gabilan crews prepare for 2026 fire season

SCC firefighters line up with staff for fire season drills

Firefighter hand crews from Sierra Conservation Center’s Gabilan Conservation Camp completed annual readiness drills alongside Cal Fire and the California Army National Guard in the foothills of Monterey County.

The training helps prepare crews for the 2026 fire season. Under Cal Fire supervision, each crew reported to the training site, checked in with proctors and completed a hike before cutting a fire break.

The annual drills ensure crews are physically prepared and ready to respond when wildfire season begins.

Recruitment

CDCR Athletes to Officers recruit future public safety professionals

Recruiter and student shaking hands at Athletes to Officers career fair

CDCR’s Peace Officer Recruitment Unit launched its new Athletes-to-Officers initiative at San Jose State University. The program introduced student-athletes to careers in public safety and corrections.

The event connected collegiate athletes with recruiters from 20 public safety agencies. Conversations focused on how athletic skills translate to careers in corrections. Discipline, resilience, teamwork and mental toughness were key themes.

The strategy showed strong early results. About 40 percent of attending student-athletes signed up for more information about CDCR careers. Organizers plan to expand the initiative to additional colleges, creating a new recruitment pathway for future public safety professionals.

Observances

WSP celebrates Nurses Week

WSP staff in Nurses Week celebration photo booth

Wasco State Prison (WSP) celebrated Nurses Week with themed events, give aways and activities recognizing the dedication of its nursing staff.

The weeklong celebration brought staff together through daily events that encouraged participation, camaraderie and appreciation. Nurses who joined the themed activities had opportunities for exciting give aways throughout the week.

The celebration concluded with a photo booth, giving staff a chance to relax, connect and capture memories. The event recognized the important role nurses play in supporting patient care across the institution.

In Our Institutions

HDSP welcomes families for Get on the Bus event

HDSP administrative staff greets arrivals

High Desert State Prison (HDSP) hosted the annual Get on the Bus event, helping children reconnect with their incarcerated parents through the family visitation program.

HDSP administrative staff welcomed visiting families and program staff with dinner and spent time engaging with guests outside the traditional institutional setting. Families enjoyed quality time through games, face painting and shared meals.

“I have been to other Get on the Bus events, and this is the first time I have felt so welcomed. The staff are so friendly,” one incarcerated participant said.

The event highlighted the positive impact of family connection and meaningful visitation, reinforcing the role supportive family relationships can play in rehabilitation and success.

CIM donation supports local food pantry

CIM Warden Eric Mejia presents a large check to Food for Life Ministries

California Institution for Men (CIM) donated $3,432 to Food for Life Ministries in Chino, one of the beneficiaries of the incarcerated population’s first-quarter food sale fundraiser.

The volunteer-led food pantry serves families across the Inland Empire, helping provide hundreds of meals each week to more than 200 families and nearly 1,700 students facing food insecurity.

Presented by Warden Eric Mejia, the donation reflects CIM’s continued commitment to supporting the local community. The contribution will help Food for Life Ministries continue its mission to fight hunger and assist those in need.

FSP recognizes 185 student graduates

FSP graduation ceremony with speaker at podium

Folsom State Prison (FSP) celebrated 185 incarcerated students during a graduation ceremony recognizing their educational achievements. Family members attended to support the graduates and share in the milestone.

Students earned General Educational Development certificates, high school diplomas and associate degrees, reflecting the dedication required to pursue education while incarcerated. Their accomplishments also serve as encouragement for others working toward similar goals.

The ceremony reflected FSP’s continued focus on rehabilitation through education and preparing incarcerated individuals for future success.

COR REACH program gives students firsthand perspective

CSP-Cor REACH youth and mentors in the yard

California State Prison, Corcoran (COR), hosted 20 students from Citrus Continuation High School through its Rehabilitating, Educating and Creating Hope (REACH) program, offering a firsthand look at prison life and the consequences of poor choices.

Guided by incarcerated mentors and correctional staff, students toured program areas, visited a housing unit and experienced what daily life inside the institution can be like. The visit included one-on-one conversations with mentors about the decisions leading to their incarceration and the importance of making different choices.

By the end of the program, each student shared a personal plan for positive change. The REACH program aims to provide meaningful intervention through mentorship, education and candid conversations about accountability and future choices.

Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services

OVSRS supports San Luis Obispo reentry resource fair

OVSRS staff at San Luis Obispo County Reentry Resource Fair

Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services (OVSRS) staff attended the San Luis Obispo County Reentry Resource Fair, connecting with formerly incarcerated individuals as they worked toward successful community reintegration.

Staff provided information and resources related to restitution collection, helping participants better understand available support and their responsibilities during reentry. The event offered an opportunity to connect individuals with services designed to support a successful transition back into the community.

OVSRS shares victims’ rights expertise at statewide training

OVSRS Chief Mariam El-Menshawi presenting at the California Crime Victim's Assistance Association Entry Level Training on Victims’ Rights

Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services (OVSRS) Chief Mariam El-Menshawi presented on victims’ rights at the California Crime Victims’ Assistance Association Entry Level Training.

The 40-hour, state-mandated certificate program helps prepare victim services professionals with foundational training and resources. El-Menshawi’s presentation highlighted victims’ rights and the role of OVSRS in supporting crime victims and survivors.

Rehabilitation

NKSP promotes mental health awareness through Family Feud

North Kern State Prison (NKSP) marked Mental Health Awareness Week with a Family Feud-style event hosted by the Integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment (ISUDT) Ambassador Team. The event promoted wellness, recovery and positive social connection.

More than 40 participants, including custody staff, health care staff and patients, took part in the event. Mixed teams of staff and patients competed together, creating opportunities for teamwork, communication and positive interaction in a supportive setting.

The activity encouraged healthy recreation while reinforcing the importance of emotional wellness, community support and meaningful engagement. Staff also modeled positive communication and relationship-building in a non-clinical environment, helping create an energetic and inclusive atmosphere.

ASP crochet program generates hope one stitch at a time

Staff holding items donated by ASP crochet program

A rehabilitative crochet program at Avenal State Prison (ASP) is helping participants build skills, find purpose and give back to the community. What began as a small group activity has grown into a meaningful program focused on creativity, patience and positive connection.

Participants learned crochet skills while fostering teamwork and encouragement in a calm, supportive environment. Their work soon expanded beyond personal growth, with handcrafted hats, scarves, blankets and stuffed animals donated to the Fresno Police and Fire Chaplaincy.

The donated items are distributed to unsheltered individuals, children and families facing hardship. Supported by ASP’s recreational therapist, the program highlights how rehabilitation can inspire compassion, restore dignity and create meaningful community impact.

Grammy-nominated artist brings message of redemption to CMF

Reverend John Lee Hooker Jr. delivering services at CMF

California Medical Facility (CMF) hosted Grammy-nominated blues artist, ordained minister and Protestant chaplain Rev. John Lee Hooker Jr. for a multi-day religious and rehabilitative event focused on faith, recovery and personal transformation.

Hooker, the son of blues legend John Lee Hooker, shared his personal journey through addiction, incarceration and spiritual transformation. Through gospel music, ministry and lived-experience testimony, he encouraged participants to reflect on accountability, healing and rehabilitation.

The event, coordinated by CMF Protestant Chaplain Herry Mukdani, highlighted the impact of peer connection and credible mentorship in rehabilitation. Hooker’s message offered participants a firsthand example of redemption and the possibility of positive change.

In the Media

San Quentin shifts focus to rehabilitation with $239M learning center transformation

“I’ve worked for the Department of Corrections for 23 years. What I’ve seen is when you provide people with better opportunities, they choose to make better choices and that’s really what San Quentin is about,” said Lt. Berry, public information officer for San Quentin Rehabilitation Center.