Don Chaddock, Inside CDCR editor, Author at Inside CDCR

Staff from North Kern State Prison and SATF delivered Easter basket to Valley Children's Hospital in Madera.

Across California, CDCR and CCHCS staff, along with help from the incarcerated population, celebrated spring and Easter with donations to...

Mariam El-Menshawi, chief, Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services, speaks at a lectern. Overlaying the image is this quote: “Communities come together to honor and recognize crime victims.”

CDCR and CCHCS headquarters staff recently gathered to recognize National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, observed April 6-12. “It’s a time...

Female firefighter buckling into her seat in a fire engine at CCWF.

During Fire Service Week, we spotlight an incarcerated firefighter turning her life around while making a difference at Central California...

Mary Hall, who worked for the department for 20 years, passed away March 21, 2025. She began her career with...

Edward Gaston talks about redemption through firefighting.

Edward Gaston, a formerly incarcerated individual, now serves as a private contractor firefighter in Butte County. His journey from incarceration...

State of California Forestry Honor Camp Program book cover with the words: “Probably the greatest asset in the camps is the personnel assigned who are seriously interested in their job (and) possess a genuine understanding of the worth of an individual.”

A booklet titled “State of California Forestry Honor Camp Program” was produced for the 86th Congress of Correction held in...

Second chance month: Antinique Piggee talking about her time at a female community reentry program.

Antinique Piggee, a childcare supervisor, credits her post-incarceration success to the female community reentry program (FCRP). Today she’s employed at...

Health fair for patient safety week at headquarters in

CCHCS and CDCR recently held a health fair at the Elk Grove Headquarters, organized by the Statewide Patient Safety and...

Staff attend a recognition ceremony for volunteer barbers at a California prison.

Incarcerated volunteer barbers are celebrating a milestone, completing 2,000 haircuts in less than a year. The volunteers are cutting hair...

State Senator Aisha Wahab introduces seven incarcerated crew members who were recognized on the floor of the Senate for their work during the devastating California fires.

Incarcerated men from Pine Grove Youth Conservation Camp were recently honored by the California legislature for their firefighting efforts. Camp...

Author: Don Chaddock, Inside CDCR editor

Easter, spring events benefit community

Headquarters honors crime victims, survivors

Meet a CCWF incarcerated firefighter

Mary Hall, retired medical technical assistant

From Incarceration to Inspiration: Edward Gaston

1956: Booklet looks at camp program

Childcare worker credits female reentry program

CCHCS, CDCR health fair promotes patient safety

Making Amends: Volunteer barbers learn trade

Pine Grove youth honored by state legislature