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Above the Call

Highlighting CDCR, CCHCS and DJJ staff who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

Woman who pulled people from burning wreckage stands in front of a California flag.

Valley State Prison employee helps pull people from smoking wreckage

It was 1 p.m. Dec. 19, 2020, when Sgt. Veronica Escamilla and her spouse spotted the accident. Two damaged vehicles...

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Office puts on mask. Text beneath says 'We can all be heroes.'

Heroes of CDCR/CCHCS

Every day, each and every one of you go above and beyond to keep your colleagues and communities safe. You...

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Greg Williams stands in front of a flag.

CCWF employee delays hostage‑taker until police arrive

While enjoying a morning at home with his family, Greg Williams soon found himself in a stand-off with a gun-wielding...

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Correctional Officers Mayfield and Gomez stand in front of a CDCR transport .

CDCR transportation officers help save mom, baby

Two CDCR transportation officers helped save a mom and her baby after a rollover crash. While returning to Valley State...

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San Quentin Correctional Officer Emmanuall Tyler walks out of the prison.

Off‑duty San Quentin Correctional Officer stops carjacker

While on his way home, San Quentin Correctional Officer Emmanuall Tyler came across the scene of an accident. Pulling over,...

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CSP-Corcoran Office Technician Jessica Macias Mercado stands beside a flag pole.

CSP‑Corcoran staff member helps at accident scene

On Oct. 12, CSP-Corcoran Office Technician Jessica Macias Mercado left work at thinking it was just another ordinary day. Instead...

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Crushed car.

Off‑duty CDCR sergeant gives teen crash victim a fighting chance

When Sgt. William Eberly left work at San Quentin on Sept. 4, he checked his GPS navigator for the fastest...

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An officer puts handcuffs on a man.

Alert Parole Agent links high‑risk parolee to sex crime

Sex-Offender Parole Agent Javier Cosme has a tough beat supervising high-risk sex offenders in the community. Mandated to wear GPS...

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Officer stands near a flag pole.

Correctional Officer headed for job interview talks down jumper

With thoughts of a Sergeant interview running through his mind, Correctional Officer Ranato Benitez-Sanchez was heading to Ironwood State Prison...

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Photos of a scarred head, a woman and man smiling, a crushed car and a helicopter at an accident scene.

Calipatria prison employee saves coworker in wreck

In the early morning hours on Friday, Sept. 6, the lives of two individuals would be drastically changed. While driving...

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