January 29, 2026
1. Population Concerns & Rights
Quarterly Meetings with Headquarters
- The Inmate Advisory Council (IAC) requested quarterly meetings with CDCR Headquarters to address unresolved local concerns.
- CDCR Response:
- Wardens may request headquarters visits once per quarter.
- Associate Director (AD) visits may also occur quarterly.
- The Public Information Officer (PIO) will review requests and determine feasibility.
- Staffing shortages may impact scheduling.
- IAC members were advised to submit requests through their wardens or through written escalation channels.
Trust Account Receipts
- CCR §3090(e) was reviewed:
- Trust account statements may be requested every 90 days at no cost.
- Requests before 90 days require payment of $0.12 per page.
- Electronic Fund Transfers (EFT) via JPay, GTL, and Access Corrections (Keefe):
- The stamped envelope used for mailed funds serves as the receipt.
- Accounting will be contacted to ensure consistency across institutions.
- No changes to the current process are planned currently.
2. Visiting Policies & Procedures
Family Visit Deposits
- Families currently cannot deposit funds directly into Family Visiting (FV) accounts through vendors.
- Funds deposited through JPay or GTL go into trust accounts and may be subject to automatic restitution deductions (up to 50%).
- A prior request was submitted years ago to allow direct FV deposits, and JPay conducted a demonstration at that time.
- The request remains under consideration, but the accounting process must remain intact.
Allowable Items for Family Visiting
- CDCR confirmed that an allowable items list exists on the state website (AB 134).
- Department Operations Manual (DOM) updates are pending and must follow regulation updates.
- A request was made for a standardized statewide allowable items list, with copies available to institutions and families.
Family Visiting Delays
Wasco State Prison
- Two family visiting units were converted into dialysis centers.
- One unit serves Facility A (approx. 768 population).
- One unit serves Facility M (Level I).
- Current wait time for Facility A is approximately 5–6 months.
- Wait times fluctuate due to unit availability and weekend-only scheduling requests.
Solano State Prison
- Similar concerns were reported.
- Families average 1–2 family visits per year.
- Units are refurbished approximately every six months, affecting availability.
CIM Family Visiting Units
- Units remain under construction.
- No official completion timeline has been provided.
- CIM is awaiting vendor cost estimates for:
- Privacy partitions between units
- Unit furnishings
- The PIO confirmed no established reopening date.
Visiting Attire
- A question was raised regarding clothing layering (e.g., wearing a shirt under a sweater).
- This issue was addressed during a statewide visiting call.
- CDCR emphasized the importance of consistent policy enforcement across institutions.
3. Vending, Food Safety & Vendors
Food Quality & Safety
Families reported concerns including:
- Spoiled or moldy food
- Food-related illness
CDCR Response:
- Reports must include specific details and photos with date and time.
- Biweekly conference calls have been established with:
- Vendor
- Institution staff
- FPCM
- DOR representative
- If BEP is involved, concerns must be escalated to DOR.
- Procurement of new vending machines may take up to six months.
Vendor Stocking & Restocking
- There is no standardized restocking schedule.
- Vendors operate independently.
- If machines are out of service, no alternative food options are available.
- Water, including bottled water, must remain accessible.
- Families are encouraged to report issues directly to vendors.
Outside Food for Holidays or Special Events
- Outside food is not permitted under CDCR policy.
- Requests may be made to vendors to stock specialty or seasonal items.
- Hand-to-hand sales are prohibited.
Reporting Vendor Issues
- Vendor concerns are reported as they occur, not on a fixed schedule.
- Reporting responsibilities vary by institution and are not always handled by the BSM.
4. Emergency Preparedness & Infrastructure
Power Outages
- All institutions are equipped with backup generators.
- Emergency contingency plans exist but are contained in restricted DOM sections.
Emergency Supplies for Incarcerated Individuals
The following proposed items were reviewed:
- Battery-operated flashlights
- LED lanterns
- Crank-powered flashlights
- Glow sticks
- Mylar emergency blankets
- Hydration bottles
- OPS Determination: These items were not approved for distribution
- Backup generators remain the primary mitigation strategy.
- Immediate emergency planning and contracts discussed.
5. ADA & Accessibility
ADA Accommodations
Accessibility requirements are governed by Title 15 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
CDCR must provide:
- Accessible parking
- Accessible paths of travel
- Wheelchair-accessible entrances
- Accessible restrooms
- Accessible seating and priority seating
- Authorization for medically necessary mobility devices (subject to screening)
ADA Tables
- Facilities maintain designated ADA tables in visiting areas.
- Adjustments may be made based on facility needs.
Staff Training
- Currently, there is no standardized training for staff on assisting visitors with special or sensitive needs.
Additional Notes & Action Items
- Memorandums remain in effect until replaced by a new memorandum.
- Trust account receipts may transition to tablet-based access in the future.
- SIFC is working toward standardized visiting operational procedures statewide.
- Local visiting operational procedures will begin in March, with meetings held biweekly or monthly.
- Clothed body searches using handheld wands were confirmed (no physical contact).
- The Visiting Hotline (800-374-8474) is no longer active.
- Vendor and DOR-related issues should be escalated as necessary.