In this October 23 Week in Review, we highlight Avenal’s Innovation Award, PBSP Occupational Mentors and CTF raising $44,000 for cancer support.
What’s New
Governor Newsom welcomes first Cal State LA bachelor’s cohort
at San Quentin as California crime rates reach historic lows
As the state continues to strengthen public safety through targeted law enforcement, accountability and violence prevention, a new Cal State LA program at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center is expanding access to higher education and supporting successful reentry.
By expanding access to college inside our correctional facilities, we’re strengthening rehabilitation, supporting successful reentry and helping make our communities safer. The majority of people who enter prison eventually go back once they’ve served their time, so it is deeply important that those individuals leave being better prepared to positively contribute to their community.
Governor Gavin Newsom
Governor Newsom announces new staff-led initiative at Corcoran to support rehabilitation and reentry
Governor Newsom is bolstering the California Model at California State Prison Corcoran where staff helped transform a previously deactivated facility into a housing community focused on rehabilitation, personal responsibility and preparation for release.
Public safety doesn’t end at the prison gate – it means holding people accountable while giving them the tools to change, prepare for a job and return to their communities ready to contribute. At Corcoran, staff are helping lead that work, building an environment where responsibility, rehabilitation and meaningful participation go hand in hand.
Governor Gavin Newsom
Staff Spotlight
Avenal Health Care earns Innovation Award
The Avenal State Prison (ASP) Health Care team earned its first award Oct. 7, receiving the Innovators by Design Award from the Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County.
The award honors “exceptional perseverance, innovation and accomplishments” and recognized ASP Health Care in the Business Services category.
Chief Quality and Patient Safety Officer Jasmine Baker represents ASP at regional health care partnership meetings. She and Chief Executive Officer Jaron Nash collaborate with hospitals, clinics, schools and workforce agencies to address shared challenges and expand career opportunities.
“Jasmine is the reason ASP has a voice in this community,” Nash said. “She has elevated the relationships, putting us in new rooms and engagements, and this award is the result of her passion for the work.”
The partnerships are already creating career pathways. ASP now hires licensed vocational nurses directly from Tulare Adult School’s program.
Baker and Nash also meet with local high school students to introduce them to careers in correctional health care.
“I believe it is my responsibility to inspire future leaders, advance public service and help create opportunities for the next generation of correctional health care professionals,” Baker said.
Rehabilitation
PBSP recognizes Occupational Mentors
Pelican Bay State Prison (PBSP) collaborated with Amity Foundation to host an appreciation event Oct. 8.
Occupational Mentor Certification Program (OMCP) participants were honored for their dedication and contributions to the Integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment (ISUDT) program.
Mentors support the program by co-facilitating treatment groups, providing peer guidance and encouraging individuals to actively engage in their recovery.
Through training and lived experiences mentors serve as role models who promote personal growth and accountability.
“Peer mentorship bridges the gap between rehabilitation programs and real personal transformation,” said acting Warden Betzinger. “We greatly appreciate these mentors for their hard work, leadership and unwavering commitment to helping their peers succeed on the path to recovery.”
The event recognized the mentors’ contributions and their continued commitment to supporting others in recovery.
California Men’s Colony hosts songwriting workshop
Songwriter and music producer Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd visited California Men’s Colony (CMC) at San Luis Obispo Oct. 14-15 to lead a songwriting workshop for incarcerated participants.
Offered through CMC’s mental health program, the two-day workshop encouraged creative expression, collaboration and personal growth. Boyd shared his passion for songwriting while creating a supportive environment for participants to connect through music.
Incarcerated musician Daystar “Tory Lanez” Peterson also assisted, contributing his musical experience to the collaborative project.
Songwriting offered participants a constructive way to reflect on personal experiences, express emotions and build confidence. The workshop connected creative expression with rehabilitation, giving participants an opportunity to develop skills and create something meaningful together.
Division of Adult Parole Operations
FCRP Luau 2026
Participants at the Female Community Reentry Program (FCRP) in Sacramento brought island traditions to life during the program’s annual luau held Oct. 9.
In the weeks leading up to the event, participants researched their chosen islands, created costumes and practiced traditional dances.
The celebration featured lei and headdress-making stations, games, information booths, dance performances and watermelon-eating contests.
Participants also worked alongside chefs to prepare a meal for the gathering.
Families, participants and staff came together to enjoy the festivities, celebrate cultural traditions and strengthen community connections.
DAPO pop-up connects supervised persons with reentry resources
The Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO) brought reentry services directly to participants during a South Coast Parole District Peer Reentry Navigation Network (PRNN) meeting.
Organized by the Community Reentry Unit (CRU), the Aug. 20 pop-up focused on those serving long or life sentences.
Community partners offered behavioral health services, crisis counseling, workforce development, educational pathways and substance use recovery support.
Participants also received mobile phones and connectivity services to help with job searches and parole check-ins.
Student volunteers from the CRU Institute of Cosmetology and Barbering provided haircuts to help participants prepare for job interviews.
The GEO Santa Ana Day Reporting Center provided dinner, making it easier for attendees to participate around work and supervision schedules.
Henry, who recently transferred to the South Coast District, welcomed the support. “I deeply appreciate the resources and a support group like the PRNN,” Henry said. “It gives me exactly what I need to stay focused and remain successful in this transition.”
Upward Mobility
Anna Reyes, assigned acting Chief, Office of Labor Relations
In Our Institutions
CTF raises $44,000 for cancer support
Correctional Training Facility (CTF) at Soledad raised $44,000 for the American Cancer Society through two Relay For Life events.
Staff, volunteers and incarcerated participants joined together to support the cause.
Facility C hosted its event Sept. 26, followed by Facilities A and B on Oct. 10. Activities included a ceremonial survivor walk, car show, live music, cultural performances, games and survivor testimonials.
Five incarcerated participants also donated their hair through the Wigs for Kids initiative, assisting children experiencing medical-related hair loss.
Food sales across all three facilities helped fund the effort to support cancer research and patient services.
“Raising $44,000 for the American Cancer Society is an incredible accomplishment,” said acting Warden Rojas. “I am extremely proud of our incarcerated population for their generosity, participation and willingness to contribute to such an important cause.”
Rojas recognized staff and volunteers whose teamwork made the fundraisers possible.
CTF welcomes college students for corrections tour
Correctional Training Facility (CTF) at Soledad welcomed Monterey Peninsula College Administration of Justice students Oct. 15 for a firsthand look at correctional operations and career opportunities.
Students learned about institutional security, housing units, rehabilitative programming and the responsibilities of correctional professionals. They also explored how communication, teamwork and sound decision-making contribute to a safe environment and successful rehabilitation.
The tour gave students opportunities to ask staff questions and connect classroom learning with real-world correctional operations.
“By opening our doors to future criminal justice professionals, we can help bridge the gap between classroom education and real-world experience,” said acting Warden C. Rojas.
Rojas highlighted CDCR’s broader mission, including rehabilitation, education and successful reintegration. He also emphasized the value of partnerships with local colleges in preparing the next generation of public service professionals.
Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services
OVSRS supports survivors at annual run
Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services (OVSRS) staff joined Run for a Safe Haven Oct. 10.
Hosted by My Sister’s House, the run took place at William Land Park in Sacramento.
Organizations and advocates gathered to support survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking.
Held during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the 23rd annual event emphasized raising awareness, promoting safety and connecting survivors with resources.
OVSRS staff joined community partners in supporting survivors and building safer, more informed communities.
OVSRS attends domestic violence prevention conference
Staff from the Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services (OVSRS) attended the Sacramento Domestic Violence Prevention Collaboration Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony.
The event brought regional professionals together at the Folsom Community Center for training focused on strengthening community responses to domestic violence.
OVSRS staff attended to support partner agencies, exchange knowledge and learn more about issues affecting victims and survivors.
The conference provided an opportunity to reinforce professional connections and deepen understanding of community efforts to address domestic violence.
In the Media
Merced College among four colleges celebrating 59 graduates at Chowchilla Prison
Merced College students were among 59 incarcerated women who earned college degrees at Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) in Chowchilla, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).
Corcoran prison’s new ‘honor dorm’ gives inmates ‘the tools to change’
Incarcerated persons at one of California’s largest prisons now have access to a resource advocates have worked toward for years: a housing community focused on rehabilitation, personal responsibility, and developing skills for life after release.
Top Inside CDCR Stories
CHCF hosts third promotional ceremony
Week in Review: Oct. 16
Week in Review: Oct. 9
Cemetery Tales: William Clark, alias Sacramento Bill
Staff enjoy Halloween, harvest events
CDCR Latest News
Stay informed
For media inquiries, e-mail the Office of Public & Employee Communications.
Read more Week in Review stories on Inside CDCR.
Follow CDCR on YouTube, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter).
Week in Review archive
In this October 23 Week in Review, we highlight Avenal’s Innovation Award, PBSP Occupational Mentors and CTF raising $44,000 for…
In this October 16 Week in Review, we highlight the Elk Grove blood drive, OVSRS at GRIP Honors event and…
In this October 9 Week in Review, we highlight Ironwood’s educational expansion, DAPO’s community service and Secretary Macomber leading a…
In this October 2 Week in Review, we highlight CDCR staff at RISE Conference, CMF officers headed to the NorCal…
In this September 25 Week in Review, we highlight PVSP celebrating California with new sculpture, VSP’s health and wellness fair…
In this September 18 special edition of Week in Review, we highlight the 2026 Medal of Valor Ceremony and honorees.…
