Latest news with #CDCR
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
California celebrates 339 new public safety officers in multi-agency graduation
( — California welcomed 339 graduates from Cal Fire, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the California Highway Patrol to the state's already robust contingent of public safety officers. According to Newsom's Administration, strengthening the dedicated groups who protect the safety of Californians, Gov. Gavin Newsom congratulated multiple graduates with the Cal Fire, the CDCR, and the CHP. Sacramento's Track 7 Brewing Company announced its closures effective Saturday 'Thank you for answering the call to serve our great state,' Newsom said. 'As you go back to your communities, may you face any uncertainty with resolve, any challenges with integrity, and any hardships with determination.' Newsom stated that these firefighters, correctional officers, and highway patrol officers have joined their colleagues in communities statewide to protect California. Cal Fire celebrated 38 new Company Officers Academy graduates who will supervise and direct firefighters, Newsom stated. The Academy offers training in emergency and daily personnel management, physical conditioning, wildland and structural incident command, fire investigation, and the operation of fire vehicles, encompassing driving, pumping, and specialized wildland gear. 'Graduations are a time to come together with family, friends, and coworkers to celebrate the hard work our Company Officers have put in over the past six weeks. These women and men represent the next generation of leadership at CAL FIRE. I am very proud of their accomplishment and wish them the best as they return home to their new roles,' said CAL FIRE Chief/Director Joe Tyler. Defense Intelligence Agency IT Specialist arrested for allegedly sharing classified information Newsom stated that the cohort brings the total number of COA graduates in 2025 to 272. After an extensive 13-week program at the Basic Corrective Officer Academy, 168 cadets graduated, Newsom stated. This embarks on their new careers as CDCR correctional officers. 'It takes a special kind of person to wear the badge, the sacrifices and dedication of our families cannot be overstated. Our future success is dependent upon your professionalism, respect, and commitment to excellence,' said CDCR Secretary Jeff Macomber. In total, Newsom said that the CDCR will have 601 graduates, which also includes the current graduation class, which makes a significant step forward in CDCR's ongoing efforts and focus when it comes to recruitment, hiring, promotion, and retention. According to Newsom, the CHP welcomes 133 new officers who finished 26 weeks of extensive training at the CHP Academy in West Sacramento. The officers can report to one of the CHP's 102 area offices across California as they begin their law enforcement jobs. 'This graduation marks the beginning of a commitment to protecting and serving others. These officers have demonstrated their dedication to keeping California's communities safe and upholding the CHP's core values,' said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Did faulty drug tests taint parole hearings? California is reviewing hundreds of denials
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is reviewing hundreds of state parole hearings to see if any inmates who were denied parole were rejected because of faulty drug tests. Nearly 6,000 drug tests in California prisons are believed to have yielded false positives between April and July last year, and attorneys for the Board of Parole are now conducting a review of inmate files to determine if any of them need to appear before the parole board again to be reconsidered, according to officials with CDCR. If any inmates were denied parole because of the faulty tests, they could be owed a new hearing before the parole board, said attorneys representing inmates affected by the defective drug tests. The review is already underway and will determine if "without the positive drug screening, there is sufficient evidence to support an incarcerated person's denial of parole," said CDCR spokesperson Emily Humpal in a statement. If there isn't enough evidence to support incarceration other than the drug test, a new hearing will be scheduled. Read more: Thousands of California prisoners falsely tested positive for opioids. Did it cost them their freedom? CDCR officials declined to provide details as to how many parole hearings were being reviewed, and if any parole hearings had been rescheduled since the process began. More information will be available after the review is complete, the department said. Representatives at UnCommon Law, a nonprofit advocacy group for inmates seeking parole, said parole board officials this week told their attorneys that the review involves at least 459 parole hearings, as well as dozens of administrative reviews and denials from inmates to move up their parole hearings. Attorneys with the group confirmed the false test results after they received records showing that positive test results had spiked across the state's prison system between April and July last year, raising suspicion that something was wrong. The California Board of Parole is also reviewing 75 administrative denials, and 56 petitions that were denied to advance an inmate's parole hearing, according to the organization. All of the files under review involve inmates who were in CDCR's Medical Assistant Treatment Program and were recently denied parole or petitions to move up their parole hearings to an earlier date, between April 2024 and this month. Inmates in the program treat substance abuse issues with medication. Read more: Faulty DNA test kits were used in thousands of L.A. County criminal cases, authorities say The drug tests, given across the state's 31 prison systems, were distributed as part of some inmates' drug treatment programs and included in their files as part of their medical record. Although prison staff are not allowed to use the drug tests as part of any disciplinary action, the files are accessible to members of the parole board. Some advocates have pushed for medical files to not be included in parole hearing decisions, arguing that the information is private, and could also offer an incomplete or defective picture of the inmate's behavior without the input of doctors. On top of that, advocates with UnCommon Law argue, the drug tests used for medical treatment — like the defective ones used last year — don't include follow-up tests to confirm results, and could push away inmates from seeking medical treatment for addictions. "When the Board uses inconclusive drug tests from substance use treatment records in their parole hearings, they're not just ignoring science and expert medical guidance — they're driving people away from lifesaving treatment during a deadly overdose epidemic in our state prisons," said Su Kim, senior policy manager at UnCommon Law. Natasha Baker, an attorney with UnCommon, praised the state's move to review the recent parole board decisions, but said there were still concerns that the results could affect inmates in the future. "We will need to closely monitor the review process and ensure that the Board takes the necessary steps to mitigate the impact of these faulty records," she said in a statement. The faulty tests were first noticed by the California Correctional Heath Care Services, which provides healthcare to inmates. Read more: 'Utterly Botched': Glitchy rollout of new California bar exam prompts lawsuit and legislative review Positive opiate drug screenings in the state's prisons hovered at about 6% on average every month, according to data obtained by UnCommon Law. But between April and July 2024, the medical drug tests resulted in a positive result range of about 20%. For most prisons, about 1 in 8 tests produced a positive result, according to the group. Quest Diagnostics, the company that provided the faulty tests, said the false results came after the company temporarily changed the reagent, or chemical, that was usually used in the tests. The replacement, which had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, is believed to have led to the higher positivity rate. CDCR officials said it was notifying inmates affected by the tests via letters, which would also be included in their electronic health records. On Oct. 18, medical staff also provided additional training to the Board of Parole about the use of drug screenings, including that the tests are meant to only be used for medical purposes. Despite the ongoing review, some attorneys are still concerned there could be other inmates affected by defective drug tests. "The Board's review may not capture everyone impacted by this, as it is not entirely clear how the Board is deciding that false positives were determinative of a parole decision," Baker said in a statement. "The [Parole] Board has not addressed what happens to people who were impacted by the false positives but who haven't had their hearings yet." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Los Angeles Times
Did faulty drug tests taint parole hearings? California is reviewing hundreds of denials
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is reviewing hundreds of state parole hearings to see if any inmates who were denied parole were rejected because of faulty drug tests. Nearly 6,000 drug tests in California prisons are believed to have yielded false positives between April and July last year, and attorneys for the Board of Parole are now conducting a review of inmate files to determine if any of them need to appear before the parole board again to be reconsidered, according to officials with CDCR. If any inmates were denied parole because of the faulty tests, they could be owed a new hearing before the parole board, said attorneys representing inmates affected by the defective drug tests. The review is already underway and will determine if 'without the positive drug screening, there is sufficient evidence to support an incarcerated person's denial of parole,' said CDCR spokesperson Emily Humpal in a statement. If there isn't enough evidence to support incarceration other than the drug test, a new hearing will be scheduled. CDCR officials declined to provide details as to how many parole hearings were being reviewed, and if any parole hearings had been rescheduled since the process began. More information will be available after the review is complete, the department said. Representatives at UnCommon Law, a nonprofit advocacy group for inmates seeking parole, said parole board officials this week told their attorneys that the review involves at least 459 parole hearings, as well as dozens of administrative reviews and denials from inmates to move up their parole hearings. Attorneys with the group confirmed the false test results after they received records showing that positive test results had spiked across the state's prison system between April and July last year, raising suspicion that something was wrong. The California Board of Parole is also reviewing 75 administrative denials, and 56 petitions that were denied to advance an inmate's parole hearing, according to the organization. All of the files under review involve inmates who were in CDCR's Medical Assistant Treatment Program and were recently denied parole or petitions to move up their parole hearings to an earlier date, between April 2024 and this month. Inmates in the program treat substance abuse issues with medication. The drug tests, given across the state's 31 prison systems, were distributed as part of some inmates' drug treatment programs and included in their files as part of their medical record. Although prison staff are not allowed to use the drug tests as part of any disciplinary action, the files are accessible to members of the parole board. Some advocates have pushed for medical files to not be included in parole hearing decisions, arguing that the information is private, and could also offer an incomplete or defective picture of the inmate's behavior without the input of doctors. On top of that, advocates with UnCommon Law argue, the drug tests used for medical treatment — like the defective ones used last year — don't include follow-up tests to confirm results, and could push away inmates from seeking medical treatment for addictions. 'When the Board uses inconclusive drug tests from substance use treatment records in their parole hearings, they're not just ignoring science and expert medical guidance — they're driving people away from lifesaving treatment during a deadly overdose epidemic in our state prisons,' said Su Kim, senior policy manager at UnCommon Law. Natasha Baker, an attorney with UnCommon, praised the state's move to review the recent parole board decisions, but said there were still concerns that the results could affect inmates in the future. 'We will need to closely monitor the review process and ensure that the Board takes the necessary steps to mitigate the impact of these faulty records,' she said in a statement. The faulty tests were first noticed by the California Correctional Heath Care Services, which provides healthcare to inmates. Positive opiate drug screenings in the state's prisons hovered at about 6% on average every month, according to data obtained by UnCommon Law. But between April and July 2024, the medical drug tests resulted in a positive result range of about 20%. For most prisons, about 1 in 8 tests produced a positive result, according to the group. Quest Diagnostics, the company that provided the faulty tests, said the false results came after the company temporarily changed the reagent, or chemical, that was usually used in the tests. The replacement, which had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, is believed to have led to the higher positivity rate. CDCR officials said it was notifying inmates affected by the tests via letters, which would also be included in their electronic health records. On Oct. 18, medical staff also provided additional training to the Board of Parole about the use of drug screenings, including that the tests are meant to only be used for medical purposes. Despite the ongoing review, some attorneys are still concerned there could be other inmates affected by defective drug tests. 'The Board's review may not capture everyone impacted by this, as it is not entirely clear how the Board is deciding that false positives were determinative of a parole decision,' Baker said in a statement. 'The [Parole] Board has not addressed what happens to people who were impacted by the false positives but who haven't had their hearings yet.'
CBS News
2 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
California bill proposes pilot program for single-occupancy prison cells
In a unique alliance, prisoners at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center and California district attorneys are championing legislation to reform California's prison system by introducing a pilot program for single-occupancy cells. Ken Oliver, who spent nearly 24 years incarcerated — eight of those in solitary confinement — turned that trying time alone, in a cell the size of a closet, into an opportunity for self-improvement. "I literally turned my cell into a law library and studied the law for four years," Oliver recalled. "Had I had a cellmate, I would not have been able to do that." AB 1140, sponsored by Assemblymember Damon Connolly, whose district includes San Quentin, mandates the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to implement a pilot program for single-occupancy cells by January 1, 2027. If approved, the program will designate four adult prison facilities where at least 10% of the incarcerated population will be housed in single-occupancy cells. The bill emphasizes the importance of restorative sleep and reduced stress in promoting rehabilitation. Studies cited in the legislation highlight that overcrowded conditions can lead to increased stress and health issues among inmates. "It causes less stress," Oliver says of single-occupancy living for those incarcerated. "That actually soothes me a little bit, calms me down, allows me to go to things in a different perspective. When I'm forced to navigate that with another person, I'm actually restricting a piece of myself, or repressing a piece of myself because there's another human being in close proximity that if I don't do that, may cause violence, may cause death, which has happened in multiple cases inside the Department of Corrections." San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins leads regular symposiums with inmates, whom she calls residents, at San Quentin. She worked alongside those serving time to craft the legislation. "It is probably the most unimaginable partnership between a district attorney and inmates in a prison," she told CBS News Bay Area. "They have an overwhelming desire for us as prosecutors to understand the road that got them here. They also want to give back so that other people, other kids, youth, young people, don't end up in the same place." Vincent O'Bannon, who collaborated with Jenkins on the legislation during his 15-year tenure at San Quentin, emphasized the potential benefits of single-occupancy cells. "Just being alone takes a great weight off of you," he stated. "When you can go to a cell and know you don't have to share it with anyone else, and you can just walk in and relax. It makes a difference." As Oliver reflects on his past and the potential impact of AB 1140, he remains hopeful. "Never fun to go back into the dungeon," he said, referring to his time in confinement. Yet, he believes that the system that once confined him is now taking steps to enhance public safety and rehabilitation both inside and outside prison walls. The state Assembly is expected to vote on the legislation next Tuesday. If approved, it will go to a vote in the Senate.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
CDCR: Alameda County rapist suspected of killing cellmate
(KRON) — A convicted Alameda County rapist is suspected of killing his cellmate in Mule Creek State Prison, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials said. The rapist, 54-year-old Jesse A. Ferdin, was moved to a restrictive housing unit pending the homicide investigation. Longeno Jones, 51, was found 'unresponsive' on May 21 inside a cell he shared with Ferdin, according to CDCR. Jones was transported to the prison's triage area, where he was pronounced deceased by paramedics an hour later. Ferdin was convicted in Alameda County in 2018 of rape with force and violence. He was sentenced in 2019 to serve 12 years in prison. Jones was convicted in Los Angeles County in 2007 of first-degree burglary as a third strike offender. He was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole. Infant dies at Monterey County daycare, 2 women arrested Mule Creek State Prison houses more than 3,800 inmates in Amador County. The homicide is under investigation by MCSP Investigative Services Unit. An Amador County coroner will determine Jones' official cause of death. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
