The Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) and the Inmate Ward Labor (IWL) successfully graduated 15 inmates in the offender pre-apprenticeship program.

The program consisted of a 30-week classroom component along with 40-hours a week of on-the-job construction training.

Eligible inmates must have a high school diploma, or be in the process of completing their General Education Development (GED). The curriculum is categorized into seven chapters: Apprenticeship Orientation; Health and Safety; CPR and First Aid; Blueprints; Industry Awareness and Opportunities in the Crafts; Construction Management; and Heritage of the American Worker. Development of the Program included collaboration with the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, the Local Trade Unions, and the institution’s executive and education staff. Each inmate must attend four hours of classroom training and 36 hours of field training per week. They also must complete 120 hours of classroom training to receive a certificate of completion.

On Feb 21, CCWF celebrated as the graduates wore their hard hats and stood before their friends, family, construction supervisors, CCWF administrative team and distinguished guests, who supported them throughout their training.

Warden (A) Derral Adams; Deborah Hysen, CDCR Director of Facilities Planning and Construction Management; and Construction Supervisor II Marty Haight congratulated the offenders for their completion of the program.

“I am proud of all the IWL pre-apprentice graduates at CCWF. Attitude is the key to success. As someone who started in the department in carpentry, I would rather have someone with no experience and a good attitude, than have someone will all the skill and a bad attitude,” Warden Adams said.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the graduates received their certificates of completion for Building Trades, Multi-Craft Core Curriculum.