Back Row (left to right): Estrada, Guardado, Lambert, Villa, Abel , Sapiens, Front Row: Norton, White, Tucker, Hernandez Today is not another run- of-the-mill day in Kern Valley State Prison. The D-Facility Visiting Room is packed full of people, all with cause for celebration. The energy in the room is palpable. Today is graduation day for the Substance-Use Disorder Treatment Program (SUDT). It is a day of jubilation for dozens upon dozens of people, not all of them inmates. Warden Pfeiffer was kind enough to come and share some … [Read more...] about Kern Valley State Prison recognizes graduating class of Substance-Use Disorder Treatment program
Kern Valley State Prison
Rehabilitative efforts at KVSP
Inmates housed at Kern Valley State Prison’s D-Facility find themselves wedged between clashing cultures. A level IV, 180 design housing, it is one of California’s maximum security prisons. It can be a place filled with violence and negativity, or it can be a turning point where inmates can take advantage of the many rehabilitative programs offered on the yard. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved on either side of that spectrum. Which side to choose is a dilemma many men find themselves teetering on the fence about. But when we … [Read more...] about Rehabilitative efforts at KVSP
Kern Valley upgrades smoke detection equipment
Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP) is the latest California facility to upgrade its smoke detection technology to improve the safety of inmates and staff. Traditional in-duct smoke detectors are prone to accumulate dirt and dust that can cause the fire detection system to malfunction and issue false alarms. This can become such a nuisance that officers begin to ignore the alarms or disconnect them entirely, according to a Corrections.com article. “A large number of false alarms can be triggered when accumulated dust and dirt cover the sensors,” … [Read more...] about Kern Valley upgrades smoke detection equipment
Prisoners arraigned via Court video
The use of court video arraignments inside California prisons is gaining endorsements and could become a permanent part of the prison system, according to Inside CDCR. Kern County Prison Court (KCPC) is one such video program that serves several prisons within its county. “64% of California’s jail population is awaiting trial or sentencing as of December 2016.” Most remain in pretrial custody because they cannot afford bail. Jail Profile Survey, http://www.bscc.ca.gov/ “Now that we have implemented it, I am even further convinced of the … [Read more...] about Prisoners arraigned via Court video
Kern Valley new at-risk youth E.D.G.E. program
Inmates at Kern Valley State Prison are utilizing their life experiences to help divert at-risk youths from coming to prison. The program is called EDGE (Education, Diversion and Goals to Endeavor). “This program is designed for inmates to interact with at-risk youths in the hopes to save them,” said Pheng Ly, vice chairman of EDGE. “We do so by educating these youth through sharing our life’s experiences, our knowledge, and life skills, in hopes to divert them from continuing down a ruinous path by enlightening their minds and broadening … [Read more...] about Kern Valley new at-risk youth E.D.G.E. program