CDCR works with each MCRP and CCTRP contractor to ensure they are following COVID-19 safety protocols, including physical distancing, disinfecting, and quarantine/isolation protocols for symptomatic or exposed participants. ATO may also be used in limited circumstances for hardship cases related to COVID-19 where the employee has exhausted all available leave credits. Because OIG staff members regularly visit prisons and other facilities to conduct audits and compliance reviews, plans are being developed to incorporate them into the CDCR employee testing schedule starting in August. Payments for Innovative Programming Grant (IGP) grantees will be distributed as scheduled. CDCR and CCHCS raised flu vaccine awareness throughout the season with posters, videos on the DRP-TV Wellness channel. Visitors are encouraged to reference information below on how to schedule visits, use the video system, expectations for virtual visits and answers to Frequently Asked Questions. In an abundance of caution, and in collaboration with counties, the medical clearance process prior to transfer shall include COVID-19 testing and symptom screening prior to transfer, use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during transfer, and a quarantine period upon arrival. CDCR first resumed limited intake on May 25, which was halted on June 19, 2020 as a result of positive inmate cases received from county jails. We are prioritizing the initial vaccine distribution in a manner that is consistent with CDPH guidelines. To address COVID-19, CDCR has implemented a series of measures to keep staff, correctional officer cadets, and candidates safe during the application, screening, and Basic Correctional Officer Academy. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and California Correctional Health Care Services have unveiled a new tool to track COVID-19 cases among California inmates. All staff are required to wear face masks while on duty. Those in the incarcerated population identified as critical workers are being provided surgical masks throughout their shifts. CDCR’s Division of Rehabilitative Programs contracts with six regionally based contractors who then subcontract to provide reentry housing and wraparound services. Seventy-five personnel at North Kern State Prison in Delano have tested positive and eight have returned to work, according to CDCR. The numbers and percentages shown above of the proposed grants and denials are the full tally of the 3,609 hearings that took place. We will work to make communications available to individuals in these situations. Any questions parolees may have related to COVID-19 prevention efforts should be directed to their Parole Agent. COVID-19 symptom screening should occur within 24 hours prior to transfer. All parolees receive two placement assessments – one prior to release and one after. CDCR Population COVID-19 Tracking This data set provides access to counts of COVID-19 cases by CDCR institution and case status by day. For the recommended use of PPE by incarcerated persons and staff in a correctional setting during the COVID-19 pandemic, see the CCHCS Interim Guidance here. To reduce risks to both patients and staff. Staff are also required to wear facial barriers while on institution grounds. To mitigate workload when non-essential movement resumes, this cancellation of all non-essential inmate movement impacts movement only; classification committees and review processes will move ahead as normal. Sierra Conservation Center (SCC) in Jamestown serves as the primary hub for Southern California conservation camps. Proper isolation and quarantine measures are put into place if a youth tests positive, and health care screening is provided. This document provides clinical guidelines related to testing, quarantine and isolation housing, and treatment to public health and health care providers in response to COVID-19 cases in the California prison system. It is our intent to offer COVID-19 vaccinations to all CDCR and CCHCS employees and incarcerated individuals. CPMP staff are diligently working to ensure the participants’ needs are met and supplies are readily available with a surplus where needed. So far, the CDCR Population COVID-19 Tracking page shows that 307 inmates have been tested for COVID-19 out of all CDCR facilities. We are prioritizing the initial vaccine distribution in a manner that is consistent with CDPH guidelines. This registry also includes release date information for each individual, in the event that individuals are to be considered for early release during the pandemic. Family and friends purchase stamps for this service. Many of our institutions have remained free from COVID-19 among the incarcerated population, and many more have only experienced a very low number of positive cases limited to a single area. The incarcerated population are required to wear facial barriers when moving around the institution. Re-positives after 90 days may represent reinfection and require careful evaluation to ensure they are not infections. ... 216 inmates died from COVID-19, according to the CDCR’s COVID-19 dashboard. All tours and events remain postponed. CDCR and CCHCS have a testing strategy that is consistent with guidance provided by federal and state public health experts. Additional PPE guidance for the incarcerated population can be found here. The goal of OCE and CDCR is to continue to support college classes as our response to COVID-19 evolves. Priority will be given to counties currently conducting COVID-19 viral testing and in agreement to test upon admission approval and transfer within the time frames below and who complete a symptom screening the day of transfer. Track the global spread of coronavirus with maps and updates on cases and deaths around the world. In coordination with California Department of Public Health, CDCR developed a staff testing plan for those who have been redirected to an institution due to a COVID-19 outbreak. Read more here. Religious services will be provided as in-cell services as an alternative. CDCR and CCHCS have launched an internal patient registry to assist institutions in monitoring patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 and track all individuals by risk. In various areas where people must wait in lines—such as canteen lines and medication lines—the prisons have marked six-foot intervals on the ground to help inmates remember to continuously distance themselves from others. The youth within the Division of Juvenile Justice already receive free phone calls and have begun using free Skype video calls for visiting. If the test is positive and the individual has a history of COVID-19 infection within the past 90 days, further coordination is needed prior to the individual being accepted for intake. To view statewide numbers, view the CDCR/CCHCS COVID … On March 11, CDCR made the difficult decision of suspending in-person visiting in an effort to mitigate potential exposure of COVID-19. This tool is not publically available as it contains personal health care information protected by medical privacy laws. Project Hope is an initiative to provide hotel accommodations to people released from state prison, and who have a need to safely quarantine or isolate due to COVID-19 exposure or positive status, but do not have housing in place to do so. Some of the restarted projects are part of the Inmate/Ward Labor Program (IWL), in which incarcerated individuals learn basic construction skills and earn certifications by working on construction projects in the prison under the supervision and training of journeymen in various trades. Additional PPE guidance for staff can be found here. CDCR makes every effort to ensure staff do not enter areas where they are not assigned. All Interstate Compact Agreement transfers of out-of-state parolees and inmates to California are suspended until further notice. See the CDCR/CCHCS COVID-19 Employee Status webpage for a breakdown by location. CDC’s home for COVID-19 data. The incarcerated population and staff have received information about physical distancing, and strategies where possible; including limiting groups to no more than 10, assigning bunks to provide more space between individuals, rearranging scheduled movements to minimize mixing of people from different housing areas, encouraging physical distancing during yard time, and adjusting dining schedules where possible to allow for for smaller groups and additional cleaning and disinfecting of dining halls. 4 CDC, Interim Guidance on Management of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Additionally, when a conservation camp is placed on quarantine, the incarcerated population housed at the camp will receive COVID-19 testing and daily healthcare screenings from nursing staff. http://www.bscc.ca.gov/news/bscc-approves-covid-funds-to-help-house-up-to-8000-leaving-cdcr/. For all of 2019, BPH’s at-hearing denial rate was 66 percent. In its first round of expedited releases in April, CDCR announced the release of approximately 3,500 incarcerated persons who were due to be released within 60 days or less and were not currently serving time for a violent crime as defined by law, domestic violence, or a person required to register under Penal Code 290. CDCR worked closely with the California State Sheriffs’ Association and public health experts to develop a plan to resume intake in a controlled, limited manner. This includes holiday visits. Those testing positive will not be accepted unless they are medically cleared as noted in the “Positive tests” section below. Intake of youth had previously resumed on Sept. 22, 2020, following a two month suspension dating to July 30, 2020. To submit your application, visit the CDCR Office of Peace Officer Selection (OPOS) website here. We are taking precautions necessary to increase physical distancing during these transportations, including significantly limiting the number of inmates in-transit per vehicle and have provided staff and inmates at the institution with reusable cloth barrier masks to be worn during transportation. This registry also includes release date information for each individual, in the event that individuals are to be considered for early release during the pandemic. Details will be provided to the incarcerated population at the institutions. Documentation provided to the RC health care staff must include evidence of prior COVID-19 infection as well as evidence that the individual is not infectious despite having a positive test result. ATO may also be used in limited circumstances for hardship cases related to COVID-19 where the employee has exhausted all available leave credits. Parolees are receiving best practices regarding hand washing, disinfecting, and physical distancing. Based on the recommendation of public health and health care partners, in-person visiting at CDCR institutions remains suspended at this time. DRP continues to coordinate with program providers to develop alternative programming models. As a result of an increase in both positive cases in CDCR’s prisons as well as increasing COVID-19 cases in the community, CDCR once again suspended county jail intake on Nov. 26, 2020. Out of an abundance of caution, and to ensure our state prisons are immediately prepared to address any COVID-19 case at an institution, all California state prisons have been directed to activate their Incident Command Posts, regardless of whether there are active COVID-19 cases at the institution. In recognition of the need for incarcerated people to have contact with their loved ones, the Division of Adult Institutions has expanded phone access for certain privilege groups. In addition, standardized testing resumes as inmates and students are able to be administered exams in person. The incarcerated population are permitted to keep their CALPIA masks upon their scheduled release. This service is also a cost-effective way for incarcerated people to maintain contact with family and friends, which is especially important while visiting is closed. BPH held 3,609 parole suitability hearings by video and telephone conference between April 1, 2020 and April 2, 2021. Such testing will give CDCR and CCHCS a baseline of cases as a preventive measure and for data-gathering purposes, as we work toward safely resuming operations. JPay has also extended inbound email print services to all institutions at a reduced rate. A news release announcing the launch of the new program is available here. CDCR will continue to provide marriages in a safe manner, in keeping with state mandates, and in mitigating the spread of COVID-19. We will continue to maintain custody of those patients until they have been identified as “resolved” by health care professionals and are medically cleared for release. Serology, or antibody, tests will not be accepted, as they detect only past COVID-19 infection, not active cases. A person who recovers from a COVID-19 illness is considered “resolved.” CCHCS has produced an FAQ covering the definition of a Resolved Case under California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and California Correctional Health Care Services standards. Visiting and Communication Coordination should occur with the RC Classification and Parole Representative (C&PR), Intake Control Unit, and CCHCS. All new arrivals will be placed into quarantine for 14 days and tested within 24 hours of arrival. View updates regarding CDCR’s preparedness efforts for COVID-19. It is our intent to offer COVID-19 vaccinations to all CDCR and CCHCS employees and incarcerated individuals. In the event someone tests positive after their COVID-19 case has resolved, see the “Positive test” guidelines below. As of Dec. 21, any staff member who refuses to undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing will be sent home without pay. When not under quarantine, conservation camps are still operating and housing incarcerated people. If someone has received the first dose of the vaccine, RC health care staff must be informed so the second vaccine can be scheduled and administered at the RC. CDCR and CCHCS have also implemented mandatory verbal screening for every person entering any work location, in line with screenings in place at prisons since March 14. No transfer will occur out of quarantine or isolation areas. We work diligently to reduce instances of mental health crises among our population, but if one does occur we immediately address the patient’s needs. Testing for the incarcerated population is offered in the following circumstances, with the top priority always being symptomatic patients: Consistent with guidance from state and local public health officials, CDCR is conducting surveillance testing of incarcerated individuals at all adult institutions. According to CDCR, the most recent death occurred at Chuckawalla Valley State Prison on Monday. CDCR has resumed transfers into the Male Community Reentry Program (MCRP), the Custody to Community Transitional Reentry Program (CCTRP), and the Alternative Custody Program (ACP), with protocols in place throughout to protect participants, staff, and the communities. If a patient is determined to require a higher level of care, CDCR and CCHCS are working diligently to follow all transfer timeline and placement requirements while also adhering to COVID-19 patient movement and transfer testing requirements. All cadets are provided masks that must be worn while on grounds and physical distancing will be enforced throughout the Academy. Visualizations, graphs, and data in one easy-to-use website. What we still don’t know. CDCR now offers real-time video visiting at all adult institutions as a safe way for incarcerated people to see and speak with their loved ones. While this will not eliminate physical mail, this process reduces COVID-19 transmission risk. See the staff testing memo issued July 1. Limiting the number of people in the dayrooms to ensure there is sufficient space for physical distancing. For those on probation, CDCR works with counties to ensure former offenders receive assistance finding reentry housing. These employees also wear a face mask when meeting with CDCR personnel and follow CDCR’s face covering policy when inside the secure perimeter. They continue to complete community service projects when not fighting fires; which include clearing brush and fallen trees, maintaining parks, and reforestation. These provide support services, including substance use disorder treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy, education, life skills, and help finding employment. Long-term offenders are generally allowed to remain at the program until an alternate placement for a lower level of care is identified or until they volunteer and are able to transition back into a separate residence. We understand how vitally important it is to deliver comprehensive mental health services within our institutions at all times, but especially during these extraordinary times of heightened uncertainty. Gov. The offender is allowed to stay at the initial program until an alternate program is identified. CDCR recognizes visiting is an important way to maintain family and community ties. While most employers already have systems in place to track employee absences, employers should review their pre-pandemic recordkeeping to account for the “new normal” and new laws. A total of 204 cases have resolved since first diagnosed on June 14, 2020 with no reported serious symptoms or deaths. Parole agents will usually not enter parolees’ homes but instead make contact at the front door. In recognition of those challenges, the Administration identified $31.2 million in state General Fund last year to reimburse county jails, with CDCR paying a per diem of $93.54 per inmate. Gavin Newsom’s March 24 executive order ceased in-person parole hearings for 60 days, and granted the Secretary the authority to extend the prohibition by 30 days in order to protect the health and welfare of incarcerated people, board officers, legal counsel, and victims’ representatives. Intake at DJJ resumed the week of Feb. 1, 2021, after being suspended since Nov. 24, 2020. STAFF CASES: There are currently 749 active CDCR/CCHCS employee COVID-19 cases statewide with 465 new in the last 14 days (15,501 cumulative; 14,752 returned to work). At the discretion of the agent, telephonic contact or other forms of contact through technology may be utilized for those who are sick or considered high-risk (i.e. CALPIA takes the health and safety of our staff and incarcerated workforce very seriously and we value everyone working in our enterprises. In total, 97 inmates and 12 employees … There are currently 1,103 active CDCR/CCHCS employee COVID-19 cases statewide (2,082 cumulative; 979 returned to work). Office visits with parolees will continue to be limited to: Parolees who must register per sex offender laws, are homeless, or do not have access to a telephone must report to the parole office in-person. At the hearing Wednesday, CDCR’s Diaz testified that statewide, more than 13,200 prison employees have been tested, although those results were not reflected on the agency's tracker. Access will be via current phone equipment, with extra precautions taken to clean phones and allow physical distancing to limit possible exposure and transmittal of illness. DJJ began virtual visitation at all four of its youth facilities effective April 11, 2020. Infected people have a wide range of symptoms, from mild symptoms to severe illness. Only long-term offenders mandated by the Board of Parole Hearings are required to participate in residential or transitional housing services. What You Need to Know About COVID-19 if You Are in Prison or Jail or Ready for Release English pdf icon [253 KB, 2 pages] | Spanish pdf icon [311 KB, 2 pages] Resources and Lessons Learned for Correctional and Detention Facilities Preparing for the Release of Persons with Substance Use Disorder During COVID-19 English pdf icon [112 KB, 4 pages] On July 10, CDCR announced additional actions to protect its most vulnerable population and staff from COVID-19, and to allow state prisons to maximize available space to implement physical distancing, isolation, and quarantine efforts. CDCR and CCHCS have launched an internal patient registry to assist institutions in monitoring patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Please take 5 minutes to complete our COVID-19 vaccine survey . STAFF CASES: There are currently 467 active CDCR/CCHCS employee COVID-19 cases statewide with 274 new in the last 14 days (15,652 cumulative; 15,185 returned to work). (Those offenders placed on probation are under the oversight of the county where they are released. A manifest of people transferring shall be sent in advance to the RC Classification and Parole Representative. Prioritization of which individuals to transfer will be at the counties’ discretion. The distribution of confirmed COVID-19 cases reveals significant disparities within California’s overall racial and ethnic demographics, with Latino and Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander groups having a disproportionate number of cases relative to their population in the state. CDCR cannot hold anyone past their scheduled release date. It is required that test results be provided to health care staff at the RC prior to transfer. In order to reduce risks to patients and staff, all non-urgent offsite specialty appointments will be re-scheduled to a later time. One important question the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) and other recent legislative changes raise for employers is how to track and account for employee leaves. At the hearing Wednesday, CDCR’s Diaz testified that statewide, more than 13,200 prison employees have been tested, although those results were not reflected on the agency's tracker. When open, the following protocols are in place: If an individual has a need to transfer from county detention directly to specialized housing for a higher level of care, advance coordination is required by the CCHCS Director of Health Care Services and Director of Health Care Operations and Corrections Services. It is a coordinated effort of CDCR, the California Department of General Services (DGS) and California Office of Emergency Services (OES) to secure hotel and motel rooms to protect formerly incarcerated people who are at risk for homelessness or housing instability, and the communities to which they are returning. All on-site employees of general contractors and construction management firms are verbally screened for symptoms and have their temperature taken before entering the facility; those whose workplace is outside of the screening location self-certify daily to the screening questions. If an incarcerated firefighter is suspected or confirmed to be positive for COVID-19, they will be transported to the closest appropriate institution with celled housing for quarantine/isolation placement. Video visiting appointments are requested by approved visitors for DJJ youth via a dedicated email address and scheduled in 30-minute blocks during regular weekend visitation hours. CDCR is currently accepting applications for the Correctional Officer classification. Additional COVID-19 race and ethnicity data is available. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — California prison officials say 14 of 18 correctional employees in Kern County have returned to work after being diagnosed with COVID-19. All transferring individuals and staff must wear an N95 respirator mask during transfer. Individuals must be transported within five days of PCR test administration or 24 hours of rapid test administration. CDCR’s electronic messaging provider for the incarcerated population, JPay, is providing reduced-priced emails to those incarcerated at the pilot institutions and free emails for those who cannot afford it. A new population case tracker displays testing and case data statewide by institution in an effort to bring transparency to the CDCR’s COVID-19 response, the agency said. Since March, the majority of individuals sentenced to state prison have been retained in county jails pending transfer to CDCR. Arrivals will be released from quarantine after 14 days if they are asymptomatic and test negative for COVID-19 on or after day 12. Please see the “COVID Screening and Testing Matrix for Patient Movement” for additional testing information for the incarcerated population. All projects were restarted by January 2021. CDCR and CCHCS have developed these frequently asked questions related to mandatory COVID-19 staff testing. Agents from CDCR’s Division of Adult Parole Operations work collaboratively with their law enforcement and community partners to help ensure COVID-19 affected state parolees and county probationers have safe shelter and adequate nutrition while they are in isolation or quarantine. Effective May 4, 2020, the Enterprise Inmate Communication (EIC) program currently piloted at Central California Women’s Facility, California Institution for Women, High Desert State Prison (Facility C), Kern Valley State Prison (Facility C) and Substance Abuse Treatment Facility will be temporarily expanded for those inmates who possess a JPay EIC tablet. Transports shall occur within five days of PCR test administration (or 24 hours for rapid antigen tests), and only those with a negative test will be approved. CALPIA protects workers and follows guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) in addressing COVID-19. CDCR employee COVID-19 cases in Kern County North Kern […] Additionally, with sufficient numbers of appropriately selected patients testing negative, an institution can demonstrate with confidence the absence of an outbreak. If a test is indeterminate, it must be repeated. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s population tracker for virus activity shows over 450 Folsom inmates have active COVID-19. 2,312 resulted in denials (64 percent). Effective May 12, inmates with tablets may also have unlimited free access to the News Stand application, which delivers daily updated news, for one month. 3 Tracking COVID -19 in California (as of Oct. 16, 2020). At this time, people who have been vaccinated must follow the same quarantine, testing, and transport protocols as those who have not been vaccinated, as there is not data yet to tell us if vaccinated people can get infected and become infectious to the people around them. Vaccination administration started on December 22, 2020 at California Health Care Facility (CHCF) and has since expanded statewide. The breakdown of the results of those hearing are as follows: Board of Juvenile Hearings proceedings will take place as scheduled via video conference only. In alignment with California Department of Public Health (CDPH) priority guidelines, vaccination administration started on December 22, 2020 at California Health Care Facility (CHCF). For those mental health patients identified on quarantine status due to a potential COVID-19 exposure, mental health staff are providing services within the patient’s housing unit where they can protect patient confidentiality and provide services on a one-on-one basis. Those in the incarcerated population identified as assisting with cleaning areas of the institution have received direct instruction on proper cleaning and disinfecting procedures in order to eliminate coronavirus. The only difference is that, instead of scheduling in-person marriage ceremonies in the visiting room, ceremonies will be conducted in the visiting room using two-way video conferencing equipment. It is our intent to offer COVID-19 vaccinations to all CDCR and CCHCS employees and incarcerated individuals. The CDCR implemented a COVID-19 Employee Tracking page when the pandemic first began to evolve. It is our intent to offer COVID-19 vaccinations to all CDCR and CCHCS employees and incarcerated individuals. Transfers to these programs are made using protocols outlined in the Movement Matrix. In addition, an employee who refuses testing will also be subject to the employee progressive discipline process, beginning with a formal written reprimand. All affected parole-hearing participants are notified. CDCR/CCHCS COVID-19 Employee Status Current number of active staff cases: 186 Updated as of April 23, 2021 (next update April 30) Communication via phone, mail, and electronic mail at some institutions, remains available with numerous free phone call days offered to each incarcerated person per month. Since the pandemic hit our community, CDCR and CALPIA have been strongly committed to responding to this public health emergency and to protecting both staff and the incarcerated population. All new arrivals will be screened and tested for COVID-19 upon arrival and then multiple times while in quarantine. This will greatly contribute to our ability to make rapidly informed decisions regarding housing, staffing, and treatment to protect all those who live and work in our state prisons. More than 16,000 correctional employees contracted the virus — … In the event an individual who has resolved from COVID-19 within the past 90 days has a positive test, jail staff will need to coordinate with the local health officer and with RC health care staff before the individual is cleared for intake. I nstitution Entrance Screening, Test ing and eLearning Course (Feb 26, 2021); Patient Movement Matrix (Jan 8, 2021); Mandatory Employee Testing and Non Compliance Accountability; Staff Wearing Facial Coverings in Institutions (Updated NOV. 19, 2020); Guidance for the Use of Face Coverings in Headquarters and Regional Offices This includes scheduled off-site visits for children residing at CPMP with their mothers.