Monday, March 16, 2020 | 7:06 PM
Good evening,
This email is sent to provide significant updates to CDCR's response to
COVID-19. Please share with anybody you feel would benefit from this
information. To receive these updates directly, please email me.
There are currently no confirmed cases of COVID-19 within CDCR
institutions.
Today's updates
o Given the increased risk associated with the use of
mass/public transportation and those under parole supervision deemed a
high-risk population (older adults and those with known serious chronic
medical conditions), CDCRs Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO)
will make some operational changes to support both staff and the
individuals under their care and supervision. See more details in the
narrative below.
o CDCRs residential community reentry facilities are
conducting verbal screening of staff and participants who enter the
facilities. Those attempting to enter are required to verbally respond if
they currently have symptoms of a respiratory illness.
o Participants are restricted from leaving the facilities
outside of mandated legal reasons, urgent medical needs, or if they are
employed in the community.
o Participants age 65 or older are only eligible for passes
to go into the community for emergency situations.
For the latest information regarding CDCRs preparedness efforts for the
novel coronavirus (COVID-19) please visit the
CDCR COVID-19
Preparedness page.
(Previous updates below)
COVID-19 Preparedness
Executives and staff at CDCR and CCHCS are working closely with
infectious disease control experts to prepare for a scenario where
COVID-19 (new coronavirus) could significantly affect our operations. As
a precautionary measure, and to ensure CDCR and CCHCS are ready to
immediately respond to any COVID-19 related incident, the Agency has
activated the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in order to be fully
prepared to respond to any departmental impacts resulting from COVID-19.
The EOC is a central location where CDCR/CCHCS experts monitor
information, prepare for known and unknown events, and exchange
information centrally in order to make decisions and provide guidance
quickly. We will continue to ensure inmate safety and security, and the
continuation of access to medical, dental, and mental health services for
the incarcerated population.
CDCR and CCHCS are dedicated to the safety of everyone who lives in,
works in, and visits our state prisons. We have longstanding outbreak
management plans in place to address communicable disease outbreaks such
as influenza, measles, mumps, norovirus, and varicella, as well as
preparedness procedures to address a variety of medical emergencies and
natural disasters.
Due to the unique factors of each institution and the population each
houses, the department remains agile in our response to any potential
case of COVID-19 based on the factors and risk related to that case, with
the top priority being the safety and protection of staff, volunteers,
and the incarcerated population.
We are bolstering our response readiness by taking several proactive
steps to educate those who work in, live in, and visit our facilities
regarding ways they can protect themselves and those around them from
COVID-19.
Expanded precautions at institutions
Effective March 14, CDCR and CCHCS have implemented mandatory verbal
screening for every person entering the secured perimeter of state
prisons, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Those attempting to enter a
state prisons secure perimeter are required to verbally respond if they
currently have symptoms of a respiratory illness. If the individuals
response is that they are experiencing symptoms, they will be restricted
from entering the institution that day. Individuals will be required to
respond each time they attempt to enter a CDCR institution. This includes
all staff, visitors, program volunteers, and others entering any CDCR
state prison.
All CDCR institutions have been instructed to conduct additional
deep-cleaning efforts in high-traffic, high-volume areas, including
visiting and health care facilities. Additional hand sanitizer dispensing
stations are being procured and will be placed inside institution
entrances and visiting areas.
Staff and people who enter state prison as contractors, volunteers, or to
facilitate programs have been granted permission to carry up to two
ounces of personal-use hand sanitizer. The incarcerated population is
being provided extra soap and hospital-grade disinfectant that meets
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance for COVID-19.
CDCR and CCHCS have been actively monitoring and assessing institutions
to ensure staff have an adequate supply of personal protective equipment
to immediately address any potential COVID-19 exposures, and to protect
staff and incarcerated people. The workgroup will continue to collaborate
and maintain open lines of communication with the Governors Office of
Emergency Services to identify any deficiencies and ensure adequate
supplies are available at each institution on an ongoing basis.
At this time, all tours are being postponed, and no new tours are being
scheduled. The department has issued limitations on discretionary visits
to the prisons; this does not include those entering the facilities to
provide normal rehabilitative programming. Discretionary visits include
tours and special events.
Visiting
As part of CDCRs COVID-19 prevention efforts, normal visiting at
adult and juvenile facilities will be canceled statewide until further
notice based on California Department of Public Health guidance for mass
gatherings. This includes overnight family visits and Division of
Juvenile Justice visiting.
At this time, legal/attorney visits and hospice visits will be held as
scheduled. Marriages will be postponed, those affected are encouraged to
work with the institutions Community Resource Manager regarding
rescheduling for a later date.
Visitors should monitor CDCRs website for more information and updates.
More information regarding rescheduling family visits, and food orders
already entered, will be forthcoming.
CDCR recognizes the value of visitation in maintaining important
connections with family. However, at this time the Department must do all
it can to protect the health of those who live in, work in, and visit
state institutions. This measure is taken as part of CDCRs comprehensive
enhanced precautions related to COVID-19.
Community Reentry Facilities
CDCRs community reentry program facilities are conducting verbal
screening of staff and participants who enter the facilities. Those
attempting to enter one of these facilities are required to verbally
respond if they currently have symptoms of a respiratory illness.
Visiting has also been halted at these facilities until further notice.
CDCR is committed to continuing education programs and limiting the
impact our COVID-19 response has on positive rehabilitative programming.
Rehabilitative programs at the reentry facilities will continue with
modifications made to class sizes to encourage social distancing.
Participants are restricted from leaving the facilities outside of
mandated legal reasons, urgent medical needs, or if they are employed in
the community.
Participants that are age 65 or older are only eligible for passes to go
out in the community for emergency situations only.
Division of Adult Parole Operations
The Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO) is committed to the
safety of the community, staff, and those in its care. Given the
increased risk associated with the use of mass/public transportation and
those under parole supervision deemed a high-risk population (older
adults and those with known serious chronic medical conditions), DAPO
will make some operational changes to support both staff and the
individuals under their care and supervision.
In efforts to minimize potential impact from COVID-19, the following
steps will be taken immediately:
· Routinely scheduled, non-essential
office visits shall be avoided at this time.
· Office visits will be limited to only
those where the parolee must report to the office to help limit the
potential exposure and spread of COVID-19.
· Office visits for those age 65 and older
and with chronic medical conditions shall be suspended immediately.
· Work-related travel for staff that uses
commercial transportation (i.e. air, train, etc.) will be limited to
essential travel for operational needs and must be approved by the staff
member's hiring authority.
· In-person training may be postponed to a
later date, modified, or waived as deemed appropriate to assist with
complying with guidance to limit large groups and social distancing.
At this time all parolees' conditions of parole remain in place, with the
exception of the items listed above. DAPO administrators and supervise
will assess all measures being implemented and adjust, modify, or waive
required specifications as appropriate. Any questions parolees may have
related to COVID-19 prevention efforts should be directed to their Parole
Agent.
CDCR will continue to follow the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and California Department of Public Health guidelines for
responding to COVID-19. CDCR will maintain cooperation and communication
with local and state health departments. DAPO staff are encouraged to
communicate with their chain of command for questions or concerns.
Parole suitability hearings
Effective March 16, in-person participation by victims and District
Attorneys at Board of Parole Hearings (BPH) suitability hearings will not
take place until further notice. Learn more
here.
CDCR and BPH recognize the rights of crime victims and values the input
of crime victims and District Attorneys at parole hearings. However, at
this time the Department must do all it can to protect the health of
those who work in, live in, and enter its institutions. This measure is
taken as part of CDCRs comprehensive enhanced precautions related to
COVID-19.
Participation in parole hearings by victims and District Attorneys will
take place via written communication and audio/video appearances using
technology already in place. The Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and
Services (OSVRS) has notified all impacted victims and the Board of
Parole Hearings has notified all impacted District Attorneys.
For more information about OSVRS services for crime victims and their
families, please visit
https
://www.cdcr.ca.gov/victim-services/ or call (877) 256-6877.
Rehabilitative programming and population communication
CDCR is committed to maintaining positive, normal programming to
encourage the incarcerated population to remain focused on their
rehabilitation. However, those visiting state prisons every day as
program providers, contractors, and volunteers are urged to not enter a
CDCR institution, or take part in a program or event, if they have
symptoms.
CDCR will continue to allow all inmates access to religious
services.
To keep members of our population informed, we have created and
distributed fact sheets and posters in both English and Spanish that
provide education on COVID-19 and precautions recommended by CDC, which
expand upon those advised during cold and flu season. We have also begun
streaming CDC educational videos on the CDCR Division of Rehabilitative
Programs inmate television network and the CCHCS inmate health care
television network.
To increase precautions for the incarcerated population, institutions
will be providing extra cleaning supplies at no cost to the incarcerated
population to maintain good personal hygiene and a clean living
environment. CDCR already provides the population with hospital-grade
disinfectant and access to soap and running water in all areas they are
housed.
Institutions have been instructed to create staggered dining schedules
where possible to limit the size of the population that is congregated at
one time, but to also allow additional cleaning and disinfecting to be
done of the dining halls between groups.
Additionally, we are providing regular department updates regarding
COVID-19 response to the Statewide Inmate Family Council and all
institutional Inmate Family Councils who serve the family and friends of
the incarcerated population to ensure they are aware of the steps the
department is taking to protect their loved ones housed in our
institutions.
Transportation/Receiving and Release protocols
For inmates coming into the CDCR system, who are being transported to
county jail to attend court hearings, or are transferring from prison to
prison, we are completing a comprehensive health screening and assessment
by health care professionals when they are both processed into and out of
an institution; including temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and
respiration screenings. They are also asked a series of questions about
their state of health.
Communication and guidance to CDCR and CCHCS staff
We have worked continuously to keep staff informed of the evolving
situation, including creating internal and external webpages with
health-related information from CDC and California Department of Public
Health on how they can protect themselves against COVID-19. We have also
provided staff with California Department of Human Resources (CalHR)
updates on personnel and work-related questions specific to the COVID-19
issue.
CDCR and CCHCS cares for the health and wellness of its workforce and
have been working to accommodate those who have been impacted by this
evolving situation. We will continue to work diligently with CalHR and
labor organizations on how we can best keep our workforce protected and
provide for the safety and security of our institutions.
Krissi Khokhobashvili
Chief
Office of External Affairs
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
(916) 324-6508
she/her they/them