THE CALIFORNIA PRISON AUTHORITY HONORED OFFENDERS SERVING TIME AT THE CALIFORNIA MEN’S COLONY THURSDAY FOR RECEIVING JOURNEY-LEVEL APPRENTICESHIPS. — The California Prison Industry Authority honored offenders serving time at the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo Thursday for receiving journey-level apprenticeships.
According to the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Ralph Diaz, the men report to work early in the morning to learn trades like graphic arts, manufacturing, welding or fabrication. The program also teaches the inmates other skills needed in the workplace like interacting with fellow colleagues and working through disagreements.
“I feel way more comfortable to be able to go out and apply for a job and actually know what I’m talking about or what I’m doing and be able to provide that service that they need and also for myself,” said Ismaeo Ramos, who was one of the inmate graduates.
There is a limited number of positions for the inmates to fill in the program, but it gives them an opportunity to learn and fix things in the prison.
“They pretty much put us in a position where if you want to grow and you want to change, they give you the opportunity to do so,” Ramos said.
The apprenticeship program is one step in the rehabilitation and corrections process at the California Men’s Colony.
