California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA) Certifies Offenders for Productive Life after Prison
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California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA) Certifies Offenders for Productive Life after Prison
Commercial Dive and Welding Program California’s Most Successful Rehabilitation Program
CHINO – Today, 14 offenders at the Leonard Greenstone Marine Technical Training Center (MTTC) at the California Institution for Men (CIM) received diplomas during graduation ceremonies.
MTTC graduates are certified commercial divers, dive inspectors, and underwater welders. The program’s recidivism rate of less than seven percent makes the MTTC one of the most successful rehabilitation programs in the United States.
“By choosing to participate in the commercial dive and welding program, these graduates have learned valuable skills and significantly reduced the likelihood of returning to prison,” said Charles Pattillo, General Manager of CALPIA. Rather than costing taxpayers an average of $42,000 per year for housing and security, the vast majority of CALPIA graduates will become law-abiding and taxpaying citizens.”
MTTC classes include welding and cutting, all phases of operations and repair of diesel engines, compressors, pneumatic tools, rigging, marine construction, power plants, and pump houses. In addition, participants are required to master classes in, physics, physiology, dive medicine, proper tool handling, blueprint reading, and seamanship.
“These graduates are learning valuable skills that will give them a foundation for success as they transition back to the communities from which they came,” said the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (CDCR) Secretary, Matthew Cate.
To increase the chance of employment, all CALPIA participants are required to obtain a high school diploma, or complete a GED, within two-years of participating in a CALPIA CTE program or employment in a CALPIA enterprise.
CALPIA is a self-financed state entity that provides training and productive work assignments for approximately 7,000 offenders in 22 CDCR institutions in California. CALPIA receives all of its revenue from the sale of the products it manufactures. CALPIA funds the CTE program from proceeds derived from CALPIA enterprises. The recidivism rate among CALPIA CTE participants is 80 percent lower than the general prison population, a success attributed to the job skills and industry certifications obtained by participating in the program.