Dozens of inmates at Centinela State Prison earn national job certifications
Lynette Niebla
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) — New opportunities and second chances are opening up for dozens of incarcerated individuals in Imperial County. The California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Authority (CALCTRA) held a graduation ceremony Tuesday morning at Centinela State Prison, celebrating inmates who are actively rewriting their futures behind bars.
The ceremony honored 25 hard-working individuals who completed rigorous apprenticeships and earned nationally recognized job certifications. The training programs focus on high-demand fields, including Healthcare Facilities Maintenance, specialized TPC training courses, and the fabric industry.
For the graduates, the ceremony was the culmination of years of grit and determination.
“We’re here in celebration of all the hard work that we’ve been doing for these last couple of years,” said graduate Douglas Lopez.
Lopez, who jumped at the chance to enroll the moment the programs became available, noted that the real-world training environment offered unexpected personal growth. “It wasn’t a letdown. It was, matter of fact, everything that I thought it would be,” Lopez shared. “Being able to work with other people that I never would’ve received an opportunity to work with… helped me personally just develop skills that I needed or thought I had lost. It’s been a blessing honestly, a big blessing.”
CALCTRA currently provides vital real-world job skills to more than 5,800 incarcerated individuals in prisons across California.
The atmosphere inside Centinela State Prison was electric on Tuesday, packed with family members, friends, and program leaders cheering from the audience.
Facility leaders took turns at the podium to remind the graduates that their mistakes do not define their potential.
“Can’t do anything about your past, but you’re definitely doing something about your future,” Centinela State Prison Chief Deputy Warden Iainnardo Black told the class. “Be proud of that.”
CALCTRA Director Suzie Changus pushed the graduates to keep their momentum going as they look toward re-entry. “If you’re willing to take one meaningful step on your own behalf towards making a dream come true, the universe will meet you where you are and help you take two,” Changus said.
The graduation also featured a powerful appearance by former graduate Tony Curtis. Now a celebrated success story of the program on the outside, Curtis returned behind bars to serve as living proof of what is possible upon release.
“Yes, it matters,” Curtis emphasized to the crowd. “There’s real opportunity on the other side. There’s real success on the other side of this opportunity, and you guys are here today because you understand that.”
Beyond the personal milestones achieved by the graduates, state officials highlighted the massive, long-term societal and economic benefits of in-prison vocational training. According to data tracked by the agency, these programs dramatically reduce the likelihood of ex-offenders returning to custody.
“Eighty-five percent of the folks that participate in our programs for at least six months do not return to prison,” Director Changus revealed. “So they don’t come back to custody, which is a huge savings for the state. But it also saves in their ability to go home, contribute to their families, contribute to their future, and change the cycle of crime.”
The industry-accredited certifications earned by the class are specifically structured to qualify individuals for immediate job placement in high-demand fields the moment they finish serving their time.
For the 25 graduates celebrating at Centinela State Prison, those savings, successes, and a true fresh start are officially within reach.