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California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA) Certifies Offenders for Productive Life after Prison
93 percent of Graduates of Commercial Dive and Welding Program Do Not Return to Prison
CHINO – Today, five 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.
“These graduates are learning valuable skills that will give them a foundation for success as they transition back to their communities,” said California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations (CDCR) Secretary Jeff Beard.
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.
“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.”
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 24 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 82 percent lower than the general prison population, a success attributed to the job skills and industry certifications obtained by participating in the program.
