The California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA) Career Technical Education (CTE) program is the first of its kind in the nation to partner an incarcerated individual rehabilitation program with trade unions, non-profit organizations, public entities, and private companies to meet the rehabilitative needs of incarcerated individuals. To date, the CALPIA CTE program is one of the most effective correctional rehabilitation programs in California. By three years after release, only 9.5 percent of CALPIA CTE participants had been returned to custody.
The CALPIA CTE program provides incarcerated individuals productive work and training opportunities in which they receive accredited certifications. The program benefits incarcerated individuals, enhances public safety, and provides savings to the State.
The CALPIA CTE program was established in 2006. The program began as a pre-apprenticeship program with instruction being administered by journeyman instructors under contract from local trade unions representing Carpentry, Construction Labor, and Iron Working. Partnerships include: Northern California Carpenters Regional Council, Construction and General Laborers Local 185, Iron Workers Local 118, Southwest Regional Council Carpenters Local 944, and Southern California Laborers Local 783.
CALPIA’s CTE program also includes, Commercial Diving, Facilities Maintenance and in 2014, CALPIA added a technology component with Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Coding (Code.7370).
The CALPIA CTE program portfolio includes:
Pre-Apprentice Construction Labor
CALPIA’s Pre-Apprentice Construction Labor program is a 6-month training program under the supervision of journeyman professionals working with the Northern and Southern California Construction and General Laborers Unions. The union instructors provide training in general construction skills including hand tools, pneumatic & power tools, compressors, tape measurement, concrete forms, concrete pouring, signage, traffic control, demolition, forklift operation, general health & safety issues, and job interview skills. Pre-Apprentice Construction Laborer graduates earn accredited certifications that meet the standards required by the union’s training center certified source. After completion of training, paroling incarcerated individuals are eligible for placement in full-scale apprenticeship programs. CALPIA pays the initial union dues and provides a full complement of tools to incarcerated individuals who complete the program.
Pre-Apprentice Carpentry
CALPIA’s Pre-Apprentice Carpentry program is a 6-month training program under the supervision of journeyman professionals working with the Northern and Southern California Carpenters Unions. The union instructors provide training in diverse skills including blueprint reading, hand tools, pneumatic & power tools, compressors, drywall, taping and texturing, framing, finished carpentry, tape measurements, general carpentry math, concrete framing, painting, roofing, general health & safety and job interview skills. After completion of training, paroling incarcerated individuals are eligible for placement in a full-scale apprenticeship programs. Pre-Apprentice Carpentry graduates earn accredited certifications that meet the standards required by the union’s training center certified source. CALPIA pays the initial union dues and provides a full complement of tools to incarcerated individuals who complete the program.
Pre-Apprentice Roofing
The Pre-Apprenticeship Roofing program is a three-month incarcerated individual training program under the supervision of journeyman professionals contracted with the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers. The union instructors provide training in a diverse curriculum including fall protection, ladder safety, common roofing materials, hand and power tools, plans and specifications, kettle safety, and interview skills. Program graduates earn accredited certifications that meet the standards required by the union’s training center. Released incarcerated individuals have direct entry into the union with their pre-apprenticeship hours credited. CALPIA also pays the initial union dues and provides a full complement of tools to graduates once released.
Iron Working
CALPIA’s Iron Worker program is a 6-month apprentice training program under the supervision of journeyman professionals working with the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers, Local Union #118. The union instructors provide training in diverse curriculum including welding, metal work, hand tools, pneumatic and power tools, tape measurement, ladders, general iron worker math, drawing, compressors, compressed gases, blueprint reading, “green” construction and job interview skills. Graduates of the Iron Workers program earn accredited certifications required by the union’s training center certified source. After completion of training, paroling incarcerated individuals are eligible for placement to continue their full-scale apprenticeship programs until completion. CALPIA pays the initial union dues and provides a full complement of tools to incarcerated individuals who complete the program.
Commercial Diving
CALPIA’s Commercial Diving program through the Marine Technology Training Center (MTTC) is an 11-18 month commercial diving and underwater welding incarcerated individual training program under the supervision of Journeyman Commercial Diver Instructors and U.S. Navy Reserve members. The MTTC program provides training in diverse skills including diving physics, physiology, dive medicine, proper tool handling, blueprint reading navigation, report writing, air systems, welding and cutting, compressors, seamanship, blueprint reading, diesel engines, power plants, pump houses, pneumatic tools, rigging and marine construction. MTTC graduates earn possible milestone credits and accredited certifications that meet the standards required by the U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Association of Diving Contractors International. Job placement is available upon parole.
Facilities Maintenance
CALPIA’s Facilities Maintenance program is a 3-6 month training program under the supervision of CALPIA instructors working with a recognized accredited source of material. Incarcerated individuals can receive certifications in diverse curriculum including, hand tool identification and use, minor building maintenance, light janitorial services, sanitation equipment, Material Safety Data Sheets, health and safety practices, ladder safety and use, tape measurement, chemical handling and use, use of small power tools, maintain reports & documentation and interview skills. Participants of Facilities Maintenance who complete the assigned set curriculum can obtain certifications that are recognized by employers. This specific training will enable incarcerated individuals to qualify to take state employment exams and obtain employment such as a Custodian/Maintenance Technician with Department of General Services (DGS) upon parole.
Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
The CAD program is a 6-12 month technology-based, training program under the supervision of certified CALPIA professionals. The program is the first-of-its kind in the nation since it is only authorized Autodesk Training Center (ATC) that provides industry accredited certifications at a state prison. Autodesk provides the software for architecture, engineering, construction and manufacturing industries. CALPIA’s CAD program contains a curriculum that includes basic computer skills, blueprint reading, basic math computation, measurement & scale, and interview skills. Participants also learn CAD drafting work such as drawing revisions from markups, detailed drawing of assemblies, sub-assemblies, and component parts using Autodesk programs such as AutoCAD, Inventor 3D, and Revit. Graduates can learn all three programs and obtain industry accredited certifications within the CAD program.
Code.7370, Computer Coding
Computer Coding is a 6-month technology-based, training program under the supervision of CALPIA instructors, technology business community professionals and volunteers with the non-profit organization, The Last Mile. Code.7370 provides basic computer skills, coding instruction, website and application design. The Code.7370 program curriculum utilizes proprietary program architecture to simulate a live coding environment without Internet access. The program teaches HTML, CSS Python and its associated web frameworks, Git and source control message queues, and JavaScript. The six-month program is structured as a progression towards the normal day-to-day life of a software engineer in an entrepreneurial environment. Incarcerated individuals can obtain industry accredited certifications. Code.7370 offers three levels of coding certifications, to ensure that incarcerated individuals continue to progress and hone their coding skills.
