Gender Responsive Stategies

Well for those of you who would like a true and accurate portrayal of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, here it is.

I was in a training class, that is mandatory for all employee, for the past week. This would be a full 40 hour week that started at 8:00am and concluded at 4:00pm, Monday through Friday. The purpose of the training was to enlighten me about the differences between female and male inmates. Mind you I began the first 4 years of my career working at the toughest prison California had to offer, Corcoran State Prison. Corcoran housed the best and baddest that ever walked the streets, and some of the more infamous California inmates like Manson, Sirhan Sirhan and the likes. After my time with the men I transferred to the women's prison saving myself 1 hour each way in my commute. Gas was under a dollar then, so a good move. Anyone back to the post.

I have worked with the female population going on 14 years. So I have a pretty good idea of the differences, in fact, we all know the differences. The difference in male and female inmates in the same as the differences between any man and women. That being said, it was determined that the actual 40 hours of training really consisted of 24 hours of material that was common knowledge throughout the institution.

So this was a typical day:

Arrive at 0800 and proceed to a 1/2 break.
Back to class and break for lunch at 11:45 until 1:30
Back at class and break at 2:00
Class dismissed at 3:00

The nice part was we were able to watch the DVD's I brought in. So out training consisted of The Best in Show, The Sentinel, Dodgeball and Anchorman, starring Will Ferrell. Man does the State provide!