What you need to know: As California continues to invest in building safer communities, a new classroom space opened at California Institution for Men (CIM) in Chino, CA helping to provide more access to rehabilitation through the transformative power of higher education.
CHINO – Prioritizing rehabilitation and education programs to strengthen public safety, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) on May 27, 2025, through collaboration with California State University, Los Angeles announced the campus grand opening of the Prison Graduation Initiative (PGI) at CIM.
The new education classrooms were transformed from space that was no longer being used by parole, after two years of construction the area is now dedicated to education with technology, instructional classrooms, and room for student tutoring and support. At the campus opening, the first cohort of 68 students to enroll in the PGI program at the Chino facility were presented with admissions letters. This marks the largest cohort of students to be admitted to the program to date.
Genevie Candelaria, Superintendent of the Office of Correctional Education in CDCR, attended the grand opening and said “It’s amazing to see so many students challenging themselves and succeeding in the Cal State LA bachelor’s degree program. I could hear and see their confidence and a stronger sense of self, which we know contributes to their academic success and normalizes the college community at CIM. I’m thrilled that CIM and Cal State LA were able to work together to find and transform this space, creating more opportunities for our students and an ability to grow this partnership.”
The state continues to move toward a positive shift in correctional policy, by focusing on proper support for both staff and survivors. This approach also promotes rehabilitative environments for the incarcerated population, including access to educational opportunities. As a result, these efforts contribute to creating safer communities.
Studies show that incarcerated individuals who participate in correctional education are 48% less likely to return to prison within three years than those who did not have access to these opportunities.
“I’m extremely happy for us to have this here because it extends us an opportunity to further our education. Something that we at Chino thought we’d never have the opportunity to do,” said PGI student Eric Jones.
This collaboration between CDCR and Cal State LA is made possible by a formal agreement through a program known as the Prison Graduation Initiative. PGI has grown since its beginning at California State Prison, Los Angeles County in 2016. It has served more than 118 students, with 50 students receiving their Bachelor of Arts in Communication while incarcerated and 15 students transferring and completing their degree on Cal State LA’s campus.
Attending, and speaking at the event, Cal State LA President BereneceaJohnson Eanes said, “We at Cal State LA are in the business of transforming lives through higher education. This new facility represents the strength of our ongoing partnership with CIM and CDCR, and Cal State LA is in it for the long run. This is what we do.”
In the 2025 – 2026 school year, PGI will serve a total of 139 students in three prisons (California State Prison, Los Angeles County, California Institution for Women, and California Institution for Men), having added a second Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies. In 2027, PGI hopes to add a bachelor of science degree in Business Administration with an option in Management while expanding the student enrollment total to 172.
CDCR partners with California’s public higher education system to offer associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees through the California community colleges, the California State University, and the University of California. More than 13.5% of the entire incarcerated population are enrolled in college courses.
AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD:
- Video of the event, please courtesy Cal State LA
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