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Can California inmates use social media?

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    Recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month for over 70 years, May is a time to raise awareness of mental and behavioral health issues. Resources and resources are available to you and your incarcerated loved ones throughout the year; Support does not have to end at the end of the month.

    In 2022, the National Alliance on Mental Illness reported that 2 in 5 inmates had a history of mental illness (37% in state and federal prisons and 44% in local prisons). Almost 66% of incarcerated women reported a history of mental illness, nearly double the percentage of incarcerated men. However, less than a quarter of these individuals receive treatment while in detention. As a family member of an incarcerated person, it is important to talk about the challenges, stigma and needed solutions related to mental illness.

    How do prisoners access social networks?

    Well, if the prisoners don’t have access to the internet, how the hell do they get into social networks? I often refer to the Netflix show Orange is the New Black in my blog posts because that show had certain truth-based stories.

    If you’ve seen it, you may recall inmates holding cell phones that were smuggled into the facility. And some of the inmates posted on social networking sites. This is based on reality as numerous inmates post daily on social media, and sometimes from their cell!

    Sending pictures to the California Correctional Facility

    You cannot send pictures to inmates using the street address. All mail must go through a PO box. CAC has three main units. Each unit has a separate mailing address. All mail to an occupant should be addressed as follows:

    Name and CDCR#Facility AP.O. Box 2696, California City, CA 93504

    Is code 7370 a model for other states?

    The creators of Code.7370 believe the program can be replicated in other settings, including rural prisons, that may not have easy access to coding teachers.

    San Quentin State Prison inmates receive instructions in person and via Google Hangouts. According to Co.Exist, inmates don’t have internet access and instead do their jobs in a custom offline coding environment. The website described the prison’s Code.7370 classroom as a well-lit room full of refurbished computers formerly used by state employees. Outside of programming classes, inmates can practice their new skills under the supervision of a CALPIA staff member.

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