California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation - CDCR Peace Officers

CDCR Peace Officers

CDCR correctional law enforcement officers are peace officers as indicated in California penal code sections 830.2 and 830.5, as their primary duties are to provide public safety, corrections, and law enforcement services in and outside of state institutional grounds, state operated medical facilities, and camps while engaged in the performance of their duties.

The primary duties of these officers include, but are not limited to, providing public safety and law enforcement services in and around California's adult and youth institutions, fire camps, and state operated medical facilities and hospitals, and community correctional facilities. These officers also monitor and supervise parolees who are released back into the general public. Other primary duties include investigation and apprehension of institutional escapees and parolees at large (PAL), prison gangs, statewide narcotics enforcement and investigations (involving institutions), etc.

In addition to correctional officers, CDCR employs approximately 30 Special Agents (criminal investigators) who are assigned to offices throughout the state. They conduct investigations of organized crime involving parolees and inmates, prison gangs, gather intelligence, and conduct narcotics enforcement. These investigators are part of an elite unit known as the Special Service Unit or simply SSU. Special agents work closely with other law enforcement agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, California Department of Justice and local police and sheriff departments.

SSU special agents possess full police powers throughout the state. Although often confused with state parole agents, SSU agents are not affiliated with parole and work out of the Office of Correctional Safety, headquartered in Sacramento, CA. These agents work on the streets, in a plainclothes capacity. They maintain a rigorous training regimen in both tactical firearms and investigative techniques. Many SSU agents are former SWAT officers or police officers. It is often said SSU deals with the "baddest of the bad."

CDCR also operates specialized units such as Investigations Services Unit (ISU), Institutional Gang Investigations (IGI), Transportation Unit, Crisis Response Teams or Special Emergency Response Team (CDCR's version of police SWAT team), Negotiations Management Unit (NMT), K-9 unit, Narcotics Investigations, etc.

As of May 2010, CDCR employed over 30,000 peace officers, classified by titles such as state correctional officers, sergeants, lieutenants, captains, counselors, parole agents, inspectors general, special agents (criminal investigators) and EMPs.