In this episode, we interview retired CDCR Secretary Ralph Diaz who recently retired after 30 years of state service. He recently started a non-profit organization called Stand Up For Victims - an organization that provides education, advocacy, information and resources to victims of crime. He is also an advisory board member of the Golden State Communities Project, which works to improve public safety in communities in the state of California.
He discusses his early childhood growing up in the San Joaquin Valley, the positive impact of growing up in a small rural town, and the negative impact of his parents divorce. Ralph rose through the ranks, starting as a correctional officer at Wasco State Prison, eventually transferring to Corcoran State Prison, and then began promoting at the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility initially to correctional counselor and subsequently to warden. He eventually promoted to Secretary, the highest ranking position in the department.
He discusses critical incidents he experienced during his law enforcement career, the loss of a close friend to suicide, and the stress associated with working at the executive level. He reflects on his own mental health at different stages in his career and the toll it took on his family and his physical health. He shares his opinion about changes that have occurred in the department, consequences of early parole for inmates, worker’s compensation, EAP and other related department issues.
