The Brief
- Inmates at the California Institution for Men in Chino participate in a challenging commercial diving program funded by CALPIA.
- The program, which boasts a low recidivism rate, is led by former graduates who have found success in commercial diving careers.
- Participants gain valuable skills and hope for a better future, significantly reducing their chances of returning to prison.
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – The hot sun beats down on the group of men handling tanks and other scuba equipment.
“Check your air,” shouts an instructor, while another prepares a separate group to connect an air hose to a heavy commercial dive mask.
By now, they’ve already done military drills and calisthenics in their wetsuits, so they are sweating. After their training dives of the day, they’ll have to train for the mandatory 5-mile swim they’ll eventually be timed on.…