Alder Conservation Camp

The average time spent in this facility is 1 to 1 ½ years. During this time, the inmates can also earn other certifications, such as food preparation, becoming a barber, learning electrical skills, or carpentry. They also have the opportunity to complete their GEDs and correspondence courses through Lassen Community College. Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are available to them, along with various hobbies.

Alder Camp’s maximum housing is 109 inmates; there were 87 men on the day of our visit. On that day the fire crews were working in both Del Norte and 4 Humboldt counties doing roadside cleaning, weed eradication, and levee reinforcement. The Grand Jury Corrections Committee was given a thorough tour of the facilities by several members of the staff and also given the opportunity to interview two of the inmates. Both inmates expressed their appreciation at being in an open setting and to be doing something other than sitting in a cell.

The committee’s overall impression of Alder Camp was of an extremely well-run and well-maintained facility. It is a beneficial working and training experience for those inmates fortunate enough to gain placement in the facility.

One concern that came up during the committee’s visit was the effect of AB109 on Alder Camp and similar facilities. This law has decreased the available candidates since the inmates being transferred to county jails are the same type that the Camp looks at – non-violent and non-sexual offenders. A fully staffed crew would have 17 inmates; at the time of our visit no crews were fully staffed. The committee was told that the normal increase in crime over the summer should alleviate some of that shortage. However, we are concerned that in an effort to alleviate the State of California budget, this program may not be used to its full potential. This is a program that helps inmates learn work and life skills, while at the same time providing invaluable services to our communities.