CDCR Renovates Dayrooms with Cortech Normative Furniture

Humanizing Prison Environments

In an effort to humanize some of the most secure settings and enhance safety for staff and inmates, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) recently made the bold decision to contract with Cortech USA®. Together we are renovating the dayrooms in all thirty-four adult facilities state-wide. Aging steel furniture is being replaced with Cortech’s colorful molded furnishings to facilitate normative environments conducive to care and rehabilitation.

This joint initiative aligns with the rapidly growing industry trend acknowledging the value of molded furniture over comparable steel products. When asked about the dayroom upgrades, Valley State Prison’s shared Warden (A), Matthew McVay, said “we want to create an atmosphere that nourishes creativity, promotes positivity, and provides plenty of resources for a seamless reentry into any community. We are giving the incarcerated population every opportunity to become productive members of society.”

The incorporation of color and warmth into dayroom aesthetics positively impacts the human psyche and encourages good behavior. However, Cortech’s normative furniture offers additional benefits beyond visual perception. Our products are thoroughly tested for strength and durability, resistant to ligature points and weapon fabrication, antimicrobial, Greenguard Gold Certified, and require very little maintenance.

Providing Autonomy

CDCR’s contract includes Sentinel Chairs, In Sync Modular Series Chairs and Ottomans, and Laminate Gametop Tables. Cortech works closely with representatives from each facility to design suitable arrangements in their choice of color(s). Rather than implementing traditional practices of bolting furniture to the ground, chairs are ballasted with sandbags. This allows safe movement and reconfiguration by staff and residents.

By promoting a sense of familiarity and personal choice, dayroom atmospheres are positively impacted. As Warden McVay describes it, “The new furniture and tables also serve to encourage people to come out of their dorms and socialize in a more relaxed and socially interactive environment. It also creates a more pleasant working environment for prison employees.”

Success Through  Partnership

The synergistic collaboration between both organizations has contributed to the overall success of the partnership. Effective communication, thoughtfully planned operations, and detailed logistics facilitate smooth installations. As a result, improvements in the areas of cleanliness, safety, and aesthetics are realized. And, more importantly, a significant boost in morale has captivated both staff and residents.