Senate Rules Committee advances two CDCR associate director nominees after questions on women’s prison safety

The California State Senate Rules Committee voted to advance two nominees for associate director positions at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) after a hearing in which members pressed nominees on safety, reporting and oversight at the state’s women’s prisons.

Associate Director Angela Kent, nominated for the division of adult institutions in Region 2, and Associate Director Patrick Eaton, nominated for Region 1, each gave opening remarks and answered questions about how CDCR is addressing allegations of staff misconduct, the agency’s tracking of referrals for prosecution and recent reforms aimed at preventing sexual misconduct.

“The floor is yours,” Chair Powell told the nominees before Kent spoke. Kent said she was ‘‘thankful to be in front of you today seeking confirmation’’ and described her 26-year career in probation and parole, her work focused on programming for women and her commitment to ‘‘promoting staff wellness and fair and equitable treatment for those incarcerated, particularly our women.’’ Kent also named external partners she said the department works with on prevention and training, including Just Detention International and the Anti-Recidivism Coalition.

Committee members focused most of their questions on…