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Articles Tagged With ‘California Prisons’




California jails letting inmates go early

Written on 18 Aug, 2014 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 5 comments

In the wake of California prison realignment, local jails across the state are releasing more and more inmates before they have completed their sentences. [LA Times] California jails are currently releasing more than 13,500 inmates early each month in order... (Continue reading)

UN investigating torture allegations in California prisons

Written on 21 Oct, 2013 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 24 comments

The United Nations’ lead torture investigator has agreed to look into allegations that some California prisoners are not treated humanely. Juan Mendez is seeking access to California lockups to ensure that prisoner’s rights are being protected. “We should have more... (Continue reading)

Controversy arises over prisoner’s death

Written on 29 Jul, 2013 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 7 comments

Advocates of a California prison inmate hunger strike announced one of the prisoners who had been refusing meals has died, but state corrections officials said the death is under investigation as a suicide. [Reuters] Supporters and inmates say Billy Sell,... (Continue reading)

Prison realignment gets state scrutiny

Written on 18 Jul, 2013 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 3 comments

An obscure state panel, the California State Sex Offender Management Board, has convened in Sacramento to study the social implications of the so-called prison realignment policy now being introduced by corrections officials. (Sacramento Bee) The realignment has been initiated to... (Continue reading)

Men’s Colony inmates join statewide hunger strike

Written on 12 Jul, 2013 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 10 comments

Inmates at the California Men’s Colony have joined a statewide hunger strike over the treatment of prisoners, just as state officials are trying to convince the U.S. Supreme Court that prison conditions have improved. The California Department of Corrections and... (Continue reading)

Valley Fever outbreak at California prisons

Written on 5 Jul, 2013 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 9 comments

An outbreak of Valley Fever at two California prisons prompted a federal judge on Tuesday to order the state to relocate thousands of prisoners to other facilities. [ABC] State correctional officials have agreed to transport 2,600 at risk inmates including... (Continue reading)

Felon firefighter forces dwindling

Written on 1 Aug, 2012 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 8 comments

Even as California’s fire season reaches its peak, state officials are learning that a new prison policy will drastically affect the numbers of firefighters available in emergencies. (SF Chronicle) State prison trustees who have been trained to provide critical, physical... (Continue reading)

Voters to ponder three-strikes law

Written on 12 Jun, 2012 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 21 comments

Should California’s sometimes-controversial “Three-Strikes Law” be modified? Voters in November will have a say in the law’s future following qualification of a initiative that would ostensibly reduce the number of convictions. If endorsed by voters, the initiative would change the... (Continue reading)

Bills focus on lowering prison recidivism

Written on 21 May, 2012 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 7 comments

Prompted by stories of former prisoners unable to get jobs and assimilate into society because of the stigma of a felony conviction, California lawmakers are considering three bills that would make it easier for ex-convicts to get jobs. [MyDesert] One... (Continue reading)

State’s highest paid employee performed ‘mailroom’ duties

Written on 13 Jul, 2011 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 13 comments

California’s highest paid state employee took home $777,423 last year as a prison surgeon but did little more than shuffle papers. [Los Angeles Times] In fact, Dr. Jeffrey Rohlfing has been mostly locked out of his job at High Desert... (Continue reading)