CDCR Today

CORCORAN – On February 28, 2015 at 11:05 a.m., a 59-year-old California State Prison-Corcoran inmate was pronounced dead from injuries he suffered from an assault that occurred earlier this month.

The inmate, whose name is being withheld pending next-of-kin notification, had been hospitalized in a community medical facility since February 9, 2015, and was in critical condition after being assaulted by his cellmate. He was serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole from Los Angeles County for assault with a deadly weapon and making criminal threats to cause great bodily injury or death, his third strike.

His cellmate, David Pina, 54, has been identified as the suspect. Pina began serving a six-year sentence in 2004 from Tulare County for assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury. In 2011, he also began serving a four-year sentence from Kern County for making terrorist threats.

This incident is still under investigation by the prison’s Investigative Services Unit and will be referred to the Kings County District Attorney’s Office.

CSP-Corcoran opened in 1988 and houses approximately 4,000 minimum-, medium-, maximum- and high-security custody inmates. The Kings County prison offers academic classes and vocational programs as well as community programs and work crews. The prison employs approximately 2,300 people.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2015

Contact: Lt. Luis Martinez
(559) 992-6104

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EL MONTE—The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials are looking for a female state prison inmate who walked away from an El Monte residential treatment facility on Friday, March 13.

Breana Armstard, 23, had been participating in the Alternative Custody Program (ACP) at the El Monte Female Offender Treatment and Employment Program (FOTEP) facility since January 5 and was due to parole on April 15.

ACP is a voluntary program developed for female non-violent, non-serious and non-registerable sex offense inmates which allows them to serve up to the last 24 months of their sentence in the community in lieu of confinement in state prison. Eligible participants may be housed in a private residence, a transitional care facility or a residential drug or other treatment program.

Armstard was committed to CDCR on December 20, 2013 from Los Angeles County to serve a two-year, eight-month sentence for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, her second strike.

CDCR has sent staff and resources to locate and apprehend the inmate. The California Highway Patrol and local law enforcement have been contacted for assistance.

If anyone has information about or knowledge of the location of this individual they should immediately contact 911.

The El Monte FOTEP provides a smooth transition for female offenders from custody to the community, focusing on intensive, gender-responsive counseling services. The goal of the FOTEP is to reduce recidivism through substance abuse treatment services, family reunification, vocational training, and employment services.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dana Simas
March 13, 2015
(916) 445-4950

SAN QUENTIN – Inmate J.C.X. Simon, 69, was found unresponsive in his cell late Thursday night. He was pronounced dead at the prison at 11:59 p.m. March 12, 2015. The cause of death is unknown pending the results of an autopsy. Simon was single-celled.

Simon, also widely known as one of the “Zebra Killers,” was received by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) on March 30, 1976, to serve a life sentence with the possibility of parole. He was convicted in San Francisco County of two counts of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon.

Simon was convicted along with three other men following a string of killings that took place in San Francisco from October 1973 to April 1974. All were sentenced to life with the possibility of parole. Larry Green, 63, is incarcerated at California State Prison-Solano (Vacaville); Manuel Moore, 70, is at Ironwood State Prison (Blythe); and Jessie Lee Cooks, 70, is at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility (San Diego).

For information contact Lt. Sam Robinson at (415) 455-5008.

SACRAMENTO –The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) have signed an agreement to expand and increase inmate access to community college courses that will lead to degrees, certificates or will transfer to a four-year university.

The contract was made possible by the September 2014 passage of Senate Bill (SB) 1391, authored by State Senator Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley). SB 1391 provides CCCCO up to $2 million to create and support at least four pilot sites, still to be determined, to allow inmate students to earn college credits and access to counseling, placement, and disability support services.

“One of the best accomplishments of SB 1391 is the coalition between CDCR and the Chancellor’s Office,” Superintendent of CDCR’s Office of Correctional Education Brantley Choate said. “We are now inspired to work collaboratively to break down departmental silos to create the best correctional college system in the world.”

The funds will be used from the State’s Recidivism Reduction Fund, created in 2014 by Senate Bill 105 to help CDCR comply with court-ordered inmate population reductions.

The programs at the pilot sites must provide college-level instruction to both male and female inmates seeking certificates, associate degrees, or for which course credits are transferrable to four-year universities or colleges. Instruction may be delivered through in-class, instructional television, or other methods. The programs will also offer support services such as college orientation, counseling and academic advisement and student education plans.

A recent RAND report found that every dollar invested in inmate education resulted in $5 saved in future prison costs.

Previously, California community colleges did not receive funding for courses taught inside state prisons. This limited many higher education opportunities for inmates to distance learning models and lacked continuity in coursework between prisons.

CDCR will work collaboratively with CCCCO and participating colleges to determine suitable program offerings in each of the selected institutions.

“Expanding access to higher education can have tremendous benefits for incarcerated students and those around them,” said California Community Colleges Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Pam Walker. “Community colleges can provide incarcerated students with new skills and perspectives that can help build better lives and reduce recidivism. We look forward to working with CDCR on this potentially life-changing initiative.”

CDCR will provide the classroom space, furniture, equipment and technology necessary. CDCR will also provide training to participating California community college staff, faculty and volunteers regarding the unique challenges of providing educational services to inmates.

CDCR expects to begin classes by September 2015.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2015

CONTACT:Dana Simas
(916) 445-4950

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EL MONTE— An inmate who walked away from an El Monte Residential Treatment Facility last Friday is now back in California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) custody. Breana Armstard, 23, turned herself in Saturday night to the El Segundo Police Department which then booked her into Los Angeles County Jail.

Armstard had been participating in the Alternative Custody Program (ACP) at the El Monte Female Offender Treatment and Employment Program facility since January 5 and was due to parole on April 15. She will now continue her sentence at the California Institution for Women in Corona.

ACP is a voluntary program developed for female non-violent, non-serious and non-registerable sex offense inmates which allows them to serve up to the last 24 months of their sentence in the community in lieu of confinement in state prison. Eligible participants may be housed in a private residence, a transitional care facility or a residential drug or other treatment program.

Armstard was committed to CDCR on December 20, 2013 from Los Angeles County to serve a two-year, eight-month sentence for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, her second strike.

The El Monte FOTEP provides a smooth transition for female offenders from custody to the community, focusing on intensive, gender-responsive counseling services. The goal of the FOTEP is to reduce recidivism through substance abuse treatment services, family reunification, vocational training, and employment services.

Of all offenders who have escaped from an adult institution, camp or community-based program since 1977, 98.7 percent have been apprehended.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2015

CONTACT: DANA SIMAS
(916) 445-4950

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SAN QUENTIN – Condemned inmate Leon Chauncey Cooper, 54, who was on California’s death row from Sacramento County, was pronounced dead Wednesday, March 18, 2015, at 4:40 p.m. at a nearby hospital. The cause of death is unknown pending the results of an autopsy. Cooper was single-celled.

Cooper was sentenced to death on May 25, 2001, by a Sacramento County jury for the March 26, 1998, rape and murder of 15-year-old LaRhonda Johnson, a Florin High School sophomore, who was his stepdaughter. A convicted sex offender, Cooper had been previously convicted of sexual battery in 1996 upon Johnson's 18-year-old sister. Cooper had been on death row since June 13, 2001.

Since 1978 when California reinstated capital punishment, 66 condemned inmates have died from natural causes, 23 have committed suicide, 13 have been executed in California, one was executed in Missouri, six have died from other causes and two are pending the cause of death. There are 752 people on California’s death row.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2015

CONTACT: LT. SAM ROBINSON
(415) 455-5008
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SAN QUENTIN –Condemned inmate Michael Lee Elliot, 55, who was on California’s death row from Sacramento County, was pronounced dead yesterday, December 8, 2014, at 3:46 p.m., at a nearby hospital. The cause of death is unknown pending the results of an autopsy. Elliot was single-celled.

Elliot was sentenced to death on October 31, 1996, by a Sacramento County jury for the June 1, 1994, murder and attempted robbery of bartender Sherri Gandy, who was killed during the early morning hours at the Black Stallion bar in Orangevale. Elliot had been on death row since November 6, 1996.

Since 1978 when California reinstated capital punishment, 66 condemned inmates have died from natural causes, 23 have committed suicide, 13 have been executed in California, one was executed in Missouri, six have died from other causes and one is pending a cause of death. There are 749 people on California’s death row.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2014

CONTACT: LT. SAM ROBINSON
(415) 455-5008

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SACRAMENTO –To strengthen wildfire protection in a crucial stretch of coastal Southern California, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and CAL FIRE today jointly announced that they will return inmate fire crews full-time to a Ventura County camp that has been used sporadically in recent years.

The first of what is ultimately anticipated to be 100 inmate fire fighters are expected to arrive at Ventura Camp # 46 in Camarillo by December 17.

Formerly known as the S. Carraway Public Service and Fire Center, the conservation camp had been staffed with juvenile offender fire fighters between 1990 and 2011, when a declining number of incarcerated juveniles forced the camp to consolidate with another in Amador County. Since then, CAL FIRE has staged inmate fire crews at the site temporarily when they were needed.

“Returning these crews permanently to Ventura will reinforce our ability to protect a highly populated region that is vulnerable to fire danger,” noted Jeffrey Beard, Secretary of Corrections and Rehabilitation, who noted that the inmate fire crews closest to the region are assigned to CALFIRE camps in San Luis Obispo and Palmdale, both more than 100 miles away.

“We are excited to be able to have the inmate staffing to increase not only the region’s fire protection, but also the brush clearance projects in which the crews will perform,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, CAL FIRE Director. “These inmates will go through a rigorous fire training program and become a key component to California’s fire response.”

The state’s 4,300 inmate fire fighters are critical to controlling wildfires across the state. This year, inmate fire crews responded to well over 5,500 wildfires, which is 1,000 more wildfires than in a typical year. When they are not working to contain wildfires, inmate crews perform community service projects year-round, including brush-clearing projects to reduce fire danger.

CDCR has supplied inmate fire fighters to CAL FIRE since 1946. Only inmates convicted of low level felonies, with records of good behavior, who can meet the physical requirements of the rigorous work, and who are within two to five years of their release date are accepted as firefighters. They are housed in 39 CAL FIRE camps across the state and five Los Angeles County camps and are closely supervised when they work on projects in the community.

The move to restore full time crews to Ventura was supported by local officials. “I believe a fully functioning camp in Ventura County will provide vital resources that will benefit all of our residents,” said Geoff Dean, Ventura County Sheriff.

Kathy Long, Ventura County Supervisor, supported the recommendation of Sheriff Dean and Ventura County Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen to revive the staffing at the camp. “This local resource is critical to uphold our commitment to protect Ventura County residents and their property from the effects of natural disasters in this high risk community,” said Long.

For more information, contact Bill Sessa, CDCR, at (916) 445-4950, or Dan Berlant, CAL FIRE, at (916) 651-3473.

VACAVILLE – Condemned inmate Teofilo Medina Jr., 70, was pronounced dead of natural causes on Sunday, March 22, 2015, at 7:30 a.m. at California Medical Facility while on hospice care.

Medina was sentenced to death on February 25, 1987, in Orange County and September 7, 1989, in Riverside County for killing three convenience-store and gas-station clerks during a 1984 robbery spree that netted him less than $450. Medina began his robbery and killing spree less than three months after his release from the Arizona Department of Corrections where he had served a term for rape. Medina also received a death sentence in Riverside County for a fourth slaying. Medina had been on death row since March 7, 1987.

Since 1978 when California reinstated capital punishment, 67 condemned inmates have died from natural causes, 23 have committed suicide, 13 have been executed in California, one was executed in Missouri, six have died from other causes and two are pending the causes of death. There are 751 people on California’s death row.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 23, 2015

CONTACT: LT. ANDRE GONZALES
(707) 449-6509
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DELANO – Officials at Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP) are investigating the deaths of two inmates as homicides.

The first incident occurred at 12:46 a.m. Saturday, April 11, when inmate Damion Soward, 37, was found unresponsive in his cell. He was transported to an outside hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, April 12. Next-of-kin have been notified.

Prison officials have named Soward’s cellmate, Lawrence Phillips, 39, as a suspect in the case. Phillips was received by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) on Oct. 16, 2008, from San Diego County to serve a 31-year, four-month sentence for inflicting great bodily injury involving domestic violence, corporal injury to spouse, false imprisonment and vehicle theft. Phillips played in the National Football League prior to his incarceration in state prison.

Soward was received by CDCR on March 12, 2009, from San Bernardino County to serve 82 years to life for first-degree murder.

At 11 a.m. Saturday, April 11, inmate Rattanak Kim, 41, was found unresponsive in his cell. He was transported to an outside hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at 11:48 a.m. Next-of-kin have been notified.

Prison officials have named Kim’s cellmate, John Munoz, 24, as a suspect in the case. Munoz was admitted to CDCR on Feb. 17, 2011, to serve a 42-year, eight-month sentence from Los Angeles County for sexual battery, oral copulation with force and violence resulting in great bodily injury, rape/resist with force and violence and first-degree burglary.

Kim was received by CDCR on July 6, 1995, from San Diego County to serve a 35-year-to-life sentence for conspiracy to commit murder.

Both suspects have has been placed in the Administrative Segregation Unit pending investigations by KVSP, Kern County Coroner and Kern County District Attorney. KVSP administrators have limited inmate movement on the facilities where the incidents occurred to facilitate the investigations. The Office of the Inspector General was notified.

KVSP opened in 2005 and houses 3,756 minimum-, medium-, maximum- and high-security custody inmates. KVSP offers academic classes and vocational programs and employs approximately 1,800 people. For more information, visit www.cdcr.ca.gov.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 13, 2015

CONTACT: LT. MARSHALL DENNING
(661) 721-6314
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SACRAMENTO - The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) today identified an inmate firefighter who suffered a fatal cardiac arrest yesterday during a training exercise. CDCR delayed the announcement until the inmate’s family could be notified.

Raymond Araujo, 37, suffered a full cardiac arrest during the exercise in the Hathaway Canyon on the Morongo Indian Reservation, northeast of Banning, in Riverside County. After being airlifted by helicopter to a base camp, Araujo died at the scene despite efforts by CAL FIRE and Riverside County Fire Department medics to resuscitate him.

Araujo was one of 43 Riverside County jail inmates who have volunteered to work beside 3,900 CDCR inmates on wild land fire crews, under a contract between CDCR and the county. The inmate firefighters are housed in 43 Conservation Camps operated by CDCR with CAL FIRE and the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

“The inmates who volunteer to protect our communities from the devastation of fires perform a valuable public service and it is a sad event when we lose one of them.” said CDCR Undersecretary Scott Kernan.

The offices of the Riverside County Sheriff and Coroner are investigating the incident and will be responsible for formally declaring the cause of death.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2015

Contact: Bill Sessa
(916) 445-4950
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Honoring victims, survivors and those who protect their rights and serve their needs

SACRAMENTO –   California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)   kicked off National Crime Victims’ Rights Week with a Moment of Silence, led by CDCR Secretary Jeff Beard to remember those who have been harmed by crime.

The theme of this year’s ceremony was, “Engaging Communities-Empowering Victims.”

“I affirm our dedication to respecting and enforcing victims’ rights and addressing needs during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and throughout the year,” Beard said during the ceremony at CDCR headquarters. “I would like to express my appreciation for victims and crime survivors who have turned personal tragedy into a motivating force to improve our response to victims of crime.”

Beard shared the podium with guest speaker Mindi Russell Senior Chaplain and Executive Director of the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy of Sacramento. Also addressing the audience was Cynthia Florez-DeLyon, Chief of CDCR’s Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services (OVSRS).

“Crime victims must know they have a voice,” Florez-DeLyon said. “We’re addressing every victim who asks for our help, for our services. We are part of the process, from the arrest to working with probation to working with the district attorney’s. Victims are advised that we are there for them, and we let them know what they can expect. That’s important.”

CDCR’s OVSRS provides comprehensive services to crime victims such as counseling, collecting restitution and transportation to parole hearings. In California, victims of crime have the right to be notified of the offender’s status, the right to participate in the juvenile and criminal justice process and the right to be reimbursed by the offender for costs related to the criminal act.

In 2014, a total of $17,546,676 was collected in victim restitution and fines from adult and juvenile offenders.

Also last year, OVSRS staff assisted 1,830 victims in offenders parole hearing processes, helped them attend the hearings in prison or by audio or video conference and made sure that more than $66,000 was provided to help more than 370 victims and/or their families to attend suitability hearings.

OVSRS also located 2,400 victims whose whereabouts were previously unknown and distributed to them more than $2.4 million of restitution collected from inmates.

Victim Service agencies in attendance included; California Crime Victims Coalition, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Victim Assistance, My Sister’s House, Parents of Murdered Children, Citizens Against Homicide and Women Escaping a Violent Environment (WEAVE).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 17, 2015

CONTACT: JOE ORLANDO
(916) 445-4950

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DELANO – A North Kern State Prison correctional officer is recovering after being struck by gunfire from outside the prison.

At about 7:30 p.m. on April 20, shots were fired from an unknown location outside the secure perimeter and into the Facility A yard. A bullet struck one correctional officer and penetrated his stab-resistant vest. He was taken to an outside hospital where he was treated and released for minor injuries.

“I am extremely grateful that our officer was only slightly injured in this senseless attack and is expected to make a full recovery. I send my thoughts and prayers to him, his family and his co-workers,” California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Secretary Jeff Beard said. “Our officers are dedicated to protecting public safety and it is disturbing they are targeted in this way.”

The California Highway Patrol, the Delano Police Department and the Kern County Sheriff’s Office are on scene and have started investigating this incident and searching for a suspect. All inmates and staff are accounted for.

“I thank the Kern County Sheriff’s Department, the Delano Police Department and the CHP for their help in this investigation and I am hopeful we can capture those responsible for this attack before they can cause more harm,” Secretary Beard said.

North Kern State Prison opened in 1993 and houses approximately 4,300 minimum-, medium- and maximum-custody inmates. The prison, located in Kern County, provides educational, medical and mental health services and employs more than 1,300 people.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 20, 2015

CONTACT: Lt. Tom Mattson

(661) 721-2345, ext. 5006




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DELANO – Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP) administrators are investigating the death of an inmate who was fatally shot while he attacked another inmate.

At approximately 10:15 a.m., two inmates attacked another inmate who fell to the ground and lost consciousness. The assailants continued to attack the inmate who was unable to defend himself.

A California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) correctional officer discharged one warning shot from the Mini 14 rifle to stop the attack, but the assailants continued to assault the inmate. After the warning, the officer discharged another shot from the Mini 14 rifle.

One of the assailants suffered a gunshot wound and was airlifted from KVSP and taken to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

The victim of the attack is being transported to an outside hospital to be treated for head trauma. There are no reports of injuries to staff.

“The use of deadly force is always a last resort,” said CDCR spokesperson Dana Simas. “The loss of any life is unfortunate and, as is the case for all in-custody deaths, this death will be thoroughly investigated.”

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) sent a Deadly Force Investigations Team (DFIT) to KVSP to investigate the incident. DFIT is a team of trained CDCR investigators that conducts criminal and administrative investigations into every use of deadly force. A deadly force review board will conduct a full and complete review of the incident as well.

Pursuant to state law, deadly force can only be used when it is reasonably necessary to defend someone from an immediate threat of death or great bodily injury.

The Office of the Inspector General was also notified and will provide real-time oversight of CDCR’s investigation of its staff.

KVSP opened in 2005 and houses 3,782 inmates of all security levels. KVSP offers academic classes and vocational programs and employs approximately 1,800 people.

For more information about KVSP, visit CDCR’s website at www.cdcr.ca.gov.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 22, 2015

Contact: Dana Simas

(916) 445-4950

SAN QUENTIN – Condemned inmate Raymond Edward Steele, 67, who was on California’s death row from Shasta County, was found unresponsive in his cell Wednesday evening, April 22, 2015, at San Quentin State Prison. He was pronounced dead at 7:37 p.m. at the prison. The cause of death is unknown pending the results of an autopsy. Steele was single-celled.
Steele was sentenced to death on July 24, 1990, by a Shasta County jury for the Aug. 5, 1988, murder by stabbing of Leann Thurman, who was under conservatorship as a result of brain damage suffered at birth. A convicted sex offender and murderer, Steele had been previously convicted in 1971 of the rape of a victim who lived next door to his aunt, and the second-degree murder of his 15-year-old babysitter, who had been stabbed eight times. Steele had been on death row since July 31, 1990.

Since 1978 when California reinstated capital punishment, 66 condemned inmates have died from natural causes, 24 have committed suicide, 13 have been executed in California, one was executed in Missouri, seven have died from other causes and two inmates’ causes of death are pending. There are 753 people on California’s death row.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2015

CONTACT: Lt. Sam Robinson
(415) 455-5008

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SAN QUENTIN– Condemned inmate Richard James Poynton, 64, who was on California’s death row from Los Angeles County, was found unresponsive in his cell at San Quentin State Prison Thursday, April 30, 2015. He was pronounced dead at the prison at 6:50 a.m. The cause of death is unknown pending the results of an autopsy. Poynton was single-celled.

Poynton was sentenced to death on April 9, 2001, by a Los Angeles County jury for the Jan. 15, 1999, murder of his estranged wife of 18 years, Maria Poynton. A month after Maria obtained a restraining order to remove Poynton from the home, he ran her vehicle off the road and approached her, hitting her twice over the head and stabbing her 12 times. Poynton had been on death row since April 18, 2001.

Since 1978 when California reinstated capital punishment, 66 condemned inmates have died from natural causes, 24 have committed suicide, 13 have been executed in California, one was executed in Missouri, seven have died from other causes and three inmates’ causes of death are pending. There are 752 people on California’s death row.

For more information contact Lt. Sam Robinson at (415) 455-5008.

Grants meant to expand rehabilitative programs in prisons

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) today announced the list of recipients of $2.5 million in one-time grants meant to boost innovative programs and increase volunteerism in prisons.

The grants provide funds to eligible volunteers and not-for-profit organizations who already operate successful programs in some California prisons and to help extend those programs to prisons that do not have the same levels of volunteer service.

“There are many positive programs in California prisons that focus on offender responsibility and have demonstrated success,” Millicent Tidwell, Director of CDCR’s Division of Rehabilitative Programs, said. “We hope to reach more inmates by expanding those rehabilitative programs to prisons that have been typically underserved.”

Of the $2.5 million in grants, $2 million will come directly from the Inmate Welfare Fund (IWF). The IWF is a trust where all proceeds from inmate canteen and hobby shop sales are deposited and required to be spent on the benefit, education and welfare of state prison inmates. The other portion of the grants is from the Recidivism Reduction Fund created by Senate Bill 105 (Steinberg) in 2014.

The recipients will receive up to 50 percent of the grant funds initially and the remaining 50 percent on or after December 1, 2015, once CDCR has determined sufficient progress has been made in developing the programs.

At the end of the grant period, it is expected the programs will have been implemented, additional volunteer resources developed, and the programs able to be sustained in the future through the normal prison budget.

The prisons receiving new programs are: Avenal State Prison; California Correctional Institution; California Health Care Facility; California Medical Facility; California State Prison, Corcoran; California State Prison, Los Angeles County; California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison, Corcoran; Chuckawalla Valley State Prison; Deuel Vocational Institution; High Desert State Prison; Ironwood State Prison; Kern Valley State Prison; Mule Creek State Prison; North Kern State Prison; Pelican Bay State Prison; Pleasant Valley State Prison and Wasco State Prison.

See the list of grant recipients and which programs are being developed: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/rehabilitation/docs/Grant-Recipients-for-Innovative-Programs.pdf

VACAVILLE – California State Prison-Solano (SOL) administrators are investigating the causes of a riot that occurred this morning involving 58 inmates.

At approximately 7 a.m., dozens of inmates started fighting on one of the institution’s Level III medium-security yards.

Correctional peace officers used pepper spray and less-than-lethal force options to stop the fights. Staff from California Medical Facility, located next to SOL, also responded.

Three inmates were injured and taken to an outside hospital for treatment.

One officer was treated and released from an outside hospital for an injury he sustained after being knocked down by inmates while responding to the incident.

Staff recovered one inmate-made weapon.

Inmate movement and programming is limited to facilitate the investigation. SOL is a medium-security prison housing approximately 3,800 general population inmates.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 4, 2015

Contact: Lt. Marlaina Dernoncourt

(707) 454-3257

Improved tracking system will provide more money to victims

SACRAMENTO- The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) is streamlining the collection of restitution which should translate into thousands more victims getting money that was collected on their behalf.

The department’s Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services (OVSRS) has updated its Trust Accounting and Restitution Canteen System to now fully and automatically coordinate with the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) referral system.

“Being victim of a crime can be devastating not only emotionally and physically, but also financially,” said Cynthia Florez-DeLyon, Chief of OVSRS. “This enhancement will assist CDCR’s continued effort to uphold victims’ constitutional right to receive restitution directly from the person convicted of the crimes against them.”

The improvements will allow CDCR to more than double the number of restitution cases referred to FTB from around 1,800 per month to approximately 4,000 per month. The increased referrals will allow CDCR to collect restitution from offenders who have been released from prison but who still owe money to victims.

While incarcerated, every inmate has a trust account which holds funds given by family or friends, wages the inmate earns from work in prison. If the inmate has money in that account, CDCR has penal code authority to take up to 50 percent to pay towards restitution, which can include a restitution fine, a direct order to the victim or both.

Restitution fines are meant to be an offender’s repayment to society. Direct orders are monetary judgments ordered by the court to be paid directly to the victim to compensate for losses. For offenders who have been ordered by a judge to pay both a restitution fine as well as a direct order to their victim, CDCR ensures the debt to the victim is paid first.

Restitution fines collected by CDCR are paid to the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board which uses the funds to help victims pay for expenses resulting from violent crimes. Those expenses may include; medical and dental treatment, mental health services, income loss, and funeral and burial expenses. Restitution fines can range from $300 to a maximum of $10,000.

When an inmate leaves prison and restitution has not been paid in full, all victims’ direct orders are referred to the FTB. The FTB is authorized to use several collection methods including wage garnishment, bank liens, and payment plans in order to collect restitution debt.

Before the improvements, gaps in information between CDCR and FTB resulted in some restitution cases not being pursued after the offender left prison. The recent improvements closed those gaps in information.

Money collected by the FTB goes back to CDCR for distribution to the victim. Victims do not need to make any arrangements with FTB to receive their restitution.

In 2014, a total of $17,546,676 was collected in victim restitution and fines from adult and juvenile offenders.

The FTB has helped collect $22 million in victim restitution since they started working with the OVSRS in 2010.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 5, 2015
CONTACT: JOE ORLANDO
(916) 445-4950

VACAVILLE – California State Prison-Solano (SOL) is investigating an inmate’s death as a homicide.

At approximately 4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 4, 2015, during the evening count, one inmate was discovered missing. An emergency count was conducted as well as a staff accountability. Escape protocols were initiated.

At approximately 9:30 p.m., correctional staff found a body in a confined space inside the missing inmate’s housing unit. At approximately 11:05 p.m., the body was positively identified as the missing inmate and appears to be the victim of a homicide. An investigation is ongoing by CSP Solano Investigators, the Solano County Coroner, and the Office of Inspector General.

The identity of the inmate cannot be released at this time due to pending notification of next of kin. The victim is a 24-year old male from Alameda County serving an eight year prison sentence for Second Degree Robbery.

California State Prison Solano opened in 1984 and is a medium-security prison housing approximately 3,800 general population inmates.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 5, 2015
CONTACT: LT. MARLAINA DERNONCOURT
(707) 454-3257

Corcoran Prison Inmate Dies of Injuries

Female Inmate Walks Away from El Monte Residential Treatment Facility

J.C.X. Simon, convicted of ‘Zebra Killings,’ dies in prison

CDCR and California Community Colleges Partner to Expand College Opportunities to Inmates

Female Inmate Who Walked Away from El Monte Residential Treatment Facility Apprehended

Condemned inmate Leon Chauncey Cooper dies of unknown causes

Condemned inmate Michael Lee Elliot dies of unknown causes

CDCR, CAL FIRE to Staff Ventura Fire Camp

Condemned inmate Teofilo Medina Jr. dies of natural causes

Inmate Deaths at Kern Valley State Prison Being Investigated as Homicides

Inmate Fire Fighter Suffers Fatal Cardiac Arrest

National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, Understanding the Impact of Crime and the Victims Left Behind

Shots Fired into North Kern State Prison; Officer Injured

CDCR Investigating Deadly Force Incident at Kern Valley State Prison

Condemned inmate Raymond Edward Steele dies of unknown causes

Condemned inmate Richard James Poynton dies of unknown causes

CDCR Announces Recipients of $2.5 Million in Grants for Innovative Programs

Grants meant to expand rehabilitative programs in prisons

Disturbance at California State Prison-Solano Under Investigation

Crime Victims to Benefit from Improved Collection of Restitution from Offenders

Inmate Death at California State Prison-Solano Being Investigated as a Homicide