California prisons restrict movement, calls and visits as violence
surges
[March 12, 2025]
By HALLIE GOLDEN
High-security prisons across California have tightly restricted
movement, calls and visits while officials probe a surge in violence
this year.
The restrictions started Saturday and affect the top-security sections
of nearly a dozen lockups including the California Correctional
Institution, California State Prison-Los Angeles County and California
State Prison-Sacramento.
Under the protocols, meals must be delivered directly to housing units
and showers and any other movements must be done in a “controlled
manner,” the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
said in a statement.
Calls by telephone and ViaPath tablet are also restricted, as are
visitations.
Prisoners still have access to medical care, legal proceedings and other
“critical appointments,” corrections officials said.
“It is important to note this modified program is distinct from a
lockdown and applies exclusively to Level IV housing units,” the
statement said.
Asked for more information about the restrictions, CDCR spokesperson
Terri Hardy said only that officials are conducting a “comprehensive
investigation into underlying causes of violent incidents at Level IV
facilities throughout the state. The investigation continues.”
Corrections officials are investigating seven deaths since the beginning
of the year as homicides. Three of those happened the day before the
restrictions were announced by the Corrections department.
Joshua L. Peppers, 39, was attacked by another prisoner at the Los
Angeles County institution March 7 and died at a medical facility,
corrections officials said in a statement. He was serving a sentence for
second-degree robbery.
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A correctional officer walks near a gate, which is one of two
entrances into Kern Valley State Prison, June 14, 2005, in Delano,
Calif. (AP Photo/Ric Francis,File)
That same morning Jake T. Kennedy, 32, was found stabbed multiple
times in his cell at the Sacramento prison, according to corrections
officials. He died at a triage and treatment area, and an improvised
weapon was found. He was serving time for carrying a concealed
bladed weapon and for a subsequent prison assault.
And hours later German M. Merino, 37, died after he was attacked by
two inmates in Kern Valley State Prison, authorities said. He was
serving a life sentence for first-degree murder.
Prison violence is a longstanding problem as people serving life
sentences have little to lose.
In January, for example, Mario Campbell, 36, was attacked on the
main exercise yard at the Sacramento prison by two inmates serving
live with the possibility of parole, according to corrections
officials. He died at a medical facility about an hour and a half
later, and officers found three improvised weapons.
The restrictions will stay in place until the investigation is
completed. It’s unclear how long that could take.
Last year there were 32 homicides in state lockups, according to the
California Correctional Health Care Services.
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