Sponsored message
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen
News

Inmate In SoCal State Prison Dies Of The Coronavirus

The California Institution for Men in Chino. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.

Despite some efforts to reduce prison populations and limit outside contact, the first inmate at a state prison has died of COVID-19 complications.

The unidentified inmate died at an outside hospital but prison officials said he had been incarcerated at the California Institution for Men in Chino.

His death renewed calls by prison reform activists for more prisoners to be released. Kate Chatfield with the reform group The Justice Collaborative told us:

“We're asking for people who have 18 months or less on their sentence to be released.”

To slow the virus’ spread, California has granted
early release to 3,500 prisoners in the state system, among other steps. But inmates tell us they’re still living in crowded dorms. Activists want more releases.

READ OUR FULL STORY:

GO DEEPER:

Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.

Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.

If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.

Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible year-end gift today

A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right