With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Nearly 700 Inmates Will Be Transferred From Chino, The State Prison Hardest Hit By Coronavirus
Cramped quarters at the California Institution for Men in Chino show less than six feet of social distancing between bunks. (U.S. District Court filing)
()
Nearly 700 inmates at risk of contracting COVID-19 will be transferred from the California Institution for Men state prison in Chino and sent to 12 prisons around the state that are free of the virus.
The facility has been the hardest hit of any state prison, with more than 600 cases and nine deaths — the only coronavirus-related fatalities recorded so far at a state correctional institution.
The federal receiver who oversees the state prisons' medical system in a long-running court case ordered the transfer of 691 inmates who tested negative for the virus but whose medical histories would make a COVID-19 infection potentially life threatening.
Support for LAist comes from
As of Thursday, there were 3,303 inmates at the Chino prison.
The transfer order was revealed in a legal brief filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and the Prison Law Office.
The filing said current policies have failed to prevent outbreaks in the prisons, so "it is imperative that vulnerable patients receive additional protection immediately."
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is determining where to send the inmates, and it anticipates that the transfers will begin by the end of this week, the brief said.
READ OUR EARLIER STORIES:
- State Prisons To Resume Accepting New Inmates As Coronavirus Outbreaks Continue
- Now There's A Coronavirus Outbreak At The Women's Prison In Corona
- Throwing A Spotlight On Women Prison Inmates' Coronavirus Fears
- Fighting Coronavirus, State Prisons Seek To Disable Inmates' Sleep Apnea Machines
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our nonprofit public service journalism: Donate now.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases. -
Distrito Catorce’s Guillermo Piñon says the team no longer reflects his community. A new mural will honor local leaders instead. -
The program is for customers in communities that may not be able to afford turf removal or water-saving upgrades.
Best of LAist