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.
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