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More than 20 California prisons have implemented sweeping restrictions, leading to a hunger strike by hundreds of incarcerated individuals. The new measures, which took effect on June 12, have shut off all outside communication and significantly limited daily activities for roughly 34,000 prisoners. These restrictions are the most extensive since the COVID-19 pandemic and were introduced in response to a recent increase in violence, overdoses, and contraband, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).
Under the new rules, prisoners are confined primarily to their cells or dormitories, with all in-person visitation, programming, phone access, and tablet communications suspended. However, medical care and other essential services will continue. The CDCR has not specified when these restrictions will end.
Legal experts and advocates have criticized the restrictions as akin to solitary confinement. Warren Hands, a supervising parole success advocate at UnCommon Law, described the situation as "a very lonely space to be in," exacerbating addiction and mental health issues. According to CalMatters, families of incarcerated individuals have labeled the restrictions as cruel and a form of collective punishment.
The hunger strike began at Salinas Valley State Prison on June 13, with inmates protesting what they claim are unlawful practices by the CDCR. In a letter provided to CalMatters, they stated, "This protest is not rooted in defiance but in our firm demand that the corrections department adhere to its obligations under the U.S. Constitution, California Penal Code, and Title 15 of the California Code of Regulations."
Brooke Terpstra from Oakland Abolition & Solidarity estimates that upwards of 500 prisoners are participating in the strike, with more expected to join. The CDCR has stated that it has procedures in place to monitor and evaluate hunger strikes, but the situation remains tense as the strike continues.