California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

A 44-year-old San Jose man on parole for burglary is facing charges after being linked to multiple school burglaries in the Bay Area, including one at Stratford School in Milpitas. The investigation began in late June following the Stratford School burglary.

Miguel Banuelos, a California inmate, escaped a prison camp near Lake Tahoe on the Fourth of July and was later captured in Mexico. Mexican authorities, in collaboration with U.S. officials, apprehended him after he was missing for two days.

An inmate escaped from a prison camp near Lake Tahoe on the Fourth of July. Miguel Banuelos, 49, was last seen at Washington Ridge Conservation Camp in Nevada County, California, around 12:35 p.m., according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

California prisons are limiting access to rehabilitative programs for incarcerated people as the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation restricts overtime spending. Programs like college classes and civic education have been disrupted, with the rollback set to end on June 30. The state’s $18 billion annual corrections budget remains flat despite recent prison closures.

Victoria Valenzuela describes being abruptly denied a prison visit to her father at San Quentin due to last-minute cancellations, highlighting a proposed California bill (AB 2434) to prevent same-day visit denials for long-distance visitors. The bill aims to prohibit restrictions based on unrelated disciplinary issues and ensure voluntary visitor searches.

Johnny Morales, a death row inmate, spent nearly 20 years in isolation at San Quentin before being transferred to a facility with less restrictive conditions. His move follows a policy shift under Governor Gavin Newsom, which suspended the death penalty and led to the dismantling of the condemned housing unit.

California officials confirmed they are using six high-risk AI systems to make consequential decisions about residents' lives, reversing their previous claim of using zero such systems a year ago. The systems include tools for predicting recidivism, detecting unemployment fraud, administering exams, and identifying AI-generated academic assignments. A 2023 law requires annual disclosure of 'high-risk automated decision systems' that significantly impact areas like criminal justice, education, and employment.

Elizabeth Lozano, a former California inmate and sexual assault survivor, advocates for releasing incarcerated survivors of prison staff sexual assault. She describes systemic abuse and retaliation against inmates who report misconduct, including a 2024 incident where guards used pepper spray and tear gas on women filing grievances. Lozano argues that releasing survivors is the only way to protect them from ongoing violence.

Michael A. Jackson, sentenced to death in 1984 for killing a West Covina police officer while high on PCP in 1983, died in prison. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed his death.

Nathaniel Radimak, known as the 'Tesla Road Rage Driver,' was sentenced to seven years in prison for a 2025 violent attack on a mother and her 18-year-old daughter in Honolulu, Hawaii. Radimak, who has prior road rage convictions, pleaded no contest to charges including unauthorized vehicle entry and assault, with the judge citing his history of violence and failure to seek medical care.

Richard Raymond Ramirez, a notorious serial rapist and murderer condemned to death for a 1983 Orange County rape and murder, died in prison at age 66. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed his death on May 24.

California death row inmates are using taxpayer-funded tablets to watch pornography and engage in lewd conversations, evading security controls. The tablets were issued as part of a multimillion-dollar program to connect prisoners with the outside world. Inmates are using the devices to send and receive explicit messages and images.

A 41-year-old inmate, Francisco Cervantes, escaped from Fenner Canyon Conservation Camp in Valyermo, but was later apprehended by officials from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The inmate was discovered missing around 8 a.m. earlier this week. He has been taken back into custody.

Francisco Cervantes, a 41-year-old assault convict, walked away from Fenner Canyon Conservation Camp in Los Angeles County on Saturday morning. Officials from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation are searching for him. He was discovered missing around 8 a.m.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is searching for 24-year-old Jose Barrios, an inmate who allegedly left a Male Community Reentry Program in Los Angeles after removing his GPS tracker. Authorities initiated an emergency search and count following his disappearance before 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

California's Elderly Release Program, amended by Gov. Gavin Newsom, allows illegal immigrant Israel Ceja—a 63-year-old convicted of raping his underage stepdaughter—to seek early parole for a second time. Yolo County DA Jeffrey Reisig criticizes the loophole, arguing it re-victimizes survivors and communities, and urges lawmakers to exclude sex offenders from the program.

An illegal immigrant, Israel Ceja, convicted of raping his underage stepdaughter and serving a 139-year sentence, is eligible for early parole under California's Elderly Release Program, a law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Yolo County DA Jeffrey Reisig opposes the decision, calling it 'madness' and urging lawmakers to close loopholes allowing violent sex offenders to qualify for early release.