Name: CCWP Statewide Monthly Meetings
Start: 2026-01-07T18:30:00-08:00
End: 2026-01-07T20:30:00-08:00
Location: Zoom

Updates on Prisons

Trump Admin Spends Millions To Reopen Private California Prison

San Francisco Gate

September 9, 2025

By Lester Black

Immigrant rights activists are warning that the Trump administration is transporting immigration detainees to a private prison in the California desert that is operating illegally and could put detainees in danger.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement began transporting detainees on Aug. 29 to the California City Correctional Facility, located approximately 100 miles north of Los Angeles, and it’s now become a key part of the federal government’s deportation strategy, according to Marcela Hernandez, a director of organizing at Detention Watch Network.

“This opening is going to mean more violent raids across southern and northern California,” Hernandez said. She later added that “Anybody who gets targeted in the Bay Area or in northern California could be sent here.”

Read the full story from the San Francisco Gate here.

Updates on Prisons

How to Cut the Prison Population, Save Money and Make Us Safer

The New York Times

Sept. 8, 2025

By German Lopez, opinion writer

American prisons are fast becoming the world’s worst nursing homes, increasingly filled with aging criminals who can barely walk, let alone commit another crime. The idea that we should lock up people for life, even through old age, is often framed as being tough on crime. In reality, it gives years, if not decades, of shelter, food and health care to convicted criminals and redirects money from programs we know do a better job of protecting the public.

Older people are much less likely to commit crime than the young. They are also much more expensive to lock up. Federal prisons with the largest share of older prisoners spend five times as much per person on medical care and 14 times as much on medications as other facilities, according to the Sentencing Project, a nonprofit advocacy group.

Read full article from The New York Times here.

Updates on Prisons

Complaints about California’s hellishly hot prison cells have been mounting for years

Cal Matters

by Jeanne Kuang

September 4, 2025

As climate change exacerbates the risks of extreme heat across California, the state’s prison officials plan to embark on a $38 million pilot program to figure out how to keep their prison cells cool.

It comes after years of complaints from prisoners about dangerous temperatures during the state’s brutal summer heat waves, warnings by advocates that the problem will only get worse as the planet warms and the death of an incarcerated woman last year during California’s hottest month on record — which officials from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation insist was unrelated to the heat.

But don’t expect the prisons to become air conditioned anytime soon.

Read the full story from Cal Matters here.

Updates on Prisons

Ex-guard at California women’s prison sentenced to 224 years for sexual abuse

Gregory Rodriguez convicted of more than 60 charges of abusing women in his custody over nearly a decade

The Guardian

Sam Levin in Los Angeles
Thu 14 Aug 2025

A former California correctional officer convicted of dozens of sexual abuse charges at a women’s prison was sentenced to 224 years in prison on Thursday.

Gregory Rodriguez, 57, worked as a guard at the Central California women’s facility (CCWF), the state’s largest women’s prison, and was found guilty in January of more than 60 charges of abusing nine women in his custody, including rape and battery.

Rodriguez’s case became a huge scandal for the state, exposing a longstanding crisis of sexual misconduct and abuse behind bars. The officer was found to have targeted incarcerated women over the span of nearly a decade before he retired in 2022 while under investigation.

A Guardian investigation published in 2023 revealed the prison received a report of Rodriguez’s abuse in 2014, but did not terminate him and instead punished the victim. That survivor spoke of being sent to solitary confinement while authorities investigated claims of her abuse.

It is rare for prison officers to be criminally charged and convicted for on-duty sexual misconduct, despite data suggesting abuse by guards is a systemic problem in California and across the US. Misconduct records disclosed by the California department of corrections and rehabilitation (CDCR) showed that from 2014 to 2023, hundreds of incarcerated women filed complaints of staff sexual abuse, but only four officers were terminated for sexual misconduct in that timeframe.

Rodriguez, who worked for the CDCR for 27 years, isolated victims in areas without cameras and coerced them into sex by offering items such as gum or tobacco and threatening to “make prison very difficult” if they did not comply, according to prison investigators’ and victims’ lawsuits. The majority of rapes charged by prosecutors occurred in 2021 and 2022 in the board of parole hearings area, where incarcerated residents have confidential attorney meetings and appear before commissioners to plead for their freedom.

One woman struggling with substance use disorder said Rodriguez coerced her into sex by offering to get her addiction medication, but instead of getting her a prescription, he gave her heroin, which led her to overdose.

In announcing the sentence, Judge Katherine Rigby recounted how Rodriguez lured his victims and tried to hide his assaults, saying the survivors would suffer “lifelong impacts”. She said: “These victims were put in unfathomable and untenable positions, and they could not leave as they were incarcerated.”

Rodriguez had pleaded not guilty and his attorney sought to cast doubt on victims’ accounts at trial. He was convicted on a majority of the more than 90 charges prosecutors brought on behalf of 13 women, though for some counts the jury was hung or found him not guilty. His lawyers had asked for a 56-year sentence, and Rodriguez told the judge his daughter was sick and needed support. His family also testified on his behalf.

After his conviction, his attorney, Roger Wilson, said: “The jury clearly believed some inmates and disbelieved others.” Wilson did not immediately respond to an inquiry.

Some survivors testified in court last month in front of Rodriguez, including Nikki, who spoke out to the Guardian in 2023 from behind bars and has since been released. She has been referred to by her first name in court proceedings.

“For over a decade, I have lived in the aftermath of what you did to me,” she said in court, according to a copy of her statement she shared with the Guardian. “I was an incarcerated woman – vulnerable, alone, stripped of dignity, humanity and power … You used that moment to feed on me. You hunted me … What you did was predatory, manipulative and evil. You violated me under the cloak of authority … You raped me when I had no freedom to run, no rights to call upon, no one I could tell without fear of retaliation. You didn’t just hurt me, you shattered something sacred inside me. I’m still trying to crawl out of the hole you put me in.”

She said he had “groomed” her, saying he “exploited my isolation, my loneliness, my hunger for basic humanity … You built a prison inside the prison, and I still live in that.”

She added: “I will no longer whisper the truth that you, your lawyer and CDCR tried to bury. This statement is for me so I can start to reclaim what you tried to take from me.”

In an interview this week before sentencing, Nikki said she would not stay quiet: “I’m doing this for the women who are still inside … who are too terrified to speak out, because that was once me, too.”

She said the CDCR was “run by bullies protecting themselves” and that while incarcerated, she faced harassment and intimidation after Rodriguez’s abuse came to light: “It was their way of silencing and normalizing the trauma they perpetuate … This was never about one bad apple. CDCR enabled Rodriguez, who got away with rape for years, and more abusers hide in plain sight. How many more women must be broken before we call this what it is: an injustice?”

On Thursday, before the sentence was announced, one incarcerated victim cried as she testified by Zoom from prison, condemning Rodriguez for failing to take responsibility or express remorse. Addressing his family, she said: “He didn’t think about his daughter when he raped me. He didn’t care about me being someone’s daughter … I will encourage women to speak up because there are too many men like you who are still out there.”

Another survivor’s statement, read by a victim’s advocate, said that after Rodriguez raped her, she asked the CDCR for STD and pregnancy tests, but officials told her she would have to admit engaging in “risky behavior” and could face discipline and a lengthened sentence. She criticized the department for not terminating supervisors and other officers who “allowed this to continue for so long” despite knowing about Rodriguez’s abuse. She said: “The system has failed.”

The CDCR previously said it had identified more than 22 potential victims of Rodriguez. A department spokesperson said on Thursday the sentence “reaffirms CDCR’s own internal investigation and referral” to prosecutors: “The department resolutely condemns any staff member – especially a peace officer who is entrusted to enforce the law – who violates their oath and shatters public trust.”

The spokesperson referred to a 2022 statement that said the CDCR enforces a “zero-tolerance policy for sexual violence”, that retaliation against people who report abuse “is not tolerated”, and that it was expanding its system of surveillance cameras to assist in “preventing or detecting misconduct by both staff and inmate alike”.

Last year, the US Department of Justice under the Biden administration opened a civil rights investigation into staff sexual abuse at CCWF and California’s other women’s prison, citing the Rodriguez case and hundreds of lawsuits. The justice department noted that officers accused of misconduct included “the very people responsible for handling complaints of sexual abuse”.

Under Trump, the justice department has dismissed police civil rights abuse cases brought by the previous administration, but advocates said the inquiry into California prison misconduct is ongoing. A justice department spokesperson declined to comment, and the CDCR spokesperson referred to a statement from last year saying the department “embraces transparency” and welcomed the investigation.

Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organizations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html

Updates on Prisons

Civil Rights and LGBTQ+ Advocates Applaud Defeat of Anti-Trans SB 311, Celebrate Senate Committee Passage of SB 337 to Combat Abuse in Prisons

April 30, 2025 at 12:32 pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2025

CONTACT: Jorge Reyes Salinas, Equality California

PHONE: (213) 355-3057/MOBILE: (213) 355-3057/

EMAIL: press@eqca.org

SACRAMENTO – Today, formerly incarcerated transgender people and their loved ones, civil rights, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and criminal justice reform organizations across California praised the Senate Public Safety Committee for voting down SB 311 (Grove), a dangerous bill that would have undermined the dignity, agency and safety of transgender people in state prisons. The committee also passed SB 337 (Menjivar), legislation that will strengthen protections against sexual violence and improve accountability within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).

The votes reflect a broader demand for trauma-informed, survivor-centered civil rights policies in California’s criminal justice system—especially when it comes to incarcerated women and LGBTQ+ people, especially transgender people, who face heightened risks of violence, abuse, and retaliation behind bars. A 2023 report found that 59% of transgender women incarcerated in men’s prisons report being sexually assaulted.

Formerly incarcerated transgender people, civil rights, and LGBTQ+ organizations widely opposed SB 311 for its blatant attempt to roll back SB 132 (Wiener), the Transgender Respect, Agency, and Dignity Act, which allows transgender people to be housed in correctional facilities consistent with their gender identity. The bill would have required CDCR to unlawfully discriminate against transgender people by creating separate facilities and prohibiting some trans women from ever being housed according to their gender identity.

Meanwhile, SB 337 responds to systemic failures and sexual abuse at the hands of CDCR staff, including recent high-profile scandals at the Central California Women’s Facility and the California Institution for Women. The bill introduces long-overdue safeguards such as strengthened body-worn camera policies, extended grievance windows, and anonymous reporting options. The bill ensures greater accountability by preventing CDCR from hiring or retaining individuals who commit violent or sexual crimes, and by mandating transparency around conflicts of interest during investigations.

The following leaders from civil rights, LGBTQ+, and criminal justice organizations issued statements in response:

A.D. Lewis, attorney & founder, Trans Beyond Bars Project at the Prison Law Office
“Trans people in prison face horrific conditions–violence, abuse, discrimination, and segregation. Today, the Public Safety Committee rejected Senator Grove’s attempt to worsen these conditions by scapegoating and villainizing our community inside. I’m grateful the Public Safety committee passed Senator Menjivar’s bill that improves accountability and prevention efforts to reduce sexual abuse in prisons. Now, more than ever, the California legislature must continue to be a bulwark against repression and prejudicial attacks against LGBTQIA+ communities.”

Amanda Goad, Audrey Irmas Director of the Gender, Sexuality, & Reproductive Justice Project, ACLU of Southern California
“We commend the Public Safety Committee for its swift rejection of Senator Grove’s segregation proposal, which is rooted in anti-trans discrimination and fearmongering, as well as its support for Senator Menjivar’s effort to address the problem of sexual violence in our state prisons through stronger prevention and accountability measures. We encourage the Legislature to continue, as it did today, protecting the rights and dignity of our trans and incarcerated communities, and prioritizing health and safety over politics.”

Mito Aviles, Statewide Initiatives Strategist, TransLatin@ Coalition
“We applaud the Public Safety Committee for decisively rejecting Senator Grove’s dangerous and discriminatory proposal — a thinly veiled attack on trans people masked as prison policy. Rooted in stigma and fear, this measure would have further endangered the lives of incarcerated trans individuals and rolled back hard-fought human rights.

At the same time, we are heartened by the Committee’s endorsement of Senator Menjivar’s proactive approach to addressing sexual violence in our prisons — an effort grounded in evidence, compassion, and a commitment to accountability.

Today’s actions send a powerful message: that California must lead with justice, not fear — and that the safety and dignity of all people, including trans and incarcerated individuals, cannot be compromised for political gain. We urge the full Legislature to follow this lead and continue prioritizing people over prejudice.”

Tony Hoang, Executive Director, Equality California
“At a time when trans communities are under relentless political attack, it is more important than ever that our laws reflect facts, not fear. We are grateful for the rejection of SB 311 — a cruel, baseless proposal that would have jeopardized the safety of transgender people in prison and undermined California’s commitment to dignity and equality. We also commend the Committee for advancing SB 337, a much-needed measure to confront the systemic sexual violence that has plagued our prison system for too long. These are the kinds of reforms California should be championing — rooted in accountability, transparency, and humanity. Equality California will continue working to ensure that every person, including those behind bars, is protected from abuse and treated with respect, regardless of their gender identity.”

Joshua Stickney, Director of Communications, Ella Baker Center for Human Rights
“SB 311 (Grove) was a sickening attempt to vilify and segregate trans people — it deserved to be defeated today. Similarly, we are grateful to the committee for advancing SB 337 (Menjivar), a measure that will actually keep incarcerated women — transgender and cisgender women — safer by holding CDCR guards accountable for abuse. California should continue to staunchly defend the agency, dignity, and safety of trans folks and reject far-right attempts to demonize our community.”

Linda McFarlane, Executive Director, Just Detention International
“SB 311’s supporters would have us believe that the way to stop prisoner rape is to punish trans people — that the decades of violence committed against incarcerated people in California’s prisons are somehow the fault of trans women looking for safe housing and not that of CDCR. Even more cynically, the bill was cloaked in the language of protecting women, even though what it prescribes would make facilities designated for women even more dangerous. Fortunately, SB 311 was stopped in its tracks. Even better, SB 337, a bill that will address the causes of sexual abuse in detention, has taken a crucial step towards being passed.”

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Equality California is the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization. We bring the voices of LGBTQ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve. www.eqca.org