Intake Unit, Semiannual Report, January – June 2025

Amarik K. Singh OIG OFFICE of the Inspector General INSPECTOR GENERAL Shaun Spillane Chief Deputy Inspector General Intake Processing Unit Independent Semiannual Report Issued September 2025 Prison Oversight Inmate Advisory Council Meetings, January – June 2025 The Office of the Inspector General’s (the OIG) Intake of the common issues IACs raised regarding matters Processing Unit (Intake) receives complaints from the of concern to the incarcerated population or with incarcerated population and the public. To assist with departmental processes. the review of complaints, Intake staff actively work to gain knowledge of local and departmentwide issues Prisons Visited through attending periodic meetings with inmate advisory councils (IACs) at California Department of • California Health Care Facility (CHCF) Corrections and Rehabilitation (the department) • California Institution for Men (CIM) prisons. IACs “serve to advise and communicate with • California Institution for Women (CIW) the warden and other staff those matters of common interest and concern to the inmate general population • California Medical Facility (CMF) (The California Code of Regulations, Title 15, Section • California State Prison, Corcoran (COR) 3230 (a)(1)).” Typically, IACs meet quarterly with the warden and monthly with members of the warden’s • California State Prison, Sacramento (SAC) management team, including a facility captain and • California State Prison, Solano (SOL) other supervisors. • Folsom State Prison (FSP) During the six-month reporting period of January • Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP) through June 2025, we met with IACs at 14 prisons • Mule Creek State Prison (MCSP) to educate council members about the OIG’s mission and to solicit input. We also provided an OIG Fact • San Quentin Rehabilitation Center (SQRC) Sheet to explain the work of the OIG and how to reach • Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and us, including through a confidential quick-dial number State Prison (SATF) from either a phone designated for use by incarcerated • Valley State Prison (VSP) people or a State-issued tablet. Below are the prisons OIG Intake staff visited. In this report, we present some • Wasco State Prison (WSP) Complaint Issues 1. Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Allegations OIG STATE of CALIFORNIA OFFICE of the INSPECTOR GENERAL The OIG’s PREA Ombudsperson, or designee, follows the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act of CONTACT US PRISON RAPE ELIMINATION 2003, which requires, in part, that we immediately ACT (PREA) www.oig.ca.gov forward reports of alleged PREA violations All reports of sexual abuse or sexual harassment may be reported to any CDCR staff mem- to departmental officials for further inquiry or 1 Sa 0 c 1 r 1 a 1 m O en ld to P , l C ac A e r 9 v 5 il 8 le 2 7 Road, Suite 110 b P p R e eo r E . p A Y l o e O u i m n m v b o a u l y v d e a s d l p s , o e w r c s i o o tn n n e t . a s P s c r e t o s t v , h i d d e a e O t e d I s G e , t , a a a n il n s d i a n lo b d c o e a u p t t i e o t n n h d s e . e n F P t e R d S E e t A a r t a a e l l l l a e a g g w e a n r t e i c o q y n u d i i r n e e s s y i g o t n h u a a r t t r e e w d p e o a i s r m t t , m h i e n e c d S lu t ia a d t t i e e n l ’ g y s forward your report to CDCR for investigation. If you request to remain anonymous, we will investigation. These allegations consist of sexual * 7732 # Quick dial from n ha o n t d p l r e o d v i a d n e i C nv D e C st R ig w at it io h n y o in u t r o n P a R m E e A o a r l l o e t g h a e t r io i n d s e , n y t o if u yi n m g a y in a fo ls r o m r a e ti p o o n r . t I f t h y i o s u in t f h o i r n m k a C ti D o C n R to m u is s - . a CDCR phone or tablet F St o a r n f d u a r r t d he s r e i c n t f i o o r n m 1 a 1 t 5 io .5 n 1 , . please see California Penal Code section 2641, and Federal PREA abuse or harassment between incarcerated people, or may state allegations of staff sexual abuse or p A r s o v th id e e S a t n a t o e u ’s t s P i R d E e, A i n O d m ep b e u n d d sp en e t r s p o r n o , c w es e s T d d o e e d l l o a p s s e r l O o so s fi n c in a in l f a o d s r e m d l e e D s l e I d n p e s a p r a t e b a c u m t s o e o r n , G t o o e a n d c e e o r s a C o l D ( s O C e I R x G u . ) a , T l a , q m p ue u b e i e e d s n e u n p n u s a e e d r a g e re e c p n o o c m i r a t m a i d n u d o n e s ic p a a e r c n s u e d a i c e lq o n u n te i e e r d l m e p s e i i e g r m s n o a b n d r a o a l for you to report allegations of sexual como el mediador (Ombudsperson), de PREA en este estado. Proporcione detalles sobre abuse or sexual harassment inside the la acusacion de PREA en su informe, incluyendo las persona(s) involucradas, los testigos, las harassment against an incarcerated person. If the State prison system. f D e e c p h a a r s t a y m lo e s n t l o ug d a e r e C s D . L C a R l p e a y ra fe u d n e a ra i l n v re e q st u ig ie a r c e i o q n u . e S i e s n o v l i i e ci m ta o p s e in rm m a e n d e ia c t e a r m e e n n e t l e a s n u o n in im fo a r t m o, e n a o l complainant requests anonymity, we will not provide Mail C s O en N t F t I o D t E h N e T O IA IG L o m n a y th b e e f a m c a e r k ed p D bi r e e o p n p a o p r r u t c a e i m o d n e e a n i r n t e o f m o d r o m e s a C a r l D n C o C D s R e C m s R t o a s n s u e s d jo n e o t m a m ll a e b l s r u . e n P , a u a r i o a n t v o r e a b s t i t n e ig f n o a e r c r m i o m a n c a i s s o o i n n b f d r o e e r m i l n a a s d c e d io n e n t n i fi u c c o n a n c c i s a i u o s l n t d e . e S la i P s c R r s e E e e A c c q , i u o ta e n m e e s - l of the envelope. 2641 del Codigo Penal de California, y la seccion 115.51 de la Norma o Ley Federal PREA. departmental staff with the name or other identifying information of the individual who filed the complaint. Revised May 2023 Photo 1. The OIG’s contact information. Page 1 of 6 10111 Old Placerville Road, Suite 110, Sacramento, California 95827 5 Telephone: (916) 288-4233 5 www.oig.ca.gov Amarik K. Singh OIG OFFICE of the Inspector General INSPECTOR GENERAL Shaun Spillane Chief Deputy Inspector General Intake Processing Unit Independent Semiannual Report Issued September 2025 Prison Oversight • One area of concern raised in our meetings with the Inmate Advisory Councils (IACs) involved the “weaponizing” of PREA allegations by certain incarcerated people. This is observed when an incarcerated person has a conflict with another incarcerated person, and the first incarcerated person makes a false PREA allegation against the other incarcerated person to compel departmental staff to move the alleged suspect from their housing unit to a restricted housing unit (RHU). According to the IAC, the alleged suspect is housed in the RHU, is rarely found guilty of a PREA violation, and afterward, is returned to the same facility. IAC members stated the department’s previous Photo 2. Cell in a restricted PREA policy (prior to November 2023) required housing unit (RHU), California both the victim and the alleged suspect to be Institution for Women. placed in RHU, while at the time of our reporting, only the suspect would be rehoused. Because, under the new policy, an incarcerated person who makes a false PREA allegation suffers no negative consequences, there is no disincentive to making false PREA allegations against other incarcerated people. Furthermore, after an inquiry or an investigation is conducted, the alleged suspect involved in the unsubstantiated PREA may be removed from programming and work assignments. IAC members stated they would encourage the department to implement consequences against incarcerated people who file false PREA reports, such as a rules violation report, to discourage anyone from making false allegations. • Another area of concern involved incarcerated people who expressed transgender housing concerns, noting the belief they were sometimes forced to accept incompatible cellmates. The IAC members explained these situations can result in sexual victimization of the transgender person. For example, some transgender incarcerated people stated feeling fearful of being labeled a “snitch” for reporting a PREA violation. Instead, they would request a cell move without reporting the PREA incident that prompted their desire to be moved away from the suspect. IAC members recommended that departmental staff provide transgender people a weeklong grace period to find a compatible cellmate instead of forcing them to be housed with an incompatible cellmate. In addition, IAC members alleged that some departmental staff were unfamiliar with Senate Photo 3. Housing unit phone, Bill 132, The Transgender Respect, Agency and OIG quick dial *7732#, California State Prison, Sacramento. Page 2 of 6 10111 Old Placerville Road, Suite 110, Sacramento, California 95827 5 Telephone: (916) 288-4233 5 www.oig.ca.gov Amarik K. Singh OIG OFFICE of the Inspector General INSPECTOR GENERAL Shaun Spillane Chief Deputy Inspector General Intake Processing Unit Independent Semiannual Report Issued September 2025 Prison Oversight Dignity Act.1 Specifically, some officers were not documenting the reason why an incarcerated person’s bed move request was denied, such as when a transgender incarcerated person was housed with another incarcerated person who was an incompatible match. 2. Food Services The department is responsible for ensuring meals provided to incarcerated people meet nutritional and dietary guidelines, and utilize a standardized menu for all prisons.2 The department also accommodates religious and vegetarian dietary restrictions. In July 2019, the department initiated the “Healthy Menu”, with the objective of providing Photo 4. Breakfast meal at Folsom State Prison on June 17, 2025. more nutritious meals with less sodium, fat, and processed sugar. The department’s conditions of detention dictate that meals served to incarcerated people “shall supply approximately 2,500 calories per day.” The IAC representatives shared the following concerns with the OIG Intake staff: • Some IAC representatives reported poor food quality and small portion sizes caused frustration among the incarcerated population. Due to broken food equipment (ovens, grills, a scullery machine,3 a garbage disposal, food warmers, a walk-in refrigerator, and exhaust hoods) and the length of time to fix these items via work orders, many incarcerated people often had to “rely more on canteen” as a key food source to supplement their meals. Some representatives praised their food manager “for doing their best under difficult conditions.” • Several IAC representatives claimed that food quality was poor, and portion sizes were less than what regulations required. Furthermore, several IAC representatives stated that “no one eats the pea protein crumbles or hummus,” and many incarcerated people threw away the hummus packets or meals that included pea protein. Pea protein acts as a substitute for meat, for example, in breakfast meals such as chorizo. IAC representatives stated that departmental staff did not track food waste, and the amount of trash increased when prisons provided pea protein crumbles and hummus that went unconsumed. Some representatives stated that food services staff attempted 1. SB 132 provides that if an incarcerated person is not granted a bed assignment (such as single cell status, housed with an incarcerated person of their choice) due to health and safety perceptions for bed assignments, the department is to document (i.e., 128-B) the reason for that denial and share it with the incarcerated person. 2. Specific meals are required for one prison with a unique medical mission. 3. A scullery machine refers to a commercial dishwashing machine, which is essential for cleaning and sanitizing kitchenware and reusable insulated food serving trays for the next meal service. Page 3 of 6 10111 Old Placerville Road, Suite 110, Sacramento, California 95827 5 Telephone: (916) 288-4233 5 www.oig.ca.gov Amarik K. Singh OIG OFFICE of the Inspector General INSPECTOR GENERAL Shaun Spillane Chief Deputy Inspector General Intake Processing Unit Independent Semiannual Report Issued September 2025 Prison Oversight to supplement the incarcerated population’s diet with other food items, such as beans and hot cereal. • One IAC representative believed that the portion sizes were reduced after the healthy menu was initiated, food often arrived cold due to staff shortages, and food items not shown on the weekly menu were served as substitutions. The OIG asked whether any grievances had been submitted regarding these concerns. A representative stated many incarcerated people will not file a grievance over the issue due to a fear that “they will be stopped from Photo 5. Prison Industry Authority (PIA) prepackaged lunch at Valley State Prison on April 8, 2025. going to canteen or experience some other type of reprisal.” The OIG asked a warden about the process for incarcerated people to file grievances for their concerns such as receiving cold meals or small food portions. The warden confirmed that, at times, when food items ran out, another approved food item was substituted. This warden also suggested incarcerated people should have shown staff their food portion if they believed it had been shorted to be able to receive a larger portion. • Another IAC representative shared that the scullery machine at their prison had been broken since late-2022, which had led to the use of paper trays. Paper trays were smaller than the customary food serving trays and allegedly “sag under heavy meals, get soggy, and foods mix. . . .” We asked the warden about the status of this broken equipment, and he stated they had submitted requests to replace the scullery machine over the past three years, but that the prison had “not yet received the necessary funding for [the machine’s] replacement.” Follow-Up for Items 1 and 2 The OIG’s Intake unit shared the above concerns with OIG management. In May 2025, the OIG initiated an audit of the department’s food services and programs. We will continue to meet with IACs statewide and follow up with the department regarding issues or concerns identified during our visits. Page 4 of 6 10111 Old Placerville Road, Suite 110, Sacramento, California 95827 5 Telephone: (916) 288-4233 5 www.oig.ca.gov Amarik K. Singh OIG OFFICE of the Inspector General INSPECTOR GENERAL Shaun Spillane Chief Deputy Inspector General Intake Processing Unit Independent Semiannual Report Issued September 2025 Prison Oversight 3. Positive Communication Noted Between Incarcerated People and Prison Staff By recognizing the importance of communication and fostering positive interactions, staff working in correctional settings can create a safer and more rehabilitative environment. In April 2023, the department initiated its California Model Planning and Implementation workgroup. One pillar of the California Model is dynamic security that “puts the focus on presence, authenticity, respect, and empathy in interactions between officers and the incarcerated population. . . .” This tenet emphasizes building positive relationships to help create a safer environment through engagement and problem solving. Several IAC representatives across multiple institutions cited positive communication was taking place. The following are some examples provided by IAC representatives or departmental staff: • One prison initiated “Shining Star” award boxes to allow incarcerated people to vote for staff who did something positive for those incarcerated. Awards were given quarterly to recognize staff from various areas including custody, noncustody, medical, and education. At the same time, the process is two-way with departmental staff also encouraged to recognize outstanding incarcerated people. • One representative stated they have developed strong allegiances with departmental staff, who has enabled them to work together to form a “Steering Committee” to raise funds for incarcerated people to become more self-sufficient. This committee included incarcerated people and “staff from custody, education, and medical, who come together to make [the prison] better.” Photo 6. Shining Star award submission • Another representative felt staff treated the box, San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. incarcerated population with more respect and humanity under the California Model. For instance, this representative stated that staff had “trusted and supported” him, which empowered him to start a support group and to mentor other incarcerated people. The representative added that he had since become focused on going home and using the skills acquired at prison to allow him to find work after his release. • Another representative stated that for the first time, he felt that he was being housed at a prison where he felt safe and where “[staff] treat you with respect and like a human being.” According to this representative, this was the first prison where custody “staff communicate well and will explain [to you] why a yard may be closed.” In the past year, various California Model activities were also initiated, such as reopening a garden, holding baseball and basketball tournaments with other housing units, providing outside speakers, and hosting “movie nights.” Page 5 of 6 10111 Old Placerville Road, Suite 110, Sacramento, California 95827 5 Telephone: (916) 288-4233 5 www.oig.ca.gov Amarik K. Singh OIG OFFICE of the Inspector General INSPECTOR GENERAL Shaun Spillane Chief Deputy Inspector General Intake Processing Unit Independent Semiannual Report Issued September 2025 Prison Oversight Follow-Up for Item 3 On July 8, 2025, the department announced it would be “unable to fully fund the initiative [California Model Teams] this fiscal year [2025–26].” However, the department also stated its staff remained “committed to these [California Model] goals, with maintaining the safety and security of its facilities while ensuring the well-being of staff and individuals in their care as top priorities.” General Follow-Up The OIG will continue to monitor the status of the California Model and meet with Inmate Advisory Councils statewide. Furthermore, we will begin meeting with departmental staff to get a firsthand perspective on prison issues or any systemic concerns. The Department’s Response The department provided the following responses to this report: Response to Item 1 The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) is firmly committed to upholding the safety, dignity, and well-being of all incarcerated individuals, including those who identify as transgender, non-binary, or intersex. Departmental policy affirms that an incarcerated person’s perception of their health and safety is a critical consideration in all housing, placement, and programming decisions. Whenever an incarcerated individual raises concerns regarding their health or safety, CDCR promptly reassesses their housing and placement to ensure those concerns are appropriately addressed. CDCR remains dedicated to fostering a safe and respectful environment for all individuals in its custody and will continue to evaluate and enhance its practices to ensure full compliance with Senate Bill 132 and all applicable departmental policies. Response to Item 2 In accordance with the Food Services Handbook, staff are directed to ensure that all meals meet the standardized recipe portions that validate caloric and nutritional adequacy. Substitutions are permitted solely in instances where specific items are unavailable, and any replacement must be of comparable nutritional value. If an incarcerated individual believes they have received a meal of substandard quality or insufficient portion size, they are encouraged to notify staff. Upon review, a determination may be made regarding the provision of a new meal. Custody and Culinary staff are not involved in the collection, review, or adjudication of grievances submitted by incarcerated individuals. This separation of roles is intended to preserve the integrity, impartiality, and confidentiality of the grievance process. Page 6 of 6 10111 Old Placerville Road, Suite 110, Sacramento, California 95827 5 Telephone: (916) 288-4233 5 www.oig.ca.gov