The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) announced that it is placing Level IV (high-security) inmates within its facilities on a modified program, effective Saturday.
CDCR explained the modified programming is due to numerous violent incidents in the state prison system including several homicides.
CDCR said that this program will affect the following institutions: Calipatria State Prison, Centinela State Prison, California Correctional Institution, High Desert State Prison, Kern Valley State Prison, California State Prison-Los Angeles County, Mule Creek State Prison, Pelican Bay State Prison, California State Prison-Sacramento, Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and Salinas Valley State Prison.
“A comprehensive investigation is underway, and the modified program will remain in place until the assessment is complete,” said CDCR in a statement.
The department noted that this program is different from a lockdown, and it applies exclusively to Level IV housing units. Modified programing is not a “lock-down”, inmates will be restricted from yard and dayroom programing but will still have medical and some work programs.
Most impactful to inmates is a temporary restriction on inmate tablet access. For a short time, inmates on the effected facilities will not be able to make calls or video visits from their tablet.