BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has announced the resumption of normal operations and programming at nine institutions following extensive contraband searches. The searches, conducted by correctional staff, uncovered a significant number of prohibited items, including multiple weapons, cellular devices, and controlled substances.
Modified programming was initiated on June 12, 2025, at 21 high-security institutions, within Level III and Level IV areas, including four in Kern County, in response to a recent surge in violence against staff and the incarcerated population. The threat assessment at nine of these locations has now been resolved, allowing for the return to normal operations.
The institutions now operating normally include the California Correctional Institution (Tehachapi), North Kern State Prison (Delano), and Wasco State Prison…