California – Following a troubling rise in violence and contraband-related incidents, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has intensified enforcement efforts across more than 20 state prisons, including the Los Angeles County facility. The department’s sweeping response marks one of the most comprehensive crackdowns in recent years.
Between May 29 and June 12, CDCR recorded a sharp escalation in violence behind prison walls: two homicides, eight unexplained deaths—some suspected to be overdoses—and a series of coordinated attacks that left prison staff and inmates at risk. According to the department, three attempted homicides were committed against correctional officers, while nine other attempts targeted fellow inmates.
In that same period, three large-scale riots broke out across multiple institutions, involving nearly 170 inmates. Officials say the violence reflects deeper systemic issues, as staff members were assaulted 31 times with weapons and 140 times without. There were also seven armed assaults and 35 unarmed physical confrontations involving prison staff. Inmate-on-inmate violence was similarly stark, with 25 recorded cases of armed battery and 109 additional attacks without weapons…