California High-Security Prisons Implement Stricter Restrictions Amid Violence Spike

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A California high-security prison under increased security measures to combat violence.

News Summary

In response to a surge in violence, California’s high-security prisons are tightening inmate movement, phone calls, and visits, starting March 8, 2025. These measures affect Level IV housing units at multiple prisons, ensuring safety while still providing essential services. With seven homicides reported in 2025 alone, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is investigating the underlying causes of the escalating violence. This ongoing concern prompts stricter protocols intended to stabilize the environment within these facilities.

High-Security Prisons in California Face Increased Restrictions Amid Escalating Violence

California’s high-security prisons are tightening their belts as violence continues to surge in 2025. Beginning on March 8, 2025, almost a dozen facilities have rolled out strict restrictions on inmate movements, phone calls, and visits in an effort to keep things under control. With some pretty unsettling events occurring, the decision aims to ensure safety for everyone behind those prison walls.

Where Are These Changes Taking Place?

These new protocols are primarily affecting Level IV high-security sections at places like the California Correctional Institution, California State Prison-Los Angeles County, California State Prison-Sacramento, and others including Calipatria, Centinela, Kern Valley, Mule Creek, and Pelican Bay State Prisons. This covers a range of facilities that are designed to house the most high-risk offenders in the California correctional system.

What Are the New Protocols?

Under these latest restrictions, inmates in Level IV housing units will see some notable changes in their daily routines. Meals will be delivered directly to them, cutting down on movement around the facility. Shower times and all other movements will now be conducted in a controlled manner, which means a lot less freedom for inmates, at least for the time being.

Moreover, phone calls are not as unrestricted as they used to be. The use of ViaPath tablets for communication is limited, and visitations have also taken a hit. While these modifications might feel a bit extreme, it’s important to note that inmates will still have access to essential services such as medical care, legal proceedings, and other critical appointments. This is not a lockdown, but rather a more controlled environment designed to keep things in check.

What’s Behind the Restrictions?

The push for these restrictions comes on the heels of a troubling increase in violence throughout the state’s prisons, with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) launching a comprehensive investigation to get to the bottom of the violence issues. In just 2025, there have already been seven confirmed homicide cases, shaking up the already delicate atmosphere within the facilities.

Recent Violence Incidents

Some of the more shocking events include the stabbing deaths of inmates Jake T. Kennedy, Joshua L. Peppers, and German M. Merino. Just the day before the new restrictions kicked in, Kennedy lost his life, found in his cell with multiple stab wounds. Tragically, Peppers was attacked and succumbed to his injuries on the very same morning as Kennedy’s death. And Merino was not spared either; he encountered a fatal attack by two inmates at Kern Valley State Prison.

This isn’t an isolated incident. In January, another inmate, Mario Campbell, was killed by two other inmates in an exercise yard in a Sacramento prison. A recent riot involving around 40 inmates led to five individuals being hospitalized, painting a grim picture of the situation inside.

What’s Next?

As it stands, the CDCR plans to maintain these modified programming restrictions until their ongoing investigations are complete, but there’s no clear timeline for when things might return to normal. Last year alone saw 32 homicides in California prisons, and with the current spike in violence, it’s clear that the issues surrounding prison safety and inmate violence are ongoing concerns that need urgent attention. The situation continues to develop, and observers are watching closely to see what measures are taken next to address these alarming trends.