In a monumental stride forward within California’s criminal justice landscape, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has embarked on a profound transformation in compliance with Proposition 66. This voter-approved initiative aims to overhaul the state’s approach to capital punishment, and as of February 26, 2024, the process of dismantling segregated death row units at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center (SQRC) and the Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) is underway, marking a pivotal moment in the state’s correctional history.
Proposition 66 garnered widespread support from voters, mandating that death-sentenced individuals serve their sentences in designated prisons while actively participating in work programs to pay restitution to their victims. This paradigm shift underscores a broader societal movement towards rehabilitation and reintegration within the criminal justice system.
Secretary Jeffrey Macomber of CDCR stresses the significance of this transition, highlighting that “This transfer enables death-sentenced individuals to pay court-ordered restitution through work programs. Participants are placed in institutions with an electrified secured perimeter while still integrating with the general population.” This approach reflects an evolving perspective within corrections, emphasizing individualized case management and rehabilitation.
The Condemned Inmate Transfer Program (CITP), governed by permanent regulations approved on January 31, 2024, facilitates the relocation of death-sentenced individuals to appropriate housing based on a comprehensive assessment of individual case factors. Under CITP, participants are transferred to institutions with at least a Level II security level and a lethal electrified fence, ensuring stringent security standards while facilitating integration into the general population.
The phased transfer of death-sentenced individuals from SQRC to 24 institutions within CDCR’s larger system, alongside the relocation of condemned individuals from CCWF to the general population, reflects a systematic approach to implementation. Notably, these regulations build upon the success of the Condemned Inmate Transfer Pilot Program, which saw 104 death-sentenced individuals transferred to eight other institutions between January 2020 and January 2022.
Critical to the success of this transition is the rigorous review process undertaken by the Institution Classification Committee, which evaluates each CITP case before recommending a transfer location. This behavior-based approach ensures that individuals are housed according to their risk level and behavioral history, thereby promoting safety and security within correctional facilities.
It is essential to clarify that mainstreaming death-sentenced individuals does not entail resentencing. CDCR lacks the authority to alter sentencing decisions but is instead focused on facilitating rehabilitation and restitution within existing legal frameworks.
In conjunction with these structural changes, the CDCR Office of Victim and Survivor Rights Services, in collaboration with SQRC and CCWF, is spearheading a comprehensive outreach effort to registered victims. This initiative aims to foster transparency and awareness, ensuring that victims are informed about the movement of death-sentenced individuals and provided with necessary support services.
As California embarks on this transformative journey within its correctional system, the phased-out segregation of death row units signifies a shift towards a more rehabilitative and restorative approach to justice. By prioritizing rehabilitation, restitution, and victim support, the state reaffirms its commitment to fostering safer communities and promoting redemption within its correctional institutions.
