City and law enforcement officials in San Bernardino County are expressing their outrage following the transfer of dozens of death row inmates from San Quentin State Prison to Chino. The move, part of the state’s efforts to comply with Proposition 66, has sparked concerns about the ability of Chino’s aging prison to securely house these inmates and ensure the safety of the surrounding community.
Chino Mayor Eunice Ulloa, during a press conference, criticized the decision, stating that the prison is in dire need of repair and is ill-equipped to handle the most dangerous criminals in the state. Chino Police Chief Kevin Mensen echoed these concerns, emphasizing that the inmates should have remained in San Quentin.
Since February 26, a total of 324 death row inmates have been transferred from San Quentin to other state prisons, with 39 being sent to the California Institution for Men in Chino. These transfers have caught Chino city officials off-guard, who argue that they were not properly notified by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).
Critics of the transfers point to a 2008 report from the California Office of the Inspector General, which highlighted the need for $28 million in repairs to the Chino facility. Additionally, there have been two escapes from the prison in the past 40 years, further raising concerns about public safety.
The CDCR, however, assures the public that all facilities receiving death row inmates have secure perimeters, including lethal electrified fences. Chino has undergone repairs and upgrades, including improvements to its electrical systems and security lighting. The transferred inmates are classified as “close custody” and are under direct supervision during work and programming.
San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman expressed his concerns about the relocation, stating that it disregards the realities of what the Chino prison is capable of handling. Local officials have reached out to the governor’s office, the CDCR, and local legislators, demanding the removal of the 39 inmates from Chino. They have also launched a petition on the city’s website, gathering 1,000 signatures so far, urging the governor to move the inmates to more suitable facilities until necessary repairs and improvements are made at the Chino prison.
The situation has reignited the debate surrounding Proposition 66, with critics arguing that Governor Newsom’s moratorium on the death penalty ignores the requirement to follow through on death sentences. San Bernardino District Attorney Jason Anderson emphasized the importance of upholding the law in its entirety, without selective adherence based on political rhetoric.
