How Decades-Old Decisions to Build Two California Prisons in a Dry Lakebed and a Chaotic Climate Left 8,000 Incarcerated People at Risk
California is home to some of the most innovative and progressive policies in the United States. Unfortunately, the state is also home to two prisons that were built in a dry lakebed decades ago. These prisons, California Institution for Men (CIM) and California Institution for Women (CIW), were built in a location that is now prone to extreme weather events, including flash flooding and extreme heat waves.
The combination of these two factors has left 8,000 incarcerated people at risk of serious harm due to the chaotic climate. This is a direct result of the decisions that were made decades ago to build these prisons in a dry lakebed.
The two prisons, CIM and CIW, were built in the late 1960s. At the time, the area was largely unpopulated and was considered to be an ideal location for a prison. However, over the past few decades, the climate in the area has changed drastically. The area is now prone to extreme weather events, including flash flooding and extreme heat waves.
These extreme weather events have caused significant damage to both prisons. In the summer of 2019, CIM was hit by a flash flood that caused significant damage to the prison. The flooding caused the prison to be evacuated and the inmates were relocated to other facilities.
The extreme heat waves have also caused significant damage to both prisons. In the summer of 2020, CIW was hit by a heat wave that caused the prison to be evacuated and the inmates were relocated to other facilities.
The combination of these two factors has left 8,000 incarcerated people at risk of serious harm due to the chaotic climate. This is a direct result of the decisions that were made decades ago to build these prisons in a dry lakebed.
The state of California has taken steps to address the issue. In 2019, the state passed a law that requires the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to provide adequate housing for all inmates in the event of an extreme weather event. The law also requires the CDCR to provide additional resources for inmates who are affected by extreme weather events.
The state has also taken steps to improve the safety and security of the prisons. In 2020, the CDCR implemented a new security system that includes cameras, sensors, and other technology to help detect potential threats. The CDCR has also implemented additional safety protocols to help protect inmates from extreme weather events.
The state of California has taken steps to ensure that the 8,000 incarcerated people in the two prisons are safe and secure. However, it is important to remember that the decisions that were made decades ago to build these prisons in a dry lakebed have left these individuals at risk of serious harm due to the chaotic climate. It is important that we continue to take steps to ensure that the inmates in these prisons are safe and secure.
