Latest news with #CaliforniaDepartmentofCorrectionsandRehabilitation
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Newsweek
Manson Family Member Recommended for Parole 55 Years After Grisly Murders
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A California prison panel has recommended Patricia Krenwinkel, a longtime imprisoned member of the Manson Family cult, who was convicted in the infamous 1969 Los Angeles murder spree, for parole on Friday. Newsweek has reached out to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the California governor's office for comment via email on Sunday. Why It Matters Krenwinkel is the longest-serving female inmate in California prisons. She was a member of Charles Manson's "family," a devoted group living communally on an abandoned movie set in California. Manson was notorious for his ability to manipulate and control others, having quickly gained followers and convinced them to view him as a God-like figure, with testimonies emphasizing drug use and abuse. He led sermons, orchestrated orgies and fostered a cult-like environment, as well as directing his family members to kill. Members of the "Manson Family," including Krenwinkel, stabbed and killed several people, including actress Sharon Tate who was pregnant at the time. Krenwinkel first met Manson at a party when she was 19 years old and immediately left her life for him. What To Know During a four-hour hearing Friday, panel members of the California Board of Parole found that Krenwinkel, 77, poses a low risk of reoffending due to her age and decades of good behavior in prison, and recommended her for parole, according to CBS News' San Diego affiliate. Krenwinkel did not speak during the hearing, but several victims' family members, including Tate's younger sister, Debra Tate, spoke in opposition, according to CBS. Krenwinkel, a Los Angeles native, is incarcerated at the California Institution for Women, and has been denied parole over a dozen times, most recently by Newsom in 2022. She is serving a life sentence after being convicted of seven counts of murder in 1971. During her trial, she confessed to running down and repeatedly stabbing Abigail Anne Folger, who was at Tate's home that night, and assisted in killing the LaBiancas the following evening. She says Manson told her to do something "witchy," and so after stabbing the LaBiancas with a fork, she used the victims' blood to write "Death to Pigs," "Rise," and "Healter [sic] Skelter" on the walls. The disturbing murders were orchestrated by Manson, but not personally done by him. He died in prison in 2017. Charles Manson follower Patricia Krenwinkel is seen on March 13, 2020. Charles Manson follower Patricia Krenwinkel is seen on March 13, 2020. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation What People Are Saying California Governor Gavin Newsom said in reversal of Krenwinkel's parole in 2022: "Ms. Krenwinkel fully accepted Mr. Manson's racist, apocalyptical ideologies. Ms. Krenwinkel was not only a victim of Mr. Manson's abuse. She was also a significant contributor to the violence and tragedy that became the Manson Family's legacy... Beyond the brutal murders she committed, she played a leadership role in the cult, and an enforcer of Mr. Manson's tyranny. She forced the other women in the cult to obey Mr. Manson, and prevented them from escaping when they tried to leave" Debra Tate, Sharon Tate's younger sister, said during Friday's hearing: "Releasing her to society puts society at risk. I don't accept any explanation for someone who has had 55 years to think of the many ways they impacted their victims, but still does not know their names. My life, the victims' families are forever affected." Commissioner Gilbert Infante said during the hearing on Friday: "This decision does not minimize or forgive the criminal conduct or the loss your victims and their families have suffered. At the time of these crimes, you exhibited all the hallmark features of youth. When we look at subsequent growth, you have made strides, and this is evidenced in the work you have done." What Happens Next The panel's recommendation now goes to the full California Board of Parole Hearings for review, which must occur within 120 days. If approved, Governor Gavin Newsom will have 150 days to affirm, reverse or take no action on the decision.
Los Angeles Times
4 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
Did faulty drug tests taint parole hearings? California is reviewing hundreds of denials
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is reviewing hundreds of state parole hearings to see if any inmates who were denied parole were rejected because of faulty drug tests. Nearly 6,000 drug tests in California prisons are believed to have yielded false positives between April and July last year, and attorneys for the Board of Parole are now conducting a review of inmate files to determine if any of them need to appear before the parole board again to be reconsidered, according to officials with CDCR. If any inmates were denied parole because of the faulty tests, they could be owed a new hearing before the parole board, said attorneys representing inmates affected by the defective drug tests. The review is already underway and will determine if 'without the positive drug screening, there is sufficient evidence to support an incarcerated person's denial of parole,' said CDCR spokesperson Emily Humpal in a statement. If there isn't enough evidence to support incarceration other than the drug test, a new hearing will be scheduled. CDCR officials declined to provide details as to how many parole hearings were being reviewed, and if any parole hearings had been rescheduled since the process began. More information will be available after the review is complete, the department said. Representatives at UnCommon Law, a nonprofit advocacy group for inmates seeking parole, said parole board officials this week told their attorneys that the review involves at least 459 parole hearings, as well as dozens of administrative reviews and denials from inmates to move up their parole hearings. Attorneys with the group confirmed the false test results after they received records showing that positive test results had spiked across the state's prison system between April and July last year, raising suspicion that something was wrong. The California Board of Parole is also reviewing 75 administrative denials, and 56 petitions that were denied to advance an inmate's parole hearing, according to the organization. All of the files under review involve inmates who were in CDCR's Medical Assistant Treatment Program and were recently denied parole or petitions to move up their parole hearings to an earlier date, between April 2024 and this month. Inmates in the program treat substance abuse issues with medication. The drug tests, given across the state's 31 prison systems, were distributed as part of some inmates' drug treatment programs and included in their files as part of their medical record. Although prison staff are not allowed to use the drug tests as part of any disciplinary action, the files are accessible to members of the parole board. Some advocates have pushed for medical files to not be included in parole hearing decisions, arguing that the information is private, and could also offer an incomplete or defective picture of the inmate's behavior without the input of doctors. On top of that, advocates with UnCommon Law argue, the drug tests used for medical treatment — like the defective ones used last year — don't include follow-up tests to confirm results, and could push away inmates from seeking medical treatment for addictions. 'When the Board uses inconclusive drug tests from substance use treatment records in their parole hearings, they're not just ignoring science and expert medical guidance — they're driving people away from lifesaving treatment during a deadly overdose epidemic in our state prisons,' said Su Kim, senior policy manager at UnCommon Law. Natasha Baker, an attorney with UnCommon, praised the state's move to review the recent parole board decisions, but said there were still concerns that the results could affect inmates in the future. 'We will need to closely monitor the review process and ensure that the Board takes the necessary steps to mitigate the impact of these faulty records,' she said in a statement. The faulty tests were first noticed by the California Correctional Heath Care Services, which provides healthcare to inmates. Positive opiate drug screenings in the state's prisons hovered at about 6% on average every month, according to data obtained by UnCommon Law. But between April and July 2024, the medical drug tests resulted in a positive result range of about 20%. For most prisons, about 1 in 8 tests produced a positive result, according to the group. Quest Diagnostics, the company that provided the faulty tests, said the false results came after the company temporarily changed the reagent, or chemical, that was usually used in the tests. The replacement, which had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, is believed to have led to the higher positivity rate. CDCR officials said it was notifying inmates affected by the tests via letters, which would also be included in their electronic health records. On Oct. 18, medical staff also provided additional training to the Board of Parole about the use of drug screenings, including that the tests are meant to only be used for medical purposes. Despite the ongoing review, some attorneys are still concerned there could be other inmates affected by defective drug tests. 'The Board's review may not capture everyone impacted by this, as it is not entirely clear how the Board is deciding that false positives were determinative of a parole decision,' Baker said in a statement. 'The [Parole] Board has not addressed what happens to people who were impacted by the false positives but who haven't had their hearings yet.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Vacaville inmate investigated in attempted homicide of peace officer
(KRON) — The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said it is probing the alleged attempted homicide of a peace officer at California Medical Facility in Vacaville on Wednesday. Nicaraguan man charged with assaulting ICE officer in San Jose CDCR said the incident happened at 10:10 a.m. when the inmate, identified as 38-year-old Dannunzio Patron, 'allegedly attacked a correctional officer with an improvised weapon during a cell extraction.' One officer who tried to break up the incident was injured by the weapon in his left forearm and two responding staff members said they suffered knee pain, according to CDCR. The injured officers were all taken to an outside hospital for treatment. 'Patron was most recently received from Fresno County on Dec. 30, 2024. He was sentenced to eight years for assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury as a second striker,' confirmed officials in a news release. Following the incident, Patron was transferred to another institution for restricted housing, said officials. The investigation will be handled by the Solano District Attorney's Office for possible felony prosecution. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said peer support and employee assistance program services are being offered to employees. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cooper Koch Spoke With Erik Menendez After His Resentencing
Earlier this month, brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez were resentenced to life with parole, paving the way for their possible release from prison. The Menendez brothers are currently serving life sentences for the 1989 murders of their parents—the case garnered newfound attention last year thanks to Monsters: the Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. In Monsters, Erik is played by Cooper Koch, who revealed yesterday he spoke with Erik after the resentencing news. 'I'm so grateful that that happened,' Koch told Variety of the resentencing. 'And so is Erik, I spoke to him yesterday and he is so excited.' The actor continued that Erik plans to work towards 'a lot of change in the prison system' if he is released. 'He is going to be an advocate for other people who have L.W.O.P, which is life without parole,' Koch said. 'His life is going to surround making change in the prison system, and I just think that is so beautiful.' Koch continued that Erik told him that he and his brother hope that in '10 years, people look back and they say, 'We really made the right decision. Thank God we let them out.'' Erik and Lyle's parole hearing dates were pushed back to Aug. 21 and Aug. 22, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation announced earlier this week. This isn't Koch's first time speaking about the brothers; after Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón initially recommended the Menendez brothers for resentencing, the actor posted on Instagram, 'I am overwhelmed with gratitude and hope for the progress we've seen today…[the] recommendation has ignited a renewed sense of possibility that Lyle and Erik could finally be released after decades behind bars. But, this journey is not over.' He added, 'There are still critical steps ahead: the judge must endorse the resentencing, and, if that happens, the parole board must recognize the time they have served as fitting for the crime. Our voices, our unwavering support, remain crucial—not just for the brothers to ensure their release, but also for every victim of sexual abuse fighting to be heard. I hope to see Erik and Lyle soon. Free from all of this.'You Might Also Like 12 Weekend Getaway Spas For Every Type of Occasion 13 Beauty Tools to Up Your At-Home Facial Game
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Megan Thee Stallion calls out harassment in wake of Tory Lanez prison stabbing: 'I'm sick of this s‑‑‑'
Megan Thee Stallion is done holding her tongue. On Monday night, the Houston rapper spoke out about the harassment she's faced in the wake of Tory Lanez's recent stabbing in prison. In a text post shared to TikTok, the 30-year-old Grammy winner wrote, "At what point are yall gonna stop making me have to re live being shot BY TORY !? At what point are Tory and yall FANS gonna stop lying ? Like how much is the check to keep harassing me? Why is this happening EVERY DAY?" "One min him/ yall said I was never shot now yall letting him play in yall face AGAIN and say I was shot but it wasn't him oh okay... ?!" Megan continued. She noted that Lanez never took the stand in his defense during his trial — "BECAUSE HE KNOWS HE DID THAT S‑‑‑!" — and questioned why people believe she would lie about the shooting. She further addressed Lanez's claims of innocence, asserting, "FACTS ARE FACTS, he did it, it was PROVEN IN COURT... Ain't no new f---ing evidence yall been saying the same shit for years." Megan ended the post pleading for the "f‑‑‑ing demon" to leave her alone, and saying that she's "off this silly ass internet s‑‑‑." On Monday, May 12, Lanez was attacked by another inmate at approximately 7:20 a.m. during an altercation in the housing unit of the California Correctional Institution at Tehachapi, Deputy Press Secretary Pedro Calderón Michel at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed to Entertainment Weekly. "Staff immediately responded, activated 911, and began medical aid. Peterson was subsequently transported to an outside medical facility for further treatment," Michel said in a statement. Lanez, 32, was taken to a civilian hospital in Bakersfield following the reported stabbing. The rapper's official Instagram account shared a gruesome update on his condition in a post later that evening, claiming the attack left him with two collapsed lungs and more than a dozen stab wounds. "Tory was stabbed 14 times — including 7 wounds to his back, 4 to his torso, 2 to the back of his head, and 1 to the left side of his face," the post read. "Both of his lungs collapsed, and he was placed on a breathing apparatus." Despite the alleged severe nature of the injuries, the post shared a positive update on his condition, noting that Lanez is "breathing on his own" and "in good spirits." Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, is currently serving a 10-year sentence for the 2020 shooting of Megan. The "Hiss" rapper, born Megan Pete, claimed that Lanez shot her in the foot after an argument broke out in her car between friend Kelsey Nicole, Lanez, and Lanez's bodyguard following an evening at Kylie Jenner's house on July 12, 2020. Lanez was ultimately found guilty in December 2022 of all three felony firearm counts against him, including assault with a semiautomatic handgun, carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence. As a witness for the prosecution, Megan took the stand at Lanez's trial and testified about the toll the shooting took on her well-being, sharing that she experienced suicidal ideation. "I can't even be happy," she said. "I can't hold conversations with people for a long time. I don't feel like I want to be on this Earth. I wish he would have just shot and killed me if I knew I would have to go through this torture." She also slammed the media coverage of the incident. "This situation has only been worse for me, and it has only made him more famous," she said. "Because I was shot, I've been turned into some kind of villain, and he's the victim. This has messed up my whole life... This whole situation in the industry is like a big boy's club... I'm telling on one of y'all friends, now you're all about to hate me." Megan was also granted a five-year restraining order against Lanez in January, requesting that he be prevented from allegedly harassing her from prison through third parties while he serves his 10-year sentence. EW has reached out to reps for Megan and Lanez for comment. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
