Latest news with #DepartmentofCorrectionsandRehabilitation
NBC News
4 days ago
- NBC News
Former Charles Manson follower is recommended for parole
A California state parole board recommended parole for Patricia Krenwinkel, a follower of the cult leader Charles Manson, on Friday for the second time. The decision will now have to be approved by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who denied Krenwinkel's first parole recommendation. The governor's review process can take up to 150 days following a parole hearing. The 77-year-old is serving a life sentence in the California Institution for Women for her role in the killings of pregnant actor Sharon Tate and four others in August 1969, as well as grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary, the following night in what prosecutors have called Manson's attempt to start a race war. Krenwinkel was recommended for parole for the first time in May 2022, but Newsom denied clemency five months later, according to Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation inmate records. She was previously denied parole 14 times before then. Krenwinkel was 19 and working as a secretary when she met a 33-year-old Manson at a party, leaving her life behind to follow him because she believed they could have a romantic relationship, she said in 2016 testimony. Instead, she was abused by Manson and tried to flee, but was brought back each time and was often under the influence of drugs. Krenwinkel admitted to stabbing an heiress to a coffee fortune, Abigail Folger, multiple times on the night of Aug. 9, 1969, as well as participating in the killings of the LaBiancas the following night. During the LaBianca murders, she infamously wrote 'Helter Skelter' and other phrases on the wall in her victims' blood. She, along with other participants including Manson, were convicted and sentenced to death. However, their sentences were commuted to life with the possibility parole in 1972, after the death penalty was briefly ruled unconstitutional in California. Krenwinkel is now the state's longest-serving inmate. The California governor's office and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation did not immediately respond to NBC News' requests for comment.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Under Fire Act, inmate firefighters could have a new pipeline to employment
When Andony Corleto first joined California's Conservation Fire Camp Program as a prison inmate, he knew his criminal history barred him from working for any city, county or state fire department upon release. 'Thousands of people like me have had their trial by fire, only to be released and been told that it's worth nothing,' said Corleto, who now works with Vera Institute of Justice, a national organization focused on criminal justice reform. 'We cannot throw them away. We cannot deny them protections and fair wages while they work to keep us safe, especially with the persistent shortage of firefighters and with record making fires every year.' Now, with the Fire Act, this could all change. Introduced by California Democratic Reps. Sydney Kamlager-Dove and Judy Chu, the new act would help fund job training, workplace and mentoring opportunities to ensure long-term employment for former inmate firefighters. In addition to creating a pipeline for these workers, it would also start a pathway for expunging the criminal records of those who have successfully completed probation and reentry. At the beginning of the year, more than 1,000 inmates in the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation helped fight the Palisades and Eaton fires. During a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Judy Chu, who represents Pasadena and Altadena, honored their acts of bravery and spoke about their unfair low wages. 'The fire could've been worse,' said Chu. "Our area is a very densely populated area, so even more damage could have been done. But it was stopped before it could burn more communities in my district, but they fought days on end to put out those fires.' Outside the L.A. County Stentorians office, an association for African American firefighters, the Democratic representatives gathered with local advocates in front of a cluster of television news cameras to share the details of the newly introduced act. Corleto, who was released from custody around five years ago, and Royal Ramey, nonprofit Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program chief executive, both shared firsthand experiences of living and working in a fire camp. They hope this act, if passed, will bring a new sense of hope to those currently working in the fire camp program. Historically, incarcerated firefighters make up around 30% of California's wildfire crews. Depending on skill level, they can currently earn between $5.80 to $10.24 a day plus $1 an hour from Cal Fire during active emergencies, according to the department's website. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's Conservation has 35 fire camps in California where over 1,800 inmates live and train. When they aren't fighting fires or responding to other disasters, they help with state park upkeep. By joining a fire crew, they get the opportunity to reduce their sentences, earning one or two days of credit for every day they work. The bill introduced in Congress, officially known as the Fairness, Inclusion, Rehabilitation, and Expungement for Incarcerated Firefighters Act, would offer incentives for other states to start their own versions of fire camps. The act would expand occupational safety coverage, recognize incarcerated firefighters as employees entitled to wage protections and provide $20 million annually for states to adopt safety and wage compliance. 'The reality is that there are so many states that are battling with natural disasters, including fires. So, why not do the humane thing and make sure that everyone has protection? After all, these are human beings who wake up every day and make the conscious decision to get up and to learn to fight fires,' said Kamlager-Dove, who represents a district in Los Angeles. 'I want to connect California stories to the rest of the country.' Kamlager-Dove is 'hopeful' that the legislation will succeed despite the federal budget cuts being considered in the Republican-led Congress. 'This is an administration that believes in second, third and fourth chances. It believes in redemption,' said Kamlager-Dove of the Trump Administration. 'So we're simply saying, expand the lens of who you think is worthy for redemption. I submit that folks who put their lives on the line every single day, fighting fires deserve that same kind of attention.' Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Under Fire Act, inmate firefighters could have a new pipeline to employment
When Andony Corleto first joined California's Conservation Fire Camp Program as a prison inmate, he knew his criminal history barred him from working for any city, county or state fire department upon release. 'Thousands of people like me have had their trial by fire, only to be released and been told that it's worth nothing,' said Corleto, who now works with Vera Institute of Justice, a national organization focused on criminal justice reform. 'We cannot throw them away. We cannot deny them protections and fair wages while they work to keep us safe, especially with the persistent shortage of firefighters and with record making fires every year.' Now, with the Fire Act, this could all change. Introduced by California Democratic Reps. Sydney Kamlager-Dove and Judy Chu, the new act would help fund job training, workplace and mentoring opportunities to ensure long-term employment for former inmate firefighters. In addition to creating a pipeline for these workers, it would also start a pathway for expunging the criminal records of those who have successfully completed probation and reentry. At the beginning of the year, more than 1,000 inmates in the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation helped fight the Palisades and Eaton fires. During a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Judy Chu, who represents Pasadena and Altadena, honored their acts of bravery and spoke about their unfair low wages. 'The fire could've been worse,' said Chu. 'Our area is a very densely populated area, so even more damage could have been done. But it was stopped before it could burn more communities in my district, but they fought days on end to put out those fires.' Outside the L.A. County Stentorians office, an association for African American firefighters, the Democratic representatives gathered with local advocates in front of a cluster of television news cameras to share the details of the newly introduced act. Corleto, who was released from custody around five years ago, and Royal Ramey, nonprofit Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program chief executive, both shared firsthand experiences of living and working in a fire camp. They hope this act, if passed, will bring a new sense of hope to those currently working in the fire camp program. Historically, incarcerated firefighters make up around 30% of California's wildfire crews. Depending on skill level, they can currently earn between $5.80 to $10.24 a day plus $1 an hour from Cal Fire during active emergencies, according to the department's website. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's Conservation has 35 fire camps in California where over 1,800 inmates live and train. When they aren't fighting fires or responding to other disasters, they help with state park upkeep. By joining a fire crew, they get the opportunity to reduce their sentences, earning one or two days of credit for every day they work. The bill introduced in Congress, officially known as the Fairness, Inclusion, Rehabilitation, and Expungement for Incarcerated Firefighters Act, would offer incentives for other states to start their own versions of fire camps. The act would expand occupational safety coverage, recognize incarcerated firefighters as employees entitled to wage protections and provide $20 million annually for states to adopt safety and wage compliance. 'The reality is that there are so many states that are battling with natural disasters, including fires. So, why not do the humane thing and make sure that everyone has protection? After all, these are human beings who wake up every day and make the conscious decision to get up and to learn to fight fires,' said Kamlager-Dove, who represents a district in Los Angeles. 'I want to connect California stories to the rest of the country.' Kamlager-Dove is 'hopeful' that the legislation will succeed despite the federal budget cuts being considered in the Republican-led Congress. 'This is an administration that believes in second, third and fourth chances. It believes in redemption,' said Kamlager-Dove of the Trump Administration. 'So we're simply saying, expand the lens of who you think is worthy for redemption. I submit that folks who put their lives on the line every single day, fighting fires deserve that same kind of attention.'
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Inmate recaptured after brief escape from L.A. County firefighting camp
An inmate who walked away from an L.A. County firefighting camp was recaptured hours later, the second such incident in California in the last week, the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said Monday. The 33-year-old inmate, Angel Gaxiola, was discovered missing by the staff during a head count at Holton Conservation Camp, which is in the mountains northeast of Sylmar, about 9 p.m. Sunday, the department said. A call went out to local law enforcement, and about 8 a.m. Monday, the Upland police apprehended Gaxiola, the department said. Prison officials did not say where Gaxiola was arrested, but Sylmar is about 50 miles from Upland. Gaxiola, who was serving a six-year sentence for robbery, had been at Holton Conservation Camp since January. The fire camp is jointly operated by the Los Angeles County Fire Department and state prison officials and is staffed by county firefighters and corrections personnel who supervise incarcerated fire crews. The crews at Holton clear brush and establish fire lines during wildland fires, the state said. Crews also perform park maintenance and brush clearance for fire prevention at well-known L.A. landmarks, including the Hollywood Bowl, Mt. Wilson and the trails of Angeles National Forest, the state said. The department said Gaxiola's case was referred to the Los Angeles County district attorney "for consideration of escape charges." His recapture occurred two days after authorities apprehended another inmate who walked away from a firefighting camp in El Dorado County in Northern California. Dion Harvey, 24, was similarly discovered missing from his bunk during a camp count Friday night at Growlersburg Conservation Camp, the corrections department said. A search followed, and he was captured Saturday morning. The California Department of Corrections, which has reported other similar cases in recent months, said in a statement on its website that since 1977, "99 percent of all people who have left an adult institution, camp, or in-state contract bed or Community Rehabilitative Program Placement have been apprehended." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
South Wales Guardian
14-05-2025
- South Wales Guardian
Tory Lanez's alleged prison attacker has previous conviction for inmate assault
Lanez was in fair condition a day after the attack in a housing unit at the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi, where he is serving a 10-year sentence for shooting hip-hop star Megan Thee Stallion in the feet, Pedro Calderon Michel, spokesman for the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said in an email. Authorities did not specify how Lanez was attacked, but a message posted on the rapper's Instagram account Monday evening said Lanez was stabbed 14 times and both his lungs collapsed. Prison officials identified the alleged attacker as Santino Casio, 42. He has been put in restricted housing pending an investigation by the prison and the Kern County District Attorney's Office. Casio has been in the facility since 2004, after he was sentenced to life, with parole possible, for convictions of second-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder. In 2008, he was sentenced to six more years for assault by a prisoner with a deadly weapon, and in 2018 he was sentenced to two more years for possession and manufacture of a deadly weapon by a prisoner. An email seeking comment sent to an attorney who previously represented Casio was not immediately answered. The prison is about 100 miles (160 kilometres) north of Los Angeles in the mountains of the Mojave Desert and houses about 1,700 medium- and maximum-security inmates. In December 2022, Lanez was convicted of three felonies: assault with a semiautomatic firearm, having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle and discharging a firearm with gross negligence. Megan, whose legal name is Megan Pete, testified during the trial that in July 2020, after they left a party at Kylie Jenner's Hollywood Hills home, Lanez fired the gun at the back of her feet and shouted for her to dance as she walked away from an SUV in which they had been riding. She had bullet fragments in both feet that had to be surgically removed. It was not until months after the incident that she publicly identified Lanez as the person who had fired the gun. A judge rejected a motion for a new trial from Lanez's lawyers, who are appealing his conviction. They had no immediate comment after the attack. Megan recently alleged that Lanez was harassing her from prison through surrogates, and in January a judge issued a protective order through 2030 ordering him to stop any such harassment or any other contact. The 32-year-old Canadian Lanez began releasing mixtapes in 2009 and saw a steady rise in popularity, moving on to major label albums, two of which reached the top 10 on Billboard's charts. The Monday Instagram post on Lanez's status said he was 'talking normally, in good spirits, and deeply thankful to God that he is pulling through'.
