01 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

California is at the forefront of climate change. In the last ten years, the Golden State has experienced large-scale wildfires, surging temperatures, and devastating flooding, among other climate hazards, that have caused harm to human health and the natural environment. This series of climate hazards has made it evident that the effects of climate change will continue to intensify, have the greatest impact on already vulnerable populations, and, most critically, the California carceral system is not prepared to respond to climate hazards in or near prisons.

On behalf of our client, the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, our research project sought to understand what policy alternatives can reduce the impact of climate hazards on those incarcerated in California state prisons.

Through a mixed methods approach, using interviews with experts, a survey of people incarcerated in California state prisons, and a spatial analysis, we concluded that incarcerated people face unique challenges during climate hazards and thus must be included in any measure of vulnerability to ensure their safety and well-being.

Our key findings are outlined below:

Incarcerated people are distinctly vulnerable to climate hazards because they are entirely reliant upon CDCR for preparedness, response, and recovery.

CDCR prisons are highly susceptible to climate hazards because they are located in or near remote areas, have an aging infrastructure and population, and are overcrowded. As of January 2023, CDCR operated 34 prison facilities at 108.5% of its design capacity.

CDCR provides the legislature and the public minimal information on its emergency preparedness. Furthermore, CDCR’s Department Operations Manual (DOM) describes evacuations in a limited way and details the agency’s procedures for fires and earthquakes so narrowly that it leaves many questions on how CDCR will keep people safe. The DOM also does not mention flooding, wildfires, or extreme temperatures, suggesting no emergency planning for these hazards has occurred.

Lastly, other state carceral systems have failed to keep incarcerated people safe during a climate hazard. Our findings suggest California’s carceral emergency management system is set up to do the same.

Given these findings, we developed the following set of recommendations to reduce the impact of climate hazards on people incarcerated in California state prisons:

1. Reduce the size of the incarcerated population by 50,000 with a focus on people 50 years or older and those who are most vulnerable

5. Create minimum standards for emergency plans and require CDCR to develop a biannual report defining the protocol and resources on-hand to carry out these plans

2. Create and implement rapid release policies during times of emergency

6. Require CDCR to produce an annual report on the number of climate hazards experienced at CDCR prison facilities.

3. Close prisons most vulnerable to climate hazards.

7. Reallocate funding from CDCR’s existing budget to expand heating, air conditioning, ventilation, shade structures, and backup generators

4. Update the State of California emergency plan to recognize the vulnerability of incarcerated people

8. Expand emergency preparedness training for staff and incarcerated people.