In letters to the court since January 2021, four Donovan residents have claimed that retaliatory conduct from corrections staff has continued, especially toward residents involved in the Armstrong litigation, and often in the form of false rules violation reports, which could affect a persons time in prison. The Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in Otay Mesa. Court records have pointed to a culture of retaliation among corrections staff. Inmate Population Reports Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility (RJD) Main Phone: (619) 661-6500 Physical Address: 480 Alta Road, San Diego, CA 92179 ( Directions) Visitation & Support Inmate Programs Job Vacancies Details & History Reports & Statistics About the Warden About the Health Care CEO Statewide Inmate Family Council SOUTH COUNTY A prison riot Friday night at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility east of Otay Mesa sent five inmates to hospitals, including one who was in critical condition,. All of the members that we spoke to speak very highly of warden Pollard, Curry said. Those reforms included implementing body-worn cameras for corrections staff who work with disabled residents and improvements to the investigative process for staff misconduct. Charleston was sentenced in August 2009 in the Los Angeles area to a 14-year term for resisting or deterring a peace officer with threats of violence. Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. In one of the accounts, the witness a transgender inmate who lived in the same housing unit as the man said she saw him yelling from his cell that he had cuts on his arms and legs, banging on his cell door for help. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. The warden of San Diego Countys state prison retired this month after holding the job for two years, during which he faced questions about his disciplinary and pandemic-related decisions and the prisons commitment to making court-ordered reforms. Mejas-Pascoe was previously a general assignment reporter and intern with inewsource, where she covered the pandemics toll inside prisons and detention We rely on people like you to support this service. Video Visits: Saturday . By continuing to browse this site, you agree to this use. He did not believe the evidence supported the mayhem allegation, which is a criminal charge involving maiming a persons body part or lacerating their face. For more information on connecting with a local IFC, please visit the Statewide IFC website. A report from the Office of Inspector General published in June 2020 concluded that the corrections officer should nevertheless have been disciplined. The corrections department refused to provide inewsource with his internal personnel record. The plaintiffs use-of-force expert also detailed another incident in which staff failed to respond in a timely manner to a suicide attempt by an inmate whod previously experienced abuse. He was charged in San Diego County with two felonies: mayhem and corporal injury to a spouse or roommate, court records show. Schwartz recommended that the state install more cameras throughout Donovan. Older brother Lyle and Erik did not see each other from 1996 until 2018 because they were in different prisons. Patrick Covello, Pollards predecessor, left Donovan in 2019 to take the reins at a prison near Sacramento. Sixty-six percent of the prison staff are vaccinated, slightly higher than the state prison staff average. Richard J. Donovan has been extremely challenging to me as the Warden, but it has also been rewarding, Pollard wrote in a brief notice of resignation. Pollard withdrew the previous wardens disciplinary action against the officer, in agreement with a Skelly officer, who presided over the disciplinary proceedings, and high level department officials who said there were inconsistencies in the girlfriends story and a lack of evidence pointing to the officers guilt. Pollard's last day was Nov. 2, 2021. Copyright 2016 Scripps Media, Inc. City News Service contributed to this report. The next day, police arrested the officer at Donovan. Populations in the states 34 prisons have fluctuated significantly over the course of the pandemic. Inmates are also actively discouraged from filing grievances and complaints and staff retaliation for using the complaint system is rampant, Schwartz said. The man was pronounced dead at 4:35 a.m. after being transported to a local hospital. Knight finally clipped the man with his pickup truck and ran over Terry Carter, who died from his injuries. Most troubling, just like at [Donovan], incarcerated people with disabilities at these other [Department of Corrections] facilities are terrified of staff, reads the new motion. Please refresh the page and/or try again. How could you let this happen? San Diego Already Plans to Make Gas StovesObsolete, Most Formerly Homeless San Diegans Securing Unsubsidized Rentals, Photos: San Ysidro Ranchers Cope with Flooding, Pre-Enrollment for San Diego Unifieds Universal Transitional Kindergarten Program Starts Soon Heres What Parents Need to Know. He was, however, in charge when a federal court ordered the prison to instate sweeping reforms to correct issues raised in the lawsuit, Armstrong v. Newsom. Basic accounts are FREE. In a span of eight days in late December 2020 and early January 2021, eight Donovan residents died from COVID-19. The facility has a capacity of 2,200 inmates, which is the maximum amount of beds per facility. The San Diego County Sheriffs Departments Homicide Unit and the RJD Investigative Services Unit are investigating. The district attorneys office dropped the charges against the officer the day the trial was set to take place, according to court documents. While Pollard was warden, he suspended 11 corrections staff, reduced salaries for 55 corrections staff and dismissed 20 as a result of disciplinary proceedings. It explains that after multiple levels of executive review of the testimonies and all evidence, there was not enough to support imposing discipline against the officer, Simas said in an email. The department is doing this as one of the efforts to focus on an inmates rehabilitation while safely housing them in the least restrictive facilities possible. Nobody should be dying alone in a cell, Rebecca Fielding-Miller, an assistant professor of public health at UC San Diego, said at the time, adding theres a lot of things you can do to prevent that.. In addition to Warden Hills knowledge and experience at CDCR, he is a veteran, having served four years in the United States Navy. inewsource reported that at least three men were found dead or dying in their cells from COVID-19 during a deadly winter outbreak. Schwartz reviewed more than 43 investigations into allegations of staff misconduct at Donovan. OTAY MESA Officials at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility (RJD) and the San Diego County Sheriffs Departments Homicide Unit are investigating the May 7 death of inmate John R. Thurs as a homicide. Populations in the states 34 prisons have fluctuated significantly over the course of the pandemic. Where are the Menendez brothers today? Benito Jamar Hugie, 47, is accused of accepting "thousands of dollars" in bribes to smuggle dental molds, jewelry and other items into the San Diego County prison for 26-year-old inmate Shawn Brown. San Diego ideal weather and central location make it a perfect place to work, live, relax, and play year round. PublishedNovember 17, 2021 at 6:00 AM PST, By That witness also reported that the man was yelling that he couldnt breathe as the officer stood on his back. At least 18 Donovan residents have died from COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic the fifth highest death count among prisons in the state. SAN DIEGO More than 400 inmates at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility have tested positive for the coronavirus in recent days, making the Otay Mesa lockup the site of one of the . The officer was using his flashlight and could see that the man was moving his hands on the toilet. This article was modified in November 2021 to reflect the new season of "Killer Siblings." Though they both remain haunted by the brutality of their acts on Aug. 20, 1989, three decades after the fact, Erik Menendez , 48, and his 51-year-old brother, Lyle, say they no longer deserve to be in prison for killing their parents. Madden took over at the beginning of October when Pollard took his annual leave one month ahead of his retirement. He retired at the age of 56. According to the Inspector General report, The Skelly officer heard a presentation by the officers attorney and, based on the presentation, concluded that there were inconsistencies in the girlfriends statements and that the officer presented himself humbly, very confident in his demeanor, and body language was agreeing [sic] with the statements of his legal representation.. Madden was previously warden at Centinela State Prison in Imperial County, according to the state corrections website. Simas declined to comment on Pollards work performance, which is standard practice within the agency. Broken bones, shattered teeth, bloodied faces, and concussions are routine, reads the February complaint. The announcement by federal authorities of the indictment against Hugie included mention of a separate indictment against Brown, who is charged in another case with allegedly taking nearly $700,000 in pandemic-related unemployment benefits while he was in custody at the prison. In his notice of resignation, Pollard wrote that he was 100% dedicated to changing the public perception related to the Armstrong Class members.. Required fields are marked *. Clinical Assignments and Specialty Rotations 7 . Former Corrections Officer Sentenced to 3 Years for Smuggling Drugs and Cell Phones into State Prison SAN DIEGO - Anibal Navarro, a former corrections officer at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, was sentenced in federal court today to 37 months in prison for smuggling methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana and cell phones into state prison. "Corrections officers are supposed to supervise inmates, not collaborate with them on crimes," said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. News: Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Finally, in 2018, Knight claimed no contest and entered a plea to spend 28 years in prison. Get an unlimited news experience Members of the California Correctional Supervisors Organization who worked with Pollard praised him, Paul Curry, a legislative advocate with the organization, said. Sofa Mejas-Pascoe /, Storm batters South Bay, flooding streets and forcing horse evacuations, San Diegos houseless residents deal with heavy rains, flooding, San Diego Unified launches new engagement website for students, Eagle delivers 2 eggs in California nest watched by web cam. Your email address will not be published. SAN DIEGO - Eleven people, including a former Corrections Officer at Richard J. Donovan ("RJD") Correctional Facility, are charged in federal court as members of a network that smuggled methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana and cellular telephones into the prison. The corrections officer, who started at Donovan in February 2017, makes more than $100,000 a year in his job at the prison. By the Inmate Family Council meeting in January, more than a dozen residents had died from the virus. Nobody should be dying alone in a cell, Rebecca Fielding-Miller, an assistant professor of public health at UC San Diego, said at the time, adding theres a lot of things you can do to prevent that.. The cause of his death has not been disclosed. Authorities report that at least twenty inmates at the Richard J Donovan Correctional Facility were in the recreation yard when an unknown number of them began attacking the officers. And that is opening up exceptional opportunities in many disciplines. RJD investigators have identified inmates Aaron M. Sims, Leslie A. for prisons news. All told, the prison has seen almost 1,000 infections among residents and more than 600 infections among staff. The inmate died from his injuries 15 days later. Corrections officials told inewsource that Donovan was building the personnel team and training to locate specific footage and release it to the public. Still, the OIG said in the report that the department should have disciplined the officer, arguing that the girlfriends statements on her 9-1-1 call, to police and to the neighbor were consistent and her injuries were in line with how she said she was injured. The city also offers an abundance of fun attractions year-round for all ages, including; arts and culture, sports activities, a multitude of parks, recreation centers, unique shops and restaurants. If you're prepared to contribute to a health care initiative of historic proportions, there is a place for you here. Soon after he was imprisoned, Suge stated in an interview that Dr. Dre had been a part of a plan to have him assassinated. However, the Honorable Donovan passed away before the institution was built. We use cookies for analytics, personalized content and ads. Please reload the page and try again. Please reload the page and try again. Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility: Latest Job Openings, Reviews and Ratings & Profile wise Salary Distribution. User Agreement. Pollards last day was Nov. 2, 2021. R J Donovan Correctional Facility: RJD Visiting Status - Status Update by Facility Facility A, HU 2 & Facility C, HUs 14 & 15 are currently in Outbreak Phase. One of our overarching concerns about the situation is that we think whats happening with police brutality inside prison is really the same sort of violence that there is an international uproar over police misconduct outside of prison, said Penny Godbold, an attorney at Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld, one of the firms involved in filing the suit. He eventually stopped moving. The failure to take even this first step, a step already taken by many correctional and jail systems throughout the country, demonstrates the states indifference and further condones serious staff misconduct.. According to the Inspector General report, The Skelly officer heard a presentation by the officers attorney and, based on the presentation, concluded that there were inconsistencies in the girlfriends statements and that the officer presented himself humbly, very confident in his demeanor, and body language was agreeing [sic] with the statements of his legal representation.. I have served the State for over 27 years and it is time to enjoy my family, Pollard wrote. INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER BORDER AND IMMIGRATION. When the OIG asked Pollard how he thought the girlfriend got her injuries, Pollard blamed the girlfriend and guessed that she could have tripped and fallen, according to the report. An associate warden of the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility resigned last Friday days after seven officers were attacked by inmates, an incident the leader described as a "lack of responsiveness" by his superiors.. The coroner said the man was an inmate at William Donaldson Correctional Facility serving a sentence for burglary from a 2011 conviction out. As a result, according to the filing, many dont ask for accommodations or other help for their disabilities, people suffering from mental illness dont report suicidality or need for treatment and refrain from filing grievances against staff for fear of retaliation. Donovan, he said in the declaration, is the most violent prison he had ever been in. We scan thousands of news sites, so you don't have to, saving Curry said the pandemic created particularly difficult circumstances for wardens across the state with guidance and policies changing quickly. Sometime back, there were rumors that Ray J was in secret talks with Donald Trump to have Knight released. Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility (RJDCF or RJD) is a U.S. state prison located in unincorporated southern San Diego County, California, near San Diego. Additionally RJDCF provides health care services and rehabilitative programs to inmates while incarcerated at RJDCF. Confirmation that his next of kin was notified was made today. The department said the evidence couldnt prove the officer more likely than not assaulted his girlfriend the standard of proof required to discipline public employees in California. Mary Estrada, who served on Donovans Inmate Family Council, said Pollard assured her and others in council meetings that the prison was prepared to handle COVID-19. Thurs was admitted from Sacramento County on Sept. 25, 1995, to serve life with the possibility of parole for involuntary manslaughter, a third strike; possession of a firearm by an ex-felon, a third strike; and an enhancement for having a prior felony conviction of a serious offense. Take a look to see what's new. Following the psychologists excessive force report, an officer entered her locked office without permission, went into her desk, removed feminine hygiene products, and scattered them on the floor of her office. There are now 112 declarations of abuse, assault and retaliation by correctional officers from people with disabilities being held at six institutions across the state included in the court filings. Nine members walked out of their first meeting of the year, frustrated over how representatives of larger cities decided the agencys board leadership. Suge was charged with murder, attempted murder and hit-and-run after he fled the scene of an altercation in January 2015, outside a Compton burger stand. Pollards exit marks the third time in a little over three years that the prison has changed leadership. "Corrections officers are supposed to supervise inmates, not collaborate with them on crimes," said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. Facility: Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility Department Information * This advertisement is for a Supervising Registered Nurse II position(s) located at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, CA, located in San Diego, CA. While Pollard was warden, he suspended 11 corrections staff, reduced salaries for 55 corrections staff and dismissed 20 as a result of disciplinary proceedings. Thurs, 56, was attacked by three inmates at approximately 7:15 p.m. Friday on a recreation yard and stabbed. The Institution Hearing Program (IHP) at R. J. Donovan is designed to prepare inmates who are illegal immigrants for release to USINS custody and the return to their native lands. Officers even retaliated against a Corrections Department psychologist who, following policy, reported misconduct perpetrated by staff, according to the complaint. That changed in Dec. 2020, when reported cases suddenly surged, and deaths followed suit. She said he still suffers from related lung issues. The next month, September 2019, the department held a Skelly hearing for the officer, where the state presents the allegations to the accused officer and the officers representative makes a defense. Instead, Simas referred back to the report and a letter from the department secretary defending their position. SAN DIEGO Six correctional officers and at least two inmates at Richard J. 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