OFFICE OF: Mayor
400 S. Vicentia Ave. P.O. Box 940, Corona, California 92878-0940 City Hall Online All the Time – http://www.CoronaCA.gov Phone: 951-736-2371
July 3, 2024
Governor Gavin Newsom
1021 O Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, CA 95814
Secretary Jeff Macomber
Street, Suite
Sacramento, CA 9000
Dear Governor Newsom and Secretary, Macomber,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed transfer of death row inmates to the California Institute for Men (CIM) in Chino. As a concerned elected official and resident of the area, I am deeply troubled by the potential risks this transfer poses to our community's safety and well-being.
The primary concern regarding this transfer is the heightened risk of escape from an aging facility like CIM. The infrastructure at CIM, built decades ago, is not equipped to securely house individuals who have been sentenced to death for their heinous crimes. The potential for security breaches in an older facility significantly increases the likelihood of escape attempts, putting our community in grave danger.
Moreover, many of the death row inmates are aging and require regular medical care. This care is often provided outside of the prison at local hospitals, increasing the risk of escape during transport and treatment. The presence of these high-risk inmates in our local hospitals not only jeopardizes the safety of healthcare workers and other patients but also places an excessive encumbrance on our local law enforcement agencies tasked with ensuring their secure transportation and supervision.
City of Corona • 400 S. Vicentia Ave. Corona, CA 92882 • (951) 736-2371 The combination of an outdated facility and the necessity for external medical care creates a perilous situation that our community should not be subjected to. The safety and security of residents in Chino and surrounding cities like Corona, should be the utmost priority. Transferring death row inmates to places like the local CIM puts local residents’ safety and security at risk.
I urge you to reconsider this decision and explore alternative solutions that do not compromise the safety of our community. Ensuring that high-risk inmates remain in appropriate facilities is essential for maintaining public safety and preserving the quality of life for Chino and surrounding cities’ residents.
Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. I look forward to your prompt and thoughtful response.
Sincerely,
Tom Richins
Mayor
City of Corona