About the series
More than 200 people incarcerated in California prisons have died during the pandemic from COVID-19, including 18 at the only state prison in San Diego County.
inewsource investigative reporters Jill Castellano and Mary Plummer used medical examiner reports, death certificates and interviews to uncover what led to the deaths at the R.J. Donovan Correctional Facility in Otay Mesa. Three of those who died were found in their cells. Families of Donovan prisoners told inewsource they didn’t learn their relatives had COVID-19 until after they had died.
Listen to the investigation on KPBS
Donovan Deaths: COVID-19 Outbreak Leaves 18 Dead. Three Were Found In Their Cells
inewsource on KPBS | April 8, 2021
Read the two-part investigation
Donovan Deaths: 3 prisoners found dead or dying in cells from COVID-19
More than 1,000 prisoners at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in Otay Mesa have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
Donovan Deaths: Families kept in dark while inmates die of COVID-19
At least five inmates who died of COVID-19 at Donovan state prison passed before their families were informed of them being ill.
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Donovan prison back on lockdown due to COVID-19 infections
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Five takeaways from our Donovan Deaths investigation
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San Diego Sheriff’s Department announces first COVID-19 inmate death
The announcement marks the first coronavirus jail death the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department has publicly acknowledged.
As prisons and jails in California battle COVID-19, some inmate deaths go uncounted
Across Southern California, we found data mismatches and mistakes regarding how many incarcerated people have died from COVID-19.
