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.
READ RELATED STORIES
First COVID-19 wrongful death claim filed by family of Donovan inmate
The claim by the family of Leon Martinez is the only one known to have been filed over a COVID-19 death at the Donovan state prison in Otay Mesa. Martinez was 48 and the youngest of 18 Donovan inmates to die from the virus during a winter outbreak at the prison.
COVID-19 testing waiver at Donovan prison called deceptive, inappropriate
Prison medical staff are asking Donovan inmates who decline COVID-19 testing to sign a form waiving the prison of any responsibility for their illness or death. An agency spokesperson said it’s a standard form but wouldn’t say if other California prisons are using it for COVID-19.
Donovan prison back on lockdown due to COVID-19 infections
Families are battling confusing and conflicting info from corrections officials about a new COVID-19 outbreak at Donovan state prison.
Five takeaways from our Donovan Deaths investigation
Learn about gaps in medical care, communication breakdowns and other findings from our latest investigation into Donovan state prison.
County jail workers prioritized for vaccines while inmates have to wait
While nearly a quarter of county corrections staff have been vaccinated, less than 1% of inmates have received doses.
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.
