After a hazardous materials exposure, the California Institution for Women (CIW) in Chino, CA, is engaged in punitive searches, having a direct impact on the health and well-being of incarcerated women and staff.

Five CIW staff members were evaluated at a hospital and two incarcerated women were rehoused after being exposed to a possible controlled substance or hazardous material inside a housing unit in January 2026. Those hospitalized/evaluated were exposed to an unknown, sludge-like substance found on a Bible page and a joint. The substance caused symptoms including chest pain and muscle spasms.

Since that incident, the situation at CIW seems to be worsening. The population has been under an immense amount of stress these days due to the hazmat issue that has been affecting the incarcerated population and staff. After long lockdowns, cells are continuously being tossed and property being unjustly taken without being given a property receipt. 

Since prison staff cannot seem to find where the substance is coming from and who has it, they have started aggressively searching the population. For the staff it is just “stuff.” However, for the incarcerated women at CIW, their property is all they have, and to have it being taken unjustly with no way to recover it can really take people to a dark place and create serious issues with mental health. According to first-hand accounts from incarcerated women at CIW, the facility now has 4 officers who make it their mission to tear up a housing unit a day without known orders to do so. 

Now is the time for concerned advocates to work collectively in impressing upon CIW’s administration to put a stop to their punitive searches.

You can access the CIW Punitive Searches ToolKit to make a phone call or send an email to address your concerns to these people:

Ana.avina@cdcr.ca.gov – AA/PIO Ph: 909-597-1771 ext 4921

Lavelle.Parker@cdcr.ca.gov –  Warden ph-909-597-4920

Corrina.Heck@cdcr.ca.gov -Ombudsman for CIW

There is also a sample phone call and sample email script for you to use when contacting the above people in the toolkit —>>> CIW Punitive Searches ToolKit

Felony Murder Elimination Project is deeply grateful and wish to thank our supporters for all for your help! Every email and call matters to help uphold the dignity of the women incarcerated at CIW!