Impacted community members, family with incarcerated loved ones and advocates: the deadline to submit public comments against California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) proposed regulations on Restricted Housing Units (RHU) is tomorrow!

Felony Murder Elimination Project is asking for your support to push back against some very concerning proposed CDCR regulations. On May 22, CDCR issued proposed regulations on “Restricted Housing Units and Incarcerated Person Privilege Groups” (NCR 26-04) that would extend solitary confinement terms, reinstate consecutive terms, add new isolation-eligible offenses, impose punishment before adjudication, sever all electronic communication between incarcerated people and their families, drastically limit canteen items, and eliminate food packages.

This proposal will result in a dramatic increase of people into long-term solitary without any due process, independent oversight, grievance process, or relief from torture and continued harm. Long-term solitary confinement is widely recognized as a form of psychological torture by international human rights bodies and medical experts. The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, famously known as the Mandela Rules, explicitly define “prolonged” solitary confinement, meaning isolation lasting more than 15 consecutive days, as a form of torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment

Again, no one should be forcibly isolated inside a cage for 23 hours each day.

Anyone can submit a comment on CDCR’s proposed regulations, via email, mail, or in-person at the 10AM hearing on July 8 in Elk Grove (8260 Longleaf Drive, Elk Grove CA 95758). Written comments are also due on July 8, 2026 and can be submitted via email to RPMB@cdcr.ca.gov or by postal mail to: CDCR RPMB, P.O. Box 942883, Sacramento, CA 94283-0001

Legal Services for Prisoners and Children has prepared the following materials to support people wishing to submit comments:

1. A toolkit with guidance on how you, advocates or your organization can prepare and submit your own comment.
2. LSPC’s comment, for which they are seeking sign-ons. A copy of the draft is attached. LSPC will submit this comment to CDCR on July 8. If you or your organization are interested in signing on to LSPC’s comment, please provide your organization’s info (name, title of representative, brief description of organization’s work, logo if desired). If you wish to add your organization’s name to LSPC’s comment: Please email erics@prisonerswithchildren.org no later than July 8 at noon pacific so LSPC can submit their comment on time.
   

Additionally, you can join LSPC in-person for the hearing and press conference in Elk Grove, CA.

LSPC is coordinating a Press conference + vigil at the CDCR public hearing at 8:30 A.M. on Wednesday July 8, at 8260 Longleaf Drive, Elk Grove CA 95758, to commemorate the 13th anniversary of the California Prison Hunger Strike. All are welcome to join LSPC early that day to oppose CDCR’s plans to further torture, isolate and restrict people in solitary confinement.

Please reach out to LSPC Supervising Attorney Nnennaya Amuchie at nnennaya@prisonerswithchildren.org with any questions related to the press conference.

Also, tomorrow will be a long day for people taking action on the ground, so LSPC is asking if partners and community members (if able) can provide offerings like coffee, water, and snacks. Let LSPC know if you’re able to at hien@prisonerswithchildren.org