Sacramento, CA…CDCR’s Response to Dr. Raymond Patterson: “We adamantly reject this monitor’s suggestion that the state is indifferent to the issue of suicide prevention. Far from it. California has one of the most robust prison suicide prevention programs in the nation.

California’s prison suicide rate is half that of local jails, lower than many other state prison systems and in fact lower than the suicide rate of adult males outside of prison. While there will always be areas where we can improve, CDCR is identifying and implementing improvements on its own. We do not need further intrusive and costly federal court oversight.”

Once we have a chance to review this new report, we will file a full response identifying all of the flaws and inaccuracies it contains.”