Chino, California – In a controversial move to comply with Proposition 66, which was approved by voters in 2016, inmates from San Quentin’s death row are being relocated to 19 prisons across California. One of the facilities receiving these condemned individuals is the California Institution for Men in Chino, a decision met with resistance from public officials and local residents.

Among those speaking out against the transfers is Mary Ann Hughes, a Chino Hills resident whose 11-year-old son Christopher was murdered in 1983 by an escaped inmate named Kevin Cooper. Cooper’s escape led to the tragic deaths of four people, including Hughes’ son. She vividly described the horrifying discovery her husband made, emphasizing the lasting impact of their family’s tragedy.

Expressing concern for the safety of their community, Chino Valley officials stood united in their opposition to transferring death row inmates to the men’s prison in Chino. Mayor Eunice Ulloa and Mayor Cynthia Moran called on Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to cease these transfers immediately.

Police Chief Kevin Mensen highlighted the dangers posed by housing dangerous death row inmates in an overcrowded and underfunded prison like CIM. He recounted disturbing crimes committed by some of the transferred inmates, emphasizing the potential for disaster in such conditions.

Despite the CDCR’s assertion that the state is following mandates under Prop. 66 by requiring death row inmates to work and pay restitution to their victims’ families, law enforcement officials like San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson argue that the state is selectively implementing the law. Anderson emphasized the need for full compliance with Prop. 66 and the importance of upholding the death penalty in California.

For Mary Ann Hughes, the idea of restitution payments from death row inmates does not provide the justice she has sought for over four decades. She rejected the notion of accepting “blood money,” underscoring the deep emotional toll of her son’s murder.

In a challenging and emotionally charged debate over the relocation of death row inmates, the residents and officials of Chino Valley continue to advocate for the safety and well-being of their community. As the state grapples with the implications of Proposition 66, the voices of those directly affected by violent crimes remain at the forefront of the discussion.