Massive Tear-Gas Assault on Women at California Prison Sparks Abuse Inquiry
On Aug. 2, 2024, correctional officers at the Central California Women’s Facility detained 159 inmates, held them for hours without basic needs, and sprayed them with tear gas and pepper spray, causing injuries such as blindness and seizures.
During a surprise search on Aug. 2, 2024, staff at the Central California Women’s Facility removed 159 incarcerated women from a housing unit and locked them in a dining hall for more than four hours without food, water or medication. As the crowd grew restless, officers used pepper spray, tear-gas canisters and chemical blast grenades inside the hall and later on the outdoor yard, tying inmates’ hands behind their backs.
Injuries reported include strokes, blindness and seizures. The incident, labeled “Operation Breakdown” in internal records, appears linked to retaliation against women who had filed sexual-assault complaints, a pattern also highlighted by a recent DOJ investigation. CDCR’s internal review led to disciplinary action against 34 staff members, including the firing of three officers for excessive force and dishonesty, and an ongoing investigation of 95 employees. The warden was demoted, and senior officials have faced scrutiny, though key questions about the operation’s motives remain unanswered.
Why it matters
The assault shows systemic abuse and retaliation in California’s women’s prisons, raising concerns about inmate safety and accountability.
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