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Theft, Lies and Bribes Force California Warden’s Early Retirement, $11,500 Monthly Pension
by Mark Wilson
A longtime California prison warden abruptly retired during an investigation into alleged theft, lying and bribery.
Joe Lizarraga began working for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) in 1986. He was appointed warden of the Mule Creek State Prison (MCSP) in 2013, where he was …
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More from this issue:
- The Toughest Love, by Julia Lurie
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- $400,000 Settlement in Lawsuit over Kentucky Prisoner’s Starvation Death, by Matthew Clarke
- Why Did 77 Ohio Prisoners Die of COVID-19, but Just 10 in Pennsylvania?, by Cid Standifer, Brie Zeltner
- New York Jail Accused of Discrimination by Female Prisoners, by Kevin Bliss
- BOP Inspector General Rips State for Failure to Control COVID-19 at Lompoc in California, by Derek Gilna
- Dark Web Creator Petitions President Trump for Clemency, by Edward Lyon
- Prison Postcard: Life in the Time of COVID, Correctional Center, Virginia, by Daniel A. Rosen
- Growing Need to Protect Attorney-Client Emails, by Jayson Hawkins
- GEO Group and CoreCivic Lose Critical Financial Support, by Keith Sanders
- New York Governor Cuomo Creates Prison Nursing Home During Pandemic, by Anthony Accurso
- Danish Funds Invest In American Private Prisons, by David Reutter
- $12.5 Million Settlement for Oklahoma Prisoner’s In-Custody Death Riled Sheriff’s Race, by Kevin Bliss
- Philadelphia Jails to Release Prisoners Earlier in the Day, by Bill Barton
- Michigan Settles Sex Abuse Claims by 1,300 Former Juvenile Offenders Housed With Adults for $80 Million, by David Reutter
- Wisconsin Supreme Court Reverses “Dangerousness” Finding in Involuntary Commitment of Schizophrenic Man, by David Reutter
- Report: New Jersey Women’s Prison Promoted Culture of Abuse, by Kevin Bliss
- Missouri Downsizing Prisons to Save Cash, by Bill Barton
- Trump v. Biden on Criminal Justice, by Christopher Zoukis, Charles Sloan-Hillier
- Alaska Supreme Court Upholds Dismissal of Delusional Prisoner’s Medical Malpractice Claim, by Dale Chappell
- DC Federal Court Enters Partial Preliminary Injunction Against District Jails For COVID-19 Deficiencies, by Derek Gilna
- $300,000 a Year Not Enough to Convince Psychiatrists to Work in California Prisons, by Dale Chappell
- Poetry for the Prisoners’ Soul, by Edward Lyon
- Damage to South Carolina Prisons Shifts Prisoners to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, by Derek Gilna
- Offensive Facebook Posts Cost Wisconsin Warden His Job, by Kevin Bliss
- Mother of Decapitated Prisoner Sues California Prison Officials for Housing Her Son with Prisoner Who Tried to Murder Previous Cellmate, by Matthew Clarke
- More Than Half of Chicago’s COVID-19 Cases Linked to Cook County Jail, by Dale Chappell
- Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules Unconstitutional Statute Authorizing Forcible Medication of Involuntarily Committed Prisoner, by Matthew Clarke
- Wildfires Threaten Prisoners in West, While New California Law Helps Prisoner-Firefighters to Continue Work After Release, by Dale Chappell
- National Guard Called in to Help Run Indiana State Prisons, by Dale Chappell
- Eleventh Circuit Reinstates Pay-To-Vote for Florida Felons Who Completed Sentences, by David Reutter
- Ford Foundation President’s Support to Replace Rikers With Other Jails Criticized, by Chad Marks
- The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994: 25 Years Later, Where Do We Stand?, by Dale Chappell
- California Judge Reconsiders Six Months’ Jail for Cookie Theft at Rehab Program, by Anthony Accurso
- How Kamala Harris’ Orange County, California “Snitch” Scandal Investigation Imploded, by Derek Gilna
- Conditions at South Carolina Juvenile Facility Unconstitutional, by David Reutter
- $420,000 Settlement in Lawsuit Over Opioid Withdrawal Death in Georgia Jail, by Matthew Clarke
- First Wrongful Death Claim Against San Quentin Prison Filed Over COVID-19 Death, by Dale Chappell
- Lawsuit Over Hellish 9-Day Prisoner Transport Reinstated, by David Reutter
- Theft, Lies and Bribes Force California Warden’s Early Retirement, $11,500 Monthly Pension, by Mark Wilson
- Seventh Circuit Protects Guards Who Allegedly Failed to Protect Wisconsin Prisoner, by David Reutter
- Bloomberg Allies Make $20 Million Push to Help Enfranchise 30,000 Florida Ex-Felons, by Derek Gilna
- Mental Health and Prison Systems in Major Need of Reform, by Kevin Bliss
- NYC Floating Jail May Finally be Closed, by Jayson Hawkins
- Fourth Circuit Holds South Carolina DOC Lawyers Entitled to Qualified Immunity, by David Reutter
- New Study Shows “Tough on Crime” Generation Spent More Time in Prison Despite Falling Crime Rate, by Dale Chappell
- Beltway Sniper Marries in Prison, by Jayson Hawkins
- Fifth Circuit Reinstates Lawsuit Over Texas Jail Prisoner’s Death, by Matthew Clarke
- Prisoners Evacuated but ICE Detainees in Louisiana Suffer During Hurricane Laura, by Edward Lyon
- Fifth Circuit Upholds Dismissal of Texas Jail Suicide Lawsuit, Holds Discrimination Not Proven, by Matthew Clarke
- News in Brief
More from Mark Wilson:
- Indiana Prisoner Sues Prison Abolition Group, Wins $1,097 Default Judgment, April 26, 2024
- Eighth Circuit Affirms Denial of Qualified Immunity to Minnesota Jail Guard Accused of Grabbing and Squeezing Detainee’s Penis, Feb. 1, 2024
- Former Oregon Prison Nurse Gets 30 Years for Raping Prisoners, Dec. 1, 2023
- After Ninth Circuit Refuses to Compel Arbitration, National Class Certified in HRDC’s Challenge to Jail and Prison Debit Card Fees, Oct. 15, 2023
- Seventh Circuit Revives Illinois Prisoner’s Claim Over Knee Surgery Delayed 29 Months, Oct. 15, 2023
- Fourth Circuit Reinstates North Carolina Prisoner’s Suit, Finding Grievance Procedure Availability an Open Question, Oct. 15, 2023
- Congress Forces BOP to Upgrade Security Cameras, Sept. 15, 2023
- Oregon Will Hold Release Hearings for 73 Prisoners Sentenced to LWOP as Juveniles, Sept. 15, 2023
- Senators Slam “Egregious” Prisoner Sexual Abuse by BOP Employees, Sept. 15, 2023
- Minnesota Supreme Court Denies Qualified Immunity for Delayed Transfer of Sex Offenders, Sept. 15, 2023
More from these topics:
- Now Under Federal Receivership, New York City’s Rikers Island Jails Still Have No Plan to Improve, No Firm Date to Close, Aug. 1, 2025. Guard Misconduct, DOC/BOP misconduct, Jail Misconduct, Corrections Audits, Systemic Medical Neglect, Medical Records, Eighth Amendment.
- Suit Filed Over Fatal Beating of New York Prisoner That Sparked Massive Guard Strike, Aug. 1, 2025. Guard Misconduct, Failure to Treat, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Restraints, Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death), Excessive Force (Wrongful Death).
- News in Brief, Aug. 1, 2025. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Private Prisons, Misconduct/Corruption, Guard Misconduct, Systemic Medical Neglect, Male Reproductive, Malpractice, Escapes, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Stun Guns/Tasers, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Restraints, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), Juvenile Prisons, Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Bribery/Extortion/Theft.
- Former Maine Prison Guard Arrested and Detained by ICE Agents, Aug. 1, 2025. Guard Misconduct, Guards/Staff, Immigration Law/Offenses.
- Former California Prison Guard Pleads Guilty to Planting Contraband He Pretended to Discover, Aug. 1, 2025. Guard Misconduct.
- News in Brief, Aug. 1, 2025. Assault by Police, Misconduct/Corruption, Guard Misconduct, Police Misconduct, Stun Guns/Tasers, Immigration, False Arrest, Evidence - Integrity/Reliability of.
- News in Brief, July 15, 2025. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Guard Misconduct, Jail Misconduct, Failure to Protect (General), Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, halfway houses, New Trial/Judgment of Acquittal, Bribery/Extortion/Theft, Fraud and Deceit.
- Former New Jersey Jailers Plead Guilty to Beating Detainee for Tossing Urine, July 15, 2025. Guard Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Prisoners' Rights.
- From the Editor, July 15, 2025. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Guard Misconduct, Prison Rape Elimination Act, Censorship.
- New Jersey Supreme Court Refuses Guard’s Challenge to Firing for Failing to Report Kiss with Prisoner, July 15, 2025. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Staff-Prisoner Harassment, Guard Misconduct, Employee Litigation.

