California has created a compensation fund for victims of state-sponsored, non-consensual sterilization, which happened in prisons for decades. But as the deadline looms, many who lost organs aren’t qualifying.
In response to soaring overdose deaths in state prisons, California started a sprawling addiction program. But keeping people on medication during and after a sentence can be difficult.
they re not people. i don t feel i m a good person because of the things i ve done. and i m scared. i m scared. i am very scared. 250 miles north of los angeles in chowchilla, california, is valley state prison for women. it was built in 1995 and sits on more than 640 acres. while valley state s dormitory layout and spacious green yards might remind some of a college campus, razor wire, guard towers and the electrified fence leave no doubt this is prison. and the 3,600 women who live here are criminals. when i first came to prison, i was 19 years old. and i m here for second degree murder. and i have 15 to life. we ll try and fight. sharon fennix is now 41 years old.