Riot at High Desert State Prison in Susanville Under Investigation |

Posted by Arica Deslauriers on Wednesday, May 22, 2024

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation says officials at High Desert State Prison are investigating a large-scale riot that occurred Friday morning involving approximately 65 inmates. 

CDCR says the riot was quelled and no staff members were injured. Five inmates were transported to outside hospitals.

The riot happened on recreation yards of Facility D, which houses level IV inmates. The riot began at 10:30 a.m. and lasted approximately seven to 10 minutes. 

CDCR says numerous inmates sustained puncture/slash-type injuries, the majority of which were minor and treated by medical staff at the institution. It says the five inmates transported to outside hospitals are in stable condition awaiting return to the institution.

CDCR says officers recovered 21 inmate-manufactured weapons.

CDCR says High Desert staff utilized non-lethal rounds and grenades, and fired warning shots from a Mini-14 rifle to quell the incident.

All inmates housed on the facility have been placed for now on a Modified Program. 

The incident is being investigated by the prison’s Investigative Services Unit. The Office of the Inspector General’s Bureau of Independent Review was notified. CDCR’s Deadly Force Investigation Team will also review this incident.

High Desert Prison houses approximately 3,700 inmates.

(California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation contributed to this report.)

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