Prison riot will cost California millions of dollars for repairs, corrections chief says

Prison riot to cost California millions in repairs

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California’s corrections chief says it will cost taxpayers $5 million to $6 million to make repairs and clean up from last weekend’s prison riot.

Corrections Secretary Matthew Cate said Wednesday it will cost more if the state rebuilds a dormitory destroyed by fire at the California Institution for Men in Chino.

Cate says the state does not expect significant costs from transferring 1,155 inmates to other facilities after the riot Saturday in San Bernardino County. Employees from the damaged prison are being sent to oversee those inmates at the other facilities.

A second dormitory was also damaged by fire and much of the furnishings destroyed in the melee that injured 175 inmates.

Cate says the department will try to find the money in its existing budget.