Life Sentence: Prison Hospice

The California Medical Facility (CMF), a prison located in Vacaville, has a special place for inmates who are dying–a hospice behind barbed wire–a place where murderers comfort the terminally ill.

The inception of the hospice care program began in the 1980s, when fewer and fewer terminally ill inmates were receiving compassionate releases, and, at the same time, the AIDS crisis was erupting. The program developed into a physical hospice as a result of intense inmate interest and protests, the social conscience of a Berkeley couple and the passion of the prison’s priest.

During the 1990s, several bills were introduced in the California Legislature to provide for the “compassionate release” of terminally ill, non-violent inmates. A few were vetoed by then Governor Wilson while one championed by then Speaker of the California State Assembly, Antonio R. Villaraigosa, was ratified. Last year, Carole Migden introduced Assembly BIll 675 which would expand current compassionate release legislation but it was vetoed by Governor Davis in October of 2001.

Prisoners at the CMF in Vacaville may volunteer as pastoral care workers, catering to the needs of dying patients, from letter writing to reading or just holding their hand during their final hours.

Some lifers say the program has transformed their lives, while hospice patients say it’s provided comfort during difficult days. The estimated cost of caring for a terminally ill inmate, according to the California Legislative Analyst’s Office, is around $75,000 per year.

“California Connected” takes you inside the CMF’s so-called X Corridor, where the hospice is located, to meet the terminally ill inmates and the prisoners volunteering to make sure they don’t die alone.

An earlier version of this story first aired June 10, 2002.