ThaWilsonBlock Magazine

California’s Hidden Mass Incarceration Crisis: How CDCR is Holding Thousands Beyond Their Lawful Release Dates By (Devon T. White) ThaWilsonBlock Magazine California’s prison system is quietly carrying out one of the largest campaigns of unlawful incarceration in modern American history. Right now, thousands of people are being held beyond their lawful release dates by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), in direct violation of state law and constitutional rights. At the heart of this injustice is a fundamental misunderstanding—whether intentional or negligently perpetuated—about the difference between determinate terms and indeterminate terms in California sentencing law. This isn’t just confusing legal jargon; it determines whether a person is legally free or unlawfully imprisoned. The Law is Clear Under California law: The determinate term (DT) is the part of a sentence that represents physical custody. It’s the actual time someone is ordered to serve ...