Two correctional officers were allegedly attacked by an incarcerated man with an improvised weapon at California State Prison, Sacramento on Saturday, prompting authorities to investigate the incident as an attempted homicide.
The attack reportedly occurred at approximately 7 p.m. as 48-year-old Jason Brannigan was being escorted from his cell for a routine staff search. Both officers were hospitalized and are currently in fair condition, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).
Why It Matters
California State Prison, Sacramento, opened in 1986 and is a medium-, maximum-, and high-security facility located northeast of the state capital. The institution houses more than 2,200 incarcerated individuals and employs approximately 1,500 people. The facility offers academic classes and vocational programs to its population.
The attack on the correctional officers stresses the persistent safety challenges within California’s correctional system and the inherent risks correctional staff face during routine operations.
What To Know
According to the CDCR, staff responded swiftly to the attack, using physical force and chemical agents to quickly stop the assault. An improvised weapon was recovered at the scene. Both officers were immediately taken to the facility’s triage and treatment area before being transported to an outside medical facility for further care.
Brannigan arrived at California State Prison, Sacramento on March 7, 2011, and was originally sentenced to 17 years, eight months for corporal injury to spouse within seven years of a prior/specified conviction, criminal threat to cause great bodily injury or death, and vandalism as a second striker, with an enhancement for a prior felony conviction of a serious offense. While incarcerated, Brannigan received an additional sentence on February 28, 2022, from Kern County for possession and manufacture of a deadly weapon as a second striker—an in-prison offense that indicates prior violent or weapon-related conduct within the correctional facility.
Brannigan is currently placed in restricted housing pending completion of the investigation. The institution has implemented modified programming to conduct a comprehensive 24-hour threat assessment.
The department is offering peer support and other support services to employees affected by the incident.
What Happens Next?
The CDCR’s investigation into the attack remains ongoing.
The case will be referred to the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office for evaluation and possible felony prosecution.
