STATE OF CALIFORNIA — DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION

GAVIN NEWSOM, GOVERNOR

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
PO Box 942883
Sacramento, CA 94283-0001

June 5, 2020
Milton Teske, M.D.
Health Officer
Kings County Department of Public Health
330 Campus Drive
Hanford, CA 93230
Re:

May 29, 2020 Public Health Orders

Dr. Teske,
I write regarding the four Public Health Orders issued on May 29, 2020, to Avenal State Prison
Warden Ndoh. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has been working
closely and in collaboration with the Kings County Department of Public Health (KCDPH) and
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to address COVID-19 within Avenal State Prison
(Avenal), and we will continue to do so.
That said, while local health officers are able to issue orders to other governmental entities to
control the spread of communicable disease, this is limited to entities within the local health
officer’s jurisdiction. The State is not an entity under local health officers’ jurisdictions, and
thus local health officer orders are not valid against the State. As a State agency, CDCR and its
institutions will follow the direction from CDPH. I recognize that there have been conversations
between CDCR and KCDPH about the content of the orders. Just this week, CDPH has advised
that its guidance shall be followed in all State facilities, rather than any applicable local
guidance.
The health and safety of our employees, the inmates entrusted to our care, and the
communities in which we live and work is of utmost importance to CDCR. We understand the
need to communicate with local and state public health departments during this
unprecedented pandemic. Avenal has made a good-faith effort to collaborate with KCDPH and
will continue to do so.
Regards,
JENNIFER NEILL
General Counsel
cc:

Secretary Ralph Diaz
Warden Rosemary Ndoh
Director Connie Gipson
Director Katherine Minnich