Immigrants Boycott California Detention Commissaries Over ‘Price Gouging’
Detainees at the California City Detention Facility and the Golden State Annex have launched a boycott to protest rising prices for essential commissary items. According to the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice, more than 300 detainees signed grievance letters alleging price gouging on hygiene products and food at these private facilities.
Why are detainees boycotting commissary stores?
Detainees claim that costs for basic necessities have become burdensome, creating what they describe as “captive market exploitation.” In grievance letters, detainees stated that while some essentials like soap are free, the quality is poor or supplies frequently run out, forcing them to buy from the commissary.
The protest specifically targets the markup on items such as coffee, soup, and menstrual products. Detainees at the California City facility reported that an 8-ounce jar of Folgers instant coffee costs $18, while a box of 40 tampons costs nearly $21. For comparison, the same items at Walmart cost $8.97 and $12.19, respectively.
| Item | Detention Facility Price | Walmart Price |
|---|---|---|
| Folgers Instant Coffee (8oz) | $18 | $8.97 |
| Tampons (40 count) | $21 | $12.19 |
| Instant Ramen Soup (Single) | 75 cents | 50 cents |
How do CoreCivic and GEO Group justify the costs?
The California City facility is operated by CoreCivic, and the Golden State Annex is run by GEO Group. Ryan Gustin, public affairs director for CoreCivic, stated that the company provides three nutritious meals daily and accommodates specific dietary needs. He noted that commissary items serve as a supplement rather than a necessity.
Gustin added that the commissary program isn’t a profit mechanism. Per the facility’s contract, proceeds from sales go into a detainee welfare fund used for educational, recreational, or electronic items. He stated that CoreCivic works with government partners and vendors to ensure pricing remains reasonable.
Detainees dispute this, claiming meals are the “bare minimum to keep a person alive.” Alfredo Parada Calderon, who has been detained since September, said facility staff attributed price hikes to inflation and identified the Keefe Group as the vendor supplying the commissaries.
What legal and legislative actions are being taken?
The California State Senate passed a bill in May to curb these costs. The legislation, authored by Sen. Steve Padilla (D-Chula Vista), would prohibit excessive markups at private detention centers, capping prices at 35% above the vendor’s cost. Padilla described the current system as a “cycle of unnecessary exploitation.”
Parallel to the legislation, a lawsuit filed by the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice alleges inadequate food, water, and medical care at the California City facility. In March, a U.S. district judge in San Francisco appointed an external monitor to ensure the facility provides constitutionally adequate health care.
The lawsuit also highlights how commissary pricing impacts legal access. It alleges that the facility does not provide headphones for tablets, making privileged calls to attorneys impossible unless a detainee can afford to purchase them from the store. Gustin disputed this, claiming headphones are provided at intake.
How does commissary pricing affect legal cases?
Priya Patel, an attorney with the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice, says pricing is a frequent topic during legal consultations. She stated that higher costs increase the overall hardship on detainees, making it more difficult for them to fight their legal cases.
Tommaso Bardelli, a researcher at New York University, noted that most incarcerated individuals rely on working-class families who may sacrifice basic bills to send money. Bardelli’s 2022 research indicates that as prisons reduce spending on basic necessities, commissaries often become the only way for detainees to avoid starvation or maintain a semi-normal diet.