Prison overseers struggle with a new generation of ‘un-gangs’

Anyone who has followed the devastating violence in California’s prisons knows that gang rivalries trigger a lot of the bloodshed. So it stood to reason that if the authorities could get members to drop their gang affiliations, the carnage would decrease.

It hasn’t quite worked out that way for the 90,000 men and women locked up by the state of California. It turns out that many of the roughly one-third of those who drop out of traditional prison gangs eventually bond with new organizations — dubbed as “dropout” gangs — that mimic much of the retribution and criminality of their forerunners.

That’s a key takeaway from the extraordinary coverage my colleague Matthew Ormseth produced on prison gangs in California. Ormseth has been writing about the gangs for six years and become a leading authority on the subject.

Outside the California Institute for Men in Chino.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

In an exclusive this week, he writes about one particularly flamboyant and defiant exile from the old-line gang hierarchy. Maurice Vasquez, 51, wears designer eyeglasses, boasts of his willingness to stand up to entrenched powers and inspires something like veneration from fellow inmates.

Vasquez is locked up in Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego County for 65 years to life for conspiring to commit murder. He’s said to be the leader of the Riders, which authorities describe as one of the fastest-growing and most dangerous of the so-called “dropout” gangs. They say the group is responsible for stabbings and contraband smuggling behind bars and for robberies, shootings and drug sales in Northern California.

The existence of the Riders and other groups feels like a sad irony given that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation moved in 1999 to create “Sensitive Needs Yards” to protect individuals not associated with mainstream gangs. Prison overseers intended the yards to be safe havens from the cutthroat prison politics that beset most main yards. But the new yards became the bonding ground for new “dropout” crews. The CDCR inspector general found they have become just as violent as the general population.

I talked to Matt about his coverage of California’s prison gangs.

What got you interested in this subject?

I started covering prison gangs after realizing that a good amount of crimes that happen on the streets of L.A. lead back to guys in prison. It became clear to me that prison was the command center for a lot of crimes — murder, extortion, drug sales, gambling — that on their face wouldn’t seem connected.

Why do you think these “Sensitive Needs Yards” have failed to prevent violence?

The prisoners are still the same people — with the same tendencies, issues and circumstances that put them in prison in the first place. ... Prisoners on “dropout” yards are still exposed to drugs and contraband, still live in a violent and chaotic environment, which makes it that much harder for them to leave prison rehabilitated.

Do these problems impact people outside of prison?

Yes. Some gang dropouts leave prison and commit crimes together.

You spoke on the phone to Vasquez. Why did he talk to you?

He was curious why I wanted to talk to him and he felt his group — which he calls a “movement,” not a gang — was being unfairly characterized by law enforcement and in YouTube videos that some ex-prisoners have made.

Vasquez is in prison for conspiracy to commit murder and is facing trial in June for the murder of another prisoner. How does he see himself?

Vasquez considers himself a rebel. He believes he is standing up against the tyranny of traditional prison gangs, which force inmates to follow orders and kick up money. In his view he’s a true individual in a system where individuals have little agency.

Today’s top stories

Gov. Gavin Newsom arrives for his State of the State address Thursday in Sacramento.

(Godofredo A. Vásquez / Associated Press)

Newsom’s state address

• The California governor’s final State of the State speech revolved around California’s achievements and his record in office.
• The speech, Newsom’s first in-person address to the Legislature in five years, offered a glimpse of how he is positioning himself for a potential run for president.
• The governor recently moved to reshape who runs California’s schools with a sweeping proposal under the state budget plan.
• Another push from Newsom includes building a giant water tunnel, but a state appeals court ruling has set the proposal back.

ICE shooting in Minnesota

• The White House has gone on defense after the fatal ICE shooting of a woman in Minneapolis.
• Minneapolis protesters have vented their outrage, and Gov. Tim Walz insists the state of Minnesota must play a role in investigating the incident.
• The deadly shooting reflects a pattern of armed confrontations nationwide.

Trump’s operation in Venezuela

• Five Senate Republicans broke with Trump and party leaders on legislation that would rein in President Trump’s use of the U.S. military in Venezuela.
• Venezuela recently said it is releasing a “significant number” of prisoners as a gesture to “seek peace.”

What else is going on

• After experiencing one of the wettest holiday seasons on record, still soggy California hit a major milestone this week.
• California is suing the Trump administration over its “baseless and cruel” freezing of child-care funds.
• California led the nation in job cuts last year, but the pace slowed in December.
• A California law let a politician avoid jail for child abuse charges. Lawmakers are furious.
• UC set a new record in California student enrollment as it weathers Trump challenges.
• California’s exodus isn’t just billionaires — it’s regular people renting U-Hauls too.
• Paramount stands by its bid for Warner Bros. Discovery.

Commentary and opinions

• Newsom offers a sunny view of California to combat Trump’s darkness, columnist Anita Chabria writes.
• The year’s new political fault lines already are forming, contributor Matt K. Lewis writes.
• As national outrage over Minnesota’s welfare fraud grows, contributing writer Veronique de Rugy asks, what would a serious antifraud agenda actually look like?
• One of the original freedom fighters is missing from the Garden of American Heroes, guest contributor Peter C. Mancall writes.

This morning’s must reads

California

For Subscribers

The daredevils are back with a vengeance on Mulholland. ‘Race car driving is like sex’

For motorcycle and car enthusiasts, riding the section of Mulholland Highway known as ‘the Snake’ can feel akin to a religious experience. Locals have a very different view.

Jan. 9, 2026

Other must reads

• At the benefit show A Concert for Altadena, generations of stars marked loss and looked forward.
• The people who defined L.A.’s first year of wildfire recovery and their hope for the future.
• George Clooney says “I’m not done yet,” opening up about marriage, fame and his biggest risks.
• At 70 she embraced her Chumash roots and helped revive a dying skill.

For your downtime

The 83rd annual Golden Globe awards, hosted by Nikki Glaser, return to the Beverly Hilton on Sunday evening.

(Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated Press)

Going out

• Dining: Get your fix of lomo saltado at these eight great L.A. spots.
• Explore: Walk everywhere, relax with a massage and go to sleep laughing to experience Jeanie Buss’ blueprint for the best Sunday in L.A.
• Movies: Watch Amanda Seyfried throw herself, body and soul, into “The Testament of Ann Lee.”

Staying in

• Award shows: Tune in to the Golden Globes to catch all the red carpet moments and host jokes.
• Television: Crack the codes in these four new crime series.
• Recipe: Please every potluck with this Fried Onion-Chili Crisp Dip.
• ✏️ Get our free daily crossword puzzle, sudoku, word search and jigsaw games.

And finally ... your photo of the day

Cooks prepare dishes at Betsy’s central wood-fired hearth.

(Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)

Today’s great photo is from staff photographer Myung J. Chun of cooks at Betsy, a restaurant owned by an Altadena resident whose house burned in last year’s fire. The restaurant was able to reopen and now provides a cozy atmosphere for the recovering community.

Have a great day, from the Essential California team

Jim Rainey, staff reporter
Hugo Martín, assistant editor, fast break desk
Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editor
Andrew Campa, weekend writer
June Hsu, editorial fellow
Karim Doumar, head of newsletters

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