Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Inside jails across California, a controversial police practice is happening.
Undercover agents pose as incarcerated people. Their goal is to get confessions out of suspects.
The tactics — known as Perkins Operations (calmatters.org/newsletter/undercover-california-jail/) — have led to hundreds of murder convictions.
But critics call the pratice coercion. They also say it promotes racially-biased policing.
Now, the California Supreme Court is reviewing a number of convictions.
On KPBS Midday Edition, we talk about a recent CalMatters investigation (calmatters.org/justice/2026/07/perkins-investigation-california-jails/) into Perkins Operations and the controversy surrounding them.
Guest:
• Cayla Mihalovich (calmatters.org/author/cayla-mihalovich/) , justice reporter and California Local News Fellow, CalMatters
Cayla Mihalovich completed this story with the support of a grant from Columbia University’s Ira A. Lipman Center for Journalism and Civil and Human Rights in conjunction with Arnold Ventures.
Inside jails across California, a controversial police practice is happening.
Undercover agents pose as incarcerated people. Their goal is to get confessions out of suspects.
The tactics — known as Perkins Operations (calmatters.org/newsletter/undercover-california-jail/) — have led to hundreds of murder convictions.
But critics call the pratice coercion. They also say it promotes racially-biased policing.
Now, the California Supreme Court is reviewing a number of convictions.
On KPBS Midday Edition, we talk about a recent CalMatters investigation (calmatters.org/justice/2026/07/perkins-investigation-california-jails/) into Perkins Operations and the controversy surrounding them.
Guest:
• Cayla Mihalovich (calmatters.org/author/cayla-mihalovich/) , justice reporter and California Local News Fellow, CalMatters
Cayla Mihalovich completed this story with the support of a grant from Columbia University’s Ira A. Lipman Center for Journalism and Civil and Human Rights in conjunction with Arnold Ventures.
