The California Supreme Court is weighing in on a controversial interrogation tactic that has helped put hundreds of people behind bars for murder — and critics say it may be crossing a constitutional line.
Known as a Perkins operation, the technique involves an undercover officer or informant posing as a fellow inmate to draw out incriminating statements from someone in custody. The tactic often relies on staged evidence, cash incentives for cooperating informants, and jail cells wired for sound. Prosecutors across California, including in the Inland Empire, have long defended the practice as a legitimate and effective way to close difficult cases.
But defense attorneys argue these sting operations amount to psychological manipulation that can push innocent people to confess out of fear rather than guilt.
“It’s psychological warfare,” said Michelle Luna Reynoso, a criminal defense attorney. “How is this not considered cruel and unusual punishment?”
The debate has intensified as multiple cases challenging convictions tied to Perkins operations have reached the state’s highest court this year. Some defendants say undercover operatives manipulated them into waiving their Miranda rights before ever speaking with police. Others claim they were pressured into incriminating themselves even after formally invoking those rights.
Jason Zapata’s case illustrates the concern. Arrested in Riverside County in 2015 at age 24, Zapata was placed in a holding cell with two men who claimed to be gang members facing murder charges. As the men recounted violent pasts and pressed him for details about his own case, Zapata said he grew convinced his safety was at risk — and ultimately told them what they wanted to hear.
“Your life is in their hands,” Zapata said. “Anything could happen to you in that type of environment. Not everybody makes it out. You’ve got to do what you need to do to survive in this place.”
An investigation by CalMatters, which included dozens of public records requests and legal assistance to obtain documents some agencies initially withheld, examined how widely these operations are used across California and the questions they raise about coerced confessions and disproportionate impact on Black and Latino defendants.
In other statewide news, California is suing to block the proposed $110 billion merger between Warner Bros. and Paramount, arguing the deal would create a media giant powerful enough to stifle competition. Attorney General Rob Bonta, joined by 11 other state attorneys general, filed the lawsuit in federal court in Northern California this week.
Bonta warned the merger would give the combined company control over nearly a third of theatrical releases and basic cable programming — including 50 of the most-watched cable channels — leading to higher ticket prices, fewer choices and lower-quality programming for consumers.
“History has shown that consolidation in markets at the center of American economic life does not serve our economy, our consumers or competition,” Bonta said.
Paramount CEO David Ellison, an ally of President Donald Trump, saw the deal receive federal approval in June, when the Justice Department concluded it was unlikely to harm competition or consumers.
Meanwhile, California’s largest public pension fund is closing out a strong financial year. CalPERS reported Monday that its investment portfolio grew nearly 15% during the 2025-26 fiscal year, pushing its total value to $637.1 billion — marking the second consecutive year of double-digit returns and the third straight year the fund exceeded its 6.8% target.
While CalPERS remains underfunded overall, officials say the gains reflect continued recovery from losses tied to the Great Recession, with assets now covering about 85% of what the fund owes retirees. The strong performance comes as police and firefighter unions push state lawmakers to expand retirement benefits for public safety workers, a case that could be bolstered by the fund’s latest results.
“Our team has maintained a disciplined approach to building the health of the pension system,” said CalPERS CEO Marcie Frost. “This effort is paying off for our 2.4 million members.”
Original source: CalMatters
