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It’s been over thirty years since that bloody night in Beverly Hills, but the world just can’t seem to look away. If you’re wondering which prison are the Menendez brothers in right now, you aren't alone. Between the Netflix dramas and the sudden explosion of TikTok advocacy, Lyle and Erik have gone from 90s villains to something much more complicated in the public eye.
As of early 2026, both Lyle and Erik Menendez are incarcerated at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, California.
They aren't just in the same prison; they’re actually in the same housing unit. For decades, the California Department of Corrections kept them hundreds of miles apart, basically as a policy to prevent "partners in crime" from collaborating. That all changed in 2018. When they finally reunited after 22 years of separation, they reportedly burst into tears without saying a word. Honestly, it’s one of those rare moments where the real-life story feels more like a movie than the actual movies do.
Life Inside the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility
Donovan isn't your typical "movie" prison with dark hallways and clanging bars everywhere. Well, parts of it are, but the brothers live in a specific area called Echo Yard. This is a "non-designated programming facility." Basically, it’s a place for inmates who have shown they can follow the rules and actually want to rehabilitate.
In Echo Yard, things are a bit different:
- Inmates have more freedom to move around during the day.
- There’s a heavy focus on education and art.
- The brothers have been deeply involved in a "beautification" project, which basically involves painting massive, intricate murals on the concrete yard walls to make the environment feel less soul-crushing.
Lyle recently finished a bachelor’s degree in sociology from UC Irvine while behind bars. He’s even working on a master’s degree now. Erik has spent a lot of his time working with terminally ill inmates in the prison hospice program. It's a weird contrast—two men convicted of a brutal double murder spending their middle age helping others die with dignity or studying urban planning.
The 2025 Resentencing Rollercoaster
If you haven't kept up with the news lately, things got wild in 2025. For a second there, it looked like they might actually walk out.
After years of "life without the possibility of parole," a judge finally resentenced them to 50 years to life in May 2025. This was huge. Because they were under 26 when the crimes happened, California’s youthful offender laws kicked in, making them eligible for parole hearings almost immediately.
But then came the August 2025 hearings.
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The parole board didn't go the way the brothers hoped. Both Erik and Lyle were denied release. The commissioners pointed to some "rule violations" and expressed concerns that they hadn't fully owned up to the "callousness" of the crime. Specifically, the board mentioned things like possessing prohibited cellphones—which is a major no-no in the California system.
Why Everyone Is Still Talking About Them
The question of which prison are the Menendez brothers in usually leads to the bigger question: Why are they still there?
In 2024 and 2025, new evidence came to light that wasn't allowed in their second trial back in the 90s. We’re talking about a letter Erik wrote to his cousin months before the murders detailing the abuse he was suffering. Then there was the bombshell allegation from Roy Rosselló, a former member of the boy band Menudo, who claimed Jose Menendez also abused him.
Public opinion has shifted massively. You’ve got Kim Kardashian writing op-eds about their release and Gen Z treating them like tragic figures rather than cold-blooded killers. It’s a total 180 from the 1996 trial where the prosecution basically painted them as rich brats who wanted a bigger inheritance.
What’s Next for the Brothers?
They aren't giving up. Even though the 2025 parole bid failed, they have other paths.
- Administrative Review: They can ask for a review of the parole denial as early as late 2026 or 2027.
- Clemency: Governor Gavin Newsom has been sitting on a clemency request for a long time. He’s been waiting to see how the legal process plays out, but he has the power to commute their sentences whenever he wants.
- Habeas Petition: Their lawyers are still fighting for a brand-new trial based on that new evidence. If a judge eventually grants that, the original convictions could be tossed out entirely.
For now, they remain in San Diego. They wake up, they do their jobs, they work on their murals, and they wait. Lyle is 58 and Erik is 55. They’ve spent more than half their lives in a 6-by-9-foot space.
If you want to stay updated on their specific case status, the best thing to do is check the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) public inmate locator. It’s updated daily. You can also follow the updates from their lead attorney, Mark Geragos, who is usually the first to break news about new filings or health updates—like Erik’s recent recovery from kidney stone surgeries.
The story is far from over. Whether you think they’re victims of horrific abuse or calculated murderers, their presence at R.J. Donovan remains one of the most watched incarcerations in American history.
Actionable Insight: If you're following this case for legal or research purposes, keep a close eye on the California Parole Board's 2027 calendar. Given their 2025 denial, that is the most likely window for their next suitability hearing. Additionally, watching the Los Angeles District Attorney's office—now under Nathan Hochman—is key, as his stance on their "habeas corpus" petition will ultimately determine if they ever get a third trial.