Inside Menendez brothers prison live: Restrictions, no interrelated visits

Erik Menéndez and Lyle Menéndez Tried to be released on parole in their murder case – but what their lives look like at the moment in prison?

The brothers arrested in 1990 on Two counts of first -degree murder After her parents – José and Kitty – were shot to death at home. Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18 at the age of the murders and after two trials, they were sentenced to life without parole. Lyle and Erik have claimed that their mother and father are physically, emotionally and sexually aggressive before their deaths.

While staying in the same prison initially, Erik and Lyle were transferred after sentencing. They reunited in 2018 when they were moved to the same housing unit in Richard J. Donovan’s corrective facility.

Their case received renewed support in September 2024 after becoming a focal point Ryan Murphy‘S. Monsters Series. In spite of Erik Publicly slams the scripted showhe met with Cooper KochAnd he played on screen.

“They are the Hollywood Reporter in September 2024.” Something that you could believe and the Easier Pill to Swallow was that killed their parents for money.

Koch added: “In fact, the warden told himself that he felt he would be happy to have them as his neighbors and that he would be comfortable let them watch his children. I think that says a lot!”

With support from Koch – a Reality-Star-Turned-Reform-Activist Kim Kardashian – Los Angeles area attorney George Gascón It was announced in October 2024 that a hearing had been set due to new evidence. That one month, Gascón recommended that a judge would be second -independent Erik and Lyle. Erik’s parole was eventually rejected in August 2025.

Keep scrolling for an insight into the lives of Erik and Lyle on a daily basis in prison:

Past Affairs

Erik reflected on his adaptation to life behind bars, saying People In 2005, “The cell I live in is very small … about 6 ′ by 4 ′. Two people live in the cell. The cell is so small that only one person can be up off the subjects at a time.

It was difficult for him to do adapt to the “violent sounds” in prison.

“It’s very difficult to live with them. It always affects you. And you have to stick to your own business,” he noted. “There may be 300 to 400 people in the yard at a time and at any time a fighting could break out. In the past month, two prisoners have been murdered. You have to stay away from the yard bullies.”

Erik revealed he was bullied when Was initially sentenced.

“I was selected for being violently bullied and was traumatic and continuous. Turned to him for help since I was separated from Lyle.

Erik continued: “I remember the day I was told that Lyle had just attacked him and had his chin broken.

Current examples of improvement

In a statement to Biography.com in September 2024, the California corrections and rehabilitation section offered an update on Erik and Lyle’s behavior, writing, “During his imprisonment, Erik Menendez has taken two serious controls.

Erik and Lyle’s good behavior paving the way for them to live At a “undetermined programming facility” in Donovan. The unit is called Echo Yard, which allows for more freedom, programming rehabilitation and educational for prisoners. Those opportunities include yoga, art classes and more.

In a rare interview, Erik gave an example of his day -to -day schedule, saying People In 2005 again, “I get up at 6 at 6:20 I have breakfast. I meditate at 6:50. Starting at 7:30 I read and wrote in my journal. I would either have morning yard time starting at 9:30 or afternoon yard time starting at 2:00 pm at two o’clock, I’m starting my job. General, I’m going to sleep around 10:30 pm”

Rules for contacting loved ones

The brothers are categorized as Group A prisoners, which allow most privileges that come with reception visits and to make calls. Acts have been passed in recent years that made free phone calls to prisoners and their families.

In 2021, California began providing tablets to prisoners. It took two years for Donovan prisoners to take advantage of the opportunity and it is important to note that the devices Do not have access to social media or Internet browsers. The tablets are largely used to read news materials and stay in connection with loved ones by email, video calls and text messages.

Erik and Lyle also relyed on technology to keep up to date with their cast, sharing on a podcast in 2025, “We were able to see a lot of it. I watched some of it through a video chat that they allowed us to do here. And obviously, we’ve seen a million clips of it on TV and heard much about it.

Possible extra -curricular

An echo yard is considered an experimental part of the less restrictive prison. The unit operates outside “normal prison rules,” according to reports from the San Diego-Tribune union. Echo Yard allows prisoners to participate in creative programs, education groups and support for people with anger management issues or substance abuse.

Prisoners can follow courses such as victim awareness, money management and job hunting strategies. There is a yoga program, which allows prisons to earn a 10 -day discount in their sentence for every 52 hours of program participation. Rehabilitation Achievement Credits could offer prisoners as much as 40 days removed from their sentences annually.

Donovan also has a monthly newspaper and monthly art classes published by prisoners. Lyle and Erik have specially taken advantage of project paint When they helped paint one 1,000 feet long Mural at Echo Yard in 2020.

Elsewhere in Echo Yard, prisoners can help pick up service and guided dogs in the future. Donovan also first held a graduation ceremony in 2024 after nearly two dozen prisoners received degrees through an inspirational future by educational degrees.

Restrictions on interrelated visits

Erik has been married to his wife Tammi since 1999 after they met through letter correspondence. Lyle, meanwhile, has exchanged vows with Anna Eriksson In 1996 but they divorced five years later. Later found love with Rebecca Sneed and married in 2003.

Prisons in California allow interrelated visits but prisons serving life sentences without parole are banned from such privileges. The law was changed in 2016 but since Erik and Lyle committed a violent crime against a family member, they still do not qualify for the family visits.

“Not having sex in my life is difficult, but it’s not a problem for me. I have to be emotionally attached, and I’m emotionally attached to Erik,” said Tammi People In 2005. “My family doesn’t understand. When he started going seriously, some of them threw their hands up.”

Lyle also offered an insight into this wedding with Rebecca, telling the outlet in 2017, “Our interaction tends to be distractions free and we probably have more close conversations than most married marriages do, which draws the attention of life events.”

He concluded: “We try to talk on the phone every day, sometimes several times a day. I have a very consistent marriage, participated and that helps to support me and brings a lot of peace and joy. It is contrary to the unpredictable, stressful environment here.

Seek medical assistance

In July 2025, the Erik family confirmed that he was in hospital after being diagnosed with a serious medical condition. The health scare led to Erik to an external medical facility, where he remained in a fair condition.

Erik’s attorney, Mark Geragos, addressed the issue when California’s Governor Gavin Newsom immediately released his client.

“I don’t want to leave the cat out of the bag. Erik is having a serious medical condition right now,” he told TMZ. “I’m not going to go against the privilege of a Hipaa or attorney client, but if there is anyone who should be fugged – especially at the moment, a month before the hearing – it is Eric.”

Geragos chose not to disclose details about whether the Menéndez diagnosis is “life -threatening.” (The outlet subsequently confirmed that Erik is treated for kidney stones.)

“Hopefully,” the lawyer replied before confirming that Menéndez is “currently being treated,” adding, “it’s a serious condition and I think he needs to be out to focus on the hearing. I don’t want to go into the medical condition’s weeds but I think that’s the right thing to do.”

Geragos continued: “I think it is a serious condition and should be medically fulored so that he can work with the parole attorney and be fast and be prepared. This is the only fair and fair thing to do.”