The family of a woman who was strangled to death last year during a conjugal visit with her husband at a Northern California prison has called for reforms after a second woman was killed in a similar manner.

The deaths of two women during conjugal visits with their significant others at a California prison last year should prompt a suspension of the visits altogether while authorities conduct a "top-to-bottom" review, the county's top prosecutor said Thursday.

Tania Thomas, 47, and Stephanie Dowells, 62, were each strangled to death during conjugal visits with their husbands at Mule Creek State Prison.