Inhumanity at High Desert State Prison

I would like to inform you of all the inhumanity and indecency that we're being forced to endure while incarcerated at High Desert State Prison. After recently arriving at this institution (July 2005), the duration has truly been the worst experience I've ever been forced to endure within the whole five years of my incarceration.

It's not even tangible the ramifications we're forced to suffer when speaking out. Our personal effects and property are searched, letters, envelopes, active seriously important inmates appeals via other prisons, all thrown away! Our rations have been extremely affected to the point there's a dramatic decline in ones weight. Within the short period between my arrival and September 2005 I've lost 10-16 pounds.

Medical complaints of severe back and neck pain caused by this institution's failure to supply adequate essentials, such as a pillow or issue a soft blanket chrono to subside such neck pain, have to this day gone unanswered. Other medical complaints of serious unrelenting stomach cramps, lack of energy, dizziness, extreme loss of weight, and a strong feeling of deteriorating health caused by fierce and unyielding hunger and starvation, remain to go unanswered even though placed in early September.

We're fully aware of our rights, and exert much effort in pursing so-called justice through the administrative established right to appeal which includes that no reprisal shall be taken against an inmate or parolee for filing appeals. What I've failed to realize, is that the appeals establishment is the same crooked and corrupt administration that we're appealing in the first place and the appeal coordinators are paid in each institution's defense. It's absurd to think one will receive a fair neutral assessment humbling himself in a darkened hour to one who is no doubt paid to defend the system.

Though there is a limit to the appeals filed by an inmate, the same personnel that complaint after complaint is being filed against, is collecting our mail at the days end. If it's not ripped up right in your face, after patiently awaiting a response for three weeks and then having to inquire as to its whereabouts to the appeals coordinator, we learn it has mysteriously disappeared, never reaching its destination. Meanwhile your appeal time has run out and now you may no longer pursue the issue.

When politely asking for additional toiletries, we are told, in a very adversarial and indecent tone, "no you ain't getting shit but one role issued once a week" and to use your f-ing t-shirt, and laughed at.

We're currently detained in administrative segregation unit (ASU) on the basis of a bogus "pending IGI investigation" which seems to be fairly typical as a punishment for those who've chosen to walk away, disassociating themselves completely of any known (as CDC calls them) disruptive group. We're defiled, dignity stripped, repeatedly disrespected, mistreated, verbally abused, and deliberately degraded. In addition, we're threatened by correctional captains of "great bodily harm" if one does not debrief on things he honestly has no idea about or answers to.

- A California prisoner, September 2005