Financial fraud at Soledad?

Is the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) committing fraud against the California tax payers, especially at Correctional Training Facility – Soledad?

Recently (June 24 and July 8, 2005) CTF's J.M. Wiggins, a correctional captain, wrote memorandums authorizing suspension of inmate programs for "staff training."

The California taxpayer, through legislative authority of Pen. Code 2700, authorizes money to be afforded to prisons for inmate pay. However, during "staff training" periods, during inmate program periods (e.g. work, school, trade), limited inmate pay is dispersed. Thus, CDCR "staff training" enables the prisons to receive money, for inmate pay, that does not appear to be spent according to law. It is inevitable that prisons/California legislature project inmate pay budgets for full months of pay. It isn't known whether the CDCR reimburses the Cal State treasurer for this alleged fraud.

Now that the state has re-recognized rehabilitation as part of the purpose of prisons (e.g. Senate Bill 737), how is it that the prisons are allowed to impose "staff training" during time periods where inmates are supposed to be participating in rehabilitative activities?

Compounding the alleged fraud is that teachers/instructors are being paid to educate even though CTF prison administrators will not let inmates out of their cell/dorms because of "staff training." An examination should also probe "staff training" days occurring on CCPOA/retirements/holiday activities. Inmate programs have even been suspended for CDCR promotional tests.

In the opinion of this writer, any correctional peace office should not be at a prison, responsible for care and custody of inmates, if not trained already.

- a California prisoner, July 2005