Discrimination against Mexicans at Folsom

I would like to elaborate on the current issue within the prison walls at New Folsom State Prison. I am Mexican and from Northern California and have been at New Folsom C-yard for over four years now. All of a sudden CDC wants to use the validation process to validate me [as a gang member], not once but now twice since I have been in ad-seg.

I have seen a handful of my friends be put up and shipped to Pelican Bay where they have to spend the remainder of their time confined with nothing to do. No contact visits, or phone calls, and no socializing with anybody outside of your pod. Right now northern Hispanics are the number one individuals getting validated besides Southern Hispanics who also get validated. We have discussed it amongst us but can not come up with anything valid to file on the assistant warden. We feel he is biased against us but can't prove it. When individuals are seen by him, inappropriate comments are made on his behalf. But one can not comment due to repercussions made by staff, like destroying cells, late mail, things of that nature.

It is very corrupt within these walls. This administration is not even following protocol when validation is being done. The only way one can get out of the SHU is to file writs within the courts, but by then what do you have left. Hopefully you have family because a relationship will fall apart. This is just a small piece of what is going on behind the walls at New Folsom State Prison.

- a CA prisoner, March 2005