With racial and ethnic tensions firmly entrenched in the California Department of Corrections (CDC), I can't imagine segregation in prison coming to an end. Even though I endeavor to offer an informed voice on a number of criminal justice matters, I reluctantly admit I've been conditioned as a California prisoner to accept institutional racial separation as reasonable. We all have.
When the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Garrison Johnson's challenge to the CDC's policy of segregating inmates upon arrival to San Quentin, my initial reaction was shock and disbelief. In an environment distinguished by a myriad of factions who reluctantly tolerate one another at best, and explode into all-out war at worst, any judicial decision to force integration sounded like a cruel joke.
But it didn't take long for me to realize a continued investment in a quagmire of perpetual dysfunction can't be in the best interest of anyone. Moreover, for anyone to suggest the lunatics (prisoners) have taken over the asylum are sadly misinformed. As inmates, we don't run anything in this state. We have no power, no voice and no representation.
Corrections is a mammoth agency well-represented by the California Correctional Peace Officers Association and legislators absolutely beholden to them.
Still, the last time corrections approached the subject of prison gangs and ethnic issues, they hypothesized bitter rivals could be forced to get-along. This resulted in seven years of staged-gladiator fights in the Corcoran SHU and a statewide shooting policy that amounted to sanctioned murder. No one got along, too many to count were shot, and seven SHU inmates were killed – gunned down by correctional officers for fist fighting under a forced integration policy.
Prison Reform
With all eyes on prison officials to restore the public's confidence, the Little Hover Commission voted to adopt Gov. Schwarzenegger's plan to overhaul the CDC. This plan emphasizes rehabilitation, education and accountability. While that might sound good to some, I'll believe it when I see it.
The same corrupt officials who have built the most out-of-control correctional agency in the country are still in charge. The few managerial changes to take place have barely made a difference.
In all fairness, prison reform is by no means an easy subject to broach. Revitalizing a huge agency rooted in a code of silence and systemic cost overruns depends on total illumination and dedication to social responsibility. From where I sit, based on how they've performed and who's still in charge, the CDC in its present form is an abomination.
To achieve real reform, a plethora of changes must occur to end decades of huge rates of recidivism, institutionalized violence and absolute hopelessness:
Computerize every aspect of corrections; lift the restrictions placed on the media; restore due process to the inmate grievance system; free release- worthy inmates once they've served their sentences; bring mental health and medical services to First World standards; provide marketable education and vocation programs; reestablish visiting; quite extorting all monies received by inmates at a rate of 55 percent for restitution; and stop price-gouging prisoner's families with the most expensive collect-call fees in the country.
This might sound like a disgruntled inmate with a wish list. Sadly, this is the short list. Reforming corrections might make interesting copy for some or heated debate for others. But for us, it's about human rights – and being buried alive in the worst prison system in the country.
-- a California prisoner, March 2005