COs "find" razors in cells at Pelican Bay

Thanks for opening up my eyes on what's taking place on the other side of these walls and around the world. I received two sets of newsletters. A few weeks after receiving them I was subject to a cell search by a special corruption officer (CO) who works as a 'Security Squad.' He alleged that he found a razor blade in my locker. Razor blades are a controlled item here - Pelican Bay State Prison (maximum security prison). If found in a cell, the inmate is subject to a disciplinary action, charged with 'possession of a deadly weapon' with administration segregation unit (ASU) issued time and/or a Security Housing Unit (SHU) issued time, from 6 to 15 months.

Here in ASU the mail takes a whole month to receive after your family/friend mails it off, the walls sweat (leak water), we have cold water showers, cell vents are constantly blowing cold air, and "table" and bunks are concrete in 7 x 7 cells.

When I first arrived in ASU it took me 10 days (confined 24 hours, 7 days a week in cell) to be cleared for yard (total of 10 dog cages) to get direct sunlight and fresh air and took 17 days to receive my legal paperwork with personal property (4 soaps, 2 deodorant, 2 toothpaste, 1 shampoo).

I went to my initial disciplinary hearing in December and was found guilty of the charge 'Possession of a deadly weapon.' At my next hearing I will be informed how much SHU time I will get.

In this maximum security prison, razors are a controlled item, COs pass them out and pick them up. Third watch (shift from 2pm to 10pm) has been "losing" razors continuously for weeks on, but they failed to report this matter so proper actions could be taken. COs kept program running and kept passing out razors and kept "losing" razors. This is leeway to set up inmates. For a prisoner to have possession of a razor without COs awareness is hard to find true, since razors are known to be a safety concern and are controlled by COs at all times. The COs take no responsibility for "losing" the razors and failing to report the incident, thus violating policies. This case strongly shows a corruption (set up and planted evidence) and COs negligence.

- a California prisoner, December 2005