I arrived at Corcoran SHU at the beginning of March. Since my arrival here at the SHU I have observed a lot of corruption by both the guards that run this place and the prison administration.
Our grievance system here is non-existent. Grievances are either lost, ignored, or they meet long delays and bureaucratic red tape. Between the guards and the administration they make sure that grievances do not get addressed.
Without a grievance system that functions, the guards and the administration have a free hand to commit all types of horrendous atrocities. And they do commit these atrocities! The administration retains prisoners in the SHU for made up reasons and they are able to do this since the administration does not have to worry about due process of law.
Guards commit all types of horrendous atrocities simply because they are able to do so with a free hand.
Many prisoners try individual hunger strikes or other methods to speak out against these things. I have observed prisoners property being taken, power cut to their TVs, prisoners not being allowed to shower, and prisoner access to the outdoor cages being taken away. This is done without due process of law (like disciplinary reports and hearings).
I, myself have had my mail tampered with, incoming money lost or stolen and my incoming mail has been lost. My TV has been denied to me for erroneous and fabricated reasons, even though I was allowed this TV the last time I was here. All this and I am being denied access to the grievance system.
Corcoran SHU lives up to its reputation as a prison within a prison system. We are still on lockdown virtually 24 hours a day with the only exception being brief times we are led out handcuffed to our walk-alone cages and showers. Every aspect of our lives is controlled, from when the light comes on in the morning to the little bit of property we are allowed in our cells. The system tries to make us into caged animals but we still retain the right to be persons who are humyn.
- a prisoner in California, May 2006