Lockdown at High Desert

I am an inmate housed at High Desert State prison here in California. I am currently on lock-down status without any remedy to appeal this condition. Currently all Black and white inmates are on lockdown due to rumors of inmates planning attacks on prison officials. I'm now seeking information on how to bring these issues before a court. This lockdown has been in effect since January 12, 2005. The lockdown does not allow any out of cell time except for a ten minute shower three times a week.

- a California prisoner, June 2005

The Warden D.L. Runnels and administration here at High Desert State Prison are prejudicially discriminating against the whole inmate population, in violation of knowingly deliberate indifference and eighth amendment rights "cruel and unusual punishment" clause, by outrageously denied outside fresh air and exercise yard. The united states federal courts has already made very clear: denial of out door exercise constituted "cruel and unusual punishment" (in Spain vs. Procunier, 600 F. ad 189) (9th Cir. 1979). For you to be denied all out door exercise and recreation locked in a cell 24 hours a day 7 days a week is an 8th amendment violation (see Lopez vs. Smith, 203 F. 3D 1122).

This inhumanity of cruel and barbarous treatment strikes at the heart of federal and state law well established: the Eighth amendment written as part of the "bill of rights" in 1791, see: Troy vs. Dulles 356 u.s. 86, 785 C.T. 509, 630 (1958). Together infrequent access to active recreation , long hours of in cell time and over crowded cell conditions is mentally and physically unhealthy (see: Allen vs. Sakai, 48F 3D 1082 (9th Cir 1995) and Lopez vs. Smith 203 F. 3D 1123, 1133 (9th Cir 2000).)

Staff officers alleged that the deprivation of federal and state rights to denial of outside exercise is because of safety and security of institution and may jeopardize the integrity of an investigation. The federal courts have already ruled that despite prison officials claims that their denial of outside yard was for the inmates own protection and institution security, it is still a federal violation and constitutional violation of the eighth amendment.

Staff officers are breaking the law to get more money from overtime pay, more lockdowns, more taxpayer money and hazardous overtime pay. It's the old trick of "the inmate is going to attack the staff." This is a retaliation by administration on the inmate population as a whole because of the Correctional Officer A. Gonzalez being killed at CIM prison on January 11.

Every strategy and tactic is being applied psychologically and physically to provoke and incite a violent atmosphere and create a hostile morale among all races of the inmate population on behalf of the administration. Once again this is just another form of capitalism: where a group of parasites are using a position of power to get more money.

We are still locked down for no reason. The administration says they will not let us off because they keep on 'mysteriously' receiving info on future plots to assault staff. It's amazing how capitalism can be used on every level in every way and the capitalist just keep on keeping on.

- a CA prisoner, June 2005