Lack of Outdoor exercise

Outdoor exercise at High Desert State Prison is limited to 1 hour to 3 hours every week. However, this is not always the case due to lockdowns, yard delays, weather conditions, emergency counting, a tray missing, unsigned kites [ghost inmates informing officers of a possible assault], officers' end of the month training day, officers' funerals, and any other excuse is reason good enough to keep our asses lock down 24/7.

Since rehabilitation programs, vocational, training classes, or school is out of the question, surely some fresh air and sun light is not a lot to ask. Mexico, being a Third World country, provides its prisoners with more respect, jobs, education, family contacts (conjugal visits), and above all, treat them like human beings.

Many Mexicans have asked for transfers to do their sentences in Mexico, but we are always turned down. It seems to me that the prison system needs the $30,000 a year that each Mexican generates occupying their prison beds.

- a California prisoner, HDSP, March 2005