I attended this protest which drew an impressive crowd. The Medical marijuana law passed because enough people work on it, recruit others to work on it, raise money and show up when called.  Families of prisoners are not this well educated and functional or we wouldn't have all these problems.  But those of us who are in the know have made a world of difference.

I've also had a number of high level meetings over lockdowns, CDC practices of psychological intimidation and medical neglect statewide.  I have delivered a strong message that UNION subscribers are ready to picket in large enough numbers to embarrass Davis if continual lockdowns aren't
ended.  I have represented you well during these talks and expect that each and everyone of you are ready to back me up every step of the way.

I have been asked for alternative suggestions.  Right away I voiced dismay that 18,000 mentally ill inmates are mixed with regular inmates throughout the system, making total compliance to rules impossible.

I have been told that CDC does not want the mentally ill but that the legislature and governor force that role upon them.  I suggested punishing only the rule breakers directly responsible instead of inhumanely locking down entire yards for days, weeks, months at a time.

Give me some discussion on this topic and let me know that you are ready to show some UNION backbone if the need arises.  Please be on standby alert to demonstrate.

Instead of dividing us up over the three prisons, I feel that
Sacramento is the most logical place where all the decisions
are made.  Let us hope that public marching won't be necessary, but if it is, your role will be very important.

Any alternative ideas to end continual lockdown should be sent to me right away.  Understand that a law was passed by the California legislature in 1997 which deleted ALL visits, not just conjugal visits.  A picket will not fix this problem around visits.

Until a lawsuit and/or formal initiative campaign (petitions filed with the Secretary of State and 150 days to gather
650,000 signatures) is instituted, visits will continue to be
a problem.

I am discussing member complaints in detail.  What we need
to do is grow our ranks so that we have adequate funds and
volunteers to show some teeth.

That's your job.  Get busy. 

B. Cayenne Bird

Cayenne:
I am making these comments as follow up to your excellent report on Alameida's hearing.

Alameida has not been awake, because High Desert experienced lockdown status for 9 months in 2000, 11 months in 2001, and all but 3 weeks this year. My husband marks it on his calendar and tells me in letters. I have them all.

I have seen a short lockdown  only once.  A "State of Emergency" lockdown, I believe, can last 72 hours, according to Title 15 rules. It's usually the whole yard, includes all races until the responsible race(s) is identified 602 complaints are barely answered, leaving out relevent information, and sloughing off most of the evidence in the complaint. I can prove this one, too Linda K.

----------

Dear Cayenne:

I am mad as hell over Alameida's responses to Burton about lockdown and will get all my data together on this!

How can the legislature be so dumb as to believe these big money racketeers?

Michael R.
-----------------

Dear Cayenne:
Folsom Represa prison went on lockdown September 11 for four days. Then it went on lockdown January 4 through April 30 or so.  This is not a few days.  Yes, four guards were stabbed, but they treat the men like animals at this prison and it's no wonder that happened.

The MTA who throws the pills at the prisoners in the morning is just one example of harsh, overpunishment for very minor violations. 

Nobody could take this kind of psychological abuse and not react with a breakdown.

Michael W.

Dear Cayenne:
The reason the overtime for guards during lockdown policy is so confusing, is that this is a major area of budget cover up.

It is understood by guards that lockdown = overtime. But it is not written down as an automatic policy. It just is, and the citizenry is unaware.  The Senate is in "la, la land",  as you would say, about how lockdown status is manipulated solely for the purposes of overtime.

Here's an example.  When lockdown occurs, all the mattresses are taken out of the cells and xrayed at some prisons, each cell is thoroughly searched.  This is a terrorizing tool to unsettle inmates, not just a basic security precaution. They never want them to be psychologically comfortable and inmates never are relaxed.

Anyway, CDC does not have enough staff to do cell searches, so many outside employees are brought in to do it. And all the existing staff do get overtime.

Usually inmates from minimum camp are brought in to do the cooking a very, very minor clean up.

The showers are filthy during lock ups, the kitchens are never clean, nobody cares about inmates and the conditions under which we live.  Citizens will fight for animals but not for inmates. What does that say about us as family members?

Millions of dollars are spent on lockdowns which is hidden from the public.  The guards love lockdown and will go out of their way to create it.  There are regular lockdowns and State of emergency lockdowns and many go on for months and years.

Susan
--------------------

Cayenne,

Regarding lockdowns, I don't have the exact dates for lockdown for C Yard at Lancaster.  they just got off lockdown on April 10th I think, they were on Lockdown for at least a month because D Yard suppossibly had a cell phone.  Last July when a cell phone was found on B yard, the whole institution was on Lockdown for at least 2 months so the cops could go search every yard.   My husband said that in the past year that we have been at Lancaster he had been on lockdown 90% of the time.

Michelle
------------------

We went out to New Folsom prison at Represa, which was on lockdown from Jan 4 to May 30.  There was a big sign posted that said "No visits until further notice".  It was dated May 9, so the nearly five month lockdown only ended for nine days and then they went down again.  This is overkill, and no human being could endure this mistreatment for months and years at a time.

I don't know why it happened this time, the press can't get in there. will find out and send it to you ASAP.

I'd like to suggest that our lawsuit regarding visits include lockdown issues.  People drive and fly from across the US only to arrive to see their loved ones and find a big sign NO VISITS ALLOWED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.  Lockdown is not only costing millions of dollars in guard overtime, but it is separating families to an inhumane degree. 

Prisoners aren't getting their cases worked on, medical or dental work, classes or anything else done in a constant state of lockdown. They are simply being psychologically tortured because a couple of people don't follow the "rules".  I agree that the guards are setting these up for purposes of overtime.  They love it!

Michael

-------------
High Desert

I don't have exact dates of lockdowns without waiting for my husband to send that information to me. But we know it is 11 months out of the year, and this year has been all locked down except for 3 weeks.

Each lockdown was a riot. The last two riots were between blacks and whites on B yard. I know the last riot was April 10. the same people in that riot were also part of the riot before that. many feel it was planned that way.
Linda
-------------------

Cayenne:

Danny is in New Folsom.  The Prison has been locked down almost consistantly since January due to attacks on guards.  Danny wrote to me yesterday and advised that even though they caught the culprits, the enitire prison is continuing to pay.  He was also advised by the c/os that mail was being withheld as a form of punishment to "everyone".  They are still currently on lockdown. 
Gabrielle

=========
Lancaster

Yesterday I was in "A" Yard and one of the inmates who works in the Program Office said he saw his CO Supervisor's payroll check which he had left on his desk. It read under "Year to Date" $44,000. It is only mid-May.

There has been a notice on the bulletin board for months stating that funds for the visiting rooms; toys, games, books, playing cards have been eliminated due to "budget constraints", of course donations would be accepted. The budget for CSP-LAC is nearing $100,000,000. I'm sure the few hundred bucks will pay for a few minutes of overtime the COs need.

Bob

-------------
Lancaster is on lockdown 90% of the time according to UNION families who do not know one another. High Desert, Pelican Bay have been locked down the majority of the time for 2.5 years.

The cell phone incident took place when the son of a good friend, Shari Holland, whom I met in Detention Ministry, was using a video camera to record some of the conditions inside. 

he got a camera smuggled in and somewhere there is a tape. It seems the FBI is also involved, but no one knows what is going on. 

The cell phones were supposedly found during the lock-down and search. The rumor was that several staff were involved in supplying the contraband. The shut-down had the whole institution down.

She also has a web site telling the story. 

Bob
-------------

got the scoop on why Folsom, Represa is locked down again after being locked down from Jan 4 to approx April 30.......a guard was assaulted in C facility by a black inmate brandishing a sharpened toothbrush.....superficial punctures.....so this caused the whole institution, A B and C yards to be on lockdown again.....they punish everyone for a specific ethnicity or specific person........this happened May 9.....they say visiting is a privilege, so what do they take away? 
-------------
Cayenne,

Regarding lockdowns, I don't the exact dates for
lockdown for C Yard at Lancaster.  they just got off
lockdown on April 10th I think, they were on Lockdown
for at least a month because D Yard suppossibly had a
cell phone.  Last July when a cell phone was found on
B yard, the whole institution was on Lockdown for at
least 2 months so the cops could go search every yard.
  My husband said that in the past year that we have
been at Lancaster he had been on lockdown 90% of the
time.

Michelle

------------

Alameida told the Senate Rules committee that lockdowns only last a few days and happen for very violent reasons only. We can see that possession of cellphones by a couple of people is NOT a violent act. This is excellent information. Keep digging for specific dates and reasons.

I am aware that the inmates are locked down 90% of the time at most prisons and will not just forget about it. But I need details from all 33 prisons to make a good case.  Date began, date ended, incident that caused lockdown, which yards were affected, going back a year or two or anything you can remember.  This is excellent information for my report.

--------------
Dear Cayenne:
I am a pastor of a prison ministry who hears from an inmate in High Desert. He tells me that he's been on lockdown for three of the past four years, even though he is a model prisoner. I am praying you can bring this to the attention of the media and legislators. Over punishment, blanket punishment is not a solution to crime.  If anything it creates more and endangers the guards. It's a terrible practice and none of us should tolerate it to this degree.  A few days for those who are guilty, yes. Months and years at a time for those who are not guilty - no. Mentally ill people cannot follow rules and should not be in prison at all. CDC hasn't a clue how to handle mentally ill people.

I will be praying for you today at 1 p.m. when you appear.

Pastor Jim
----------------
May 24, 2002

Rosemary is a social worker with a loved one in Avenal. So you see, lockdowns are used to eliminate visiting, phone calls, packages and mail. The family ties are vitally important to rehabilitation and we must organize rapidly to put an end to perpetual lockdowns.  Blanket punishments must no longer be tolerated by us.  Sign up the numbers so we can picket those allowing this inhumanity in Sacramento, at the prisons, go,
seek, find others to join the UNION so we have the back up
necessary.

Cayenne,
   Just as you requested info on lockdowns, today I was informed at arrival at Avenal that there was no visits for Hispanic inmates.  This is the first time for Yard1, but it is a regular occurrence on Yards 4 & 5.  In fact Yard 5 has been on lockdown for a while. 

I can get the dates for you. My loved one got a message to someone on another yard who called and advised me that they were on lockdown.  I called the 1-800 visitors number til 15 minutes before visiting, and the message had not been changed since the previous week. 

As you know people come from far away, one girl had come from 1 hour, gotten a baby-sitter, and it was her husband's birthday.  She too had been calling to know in advance so she could avoid the trip, the expense and the added disappointment of being turned away at the door.  When I got there they told me that they were not informed until just before visiting.  The incident happened on Monday, so they had plenty of time to make the decision about visiting in time to avoid putting the families out.

   The reason for the lockdowns is gang fights:  Northerners against Southerners.  In the past when a yard is more heavily populated by one gang affiliation, they have forced men of the other location (north or south), that are less numbered on the yard to transfer.  Administration & the inmates are well aware
that a fight is awaiting the men by the gang members who are defending their 'turf'.  On one occasion brothers in Christ from my husband's daily bible study were forced to go to a yard where they knew a gang fight was waiting, as that yard was notorious for being on lock-down because of gang fighting.  These men refused to go and did a sit-down.  Consequently
they were all taken to the hole for insubordination.

   Now the discrimination against Mexicans is a travesty amongst innumerable travesties, or any race, for that matter.  In this prison it's Mexicans who they call "Hispanics"; yet Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Colombians, or any other Hispanics, are not numbered among 'Hispanics'.  So a whole race or representation of Country, as in this case, are placed on lock-down and denied visits and contact with the outside, just
because they are that color or nationality, having nothing to do with being guilty of a wrongdoing, or even being able to be implicated in the incident.  No, because they are Mexican. 
    Blessings to you,
        Rose Mary

------------
If you have reports of the recordings not be changed at any prison and people arrive there without being notified on the recordings, please report in.  This is a serious abuse of the rules that the Senate WILL act upon. Tell me the dates the recordings were not changed from here on out.
    --------
Dear Cayenne:

The guards love lockdown because it reduces risk, they can get paid lots of money and chase the women guards all day long.

Cell searches provide plenty of overtime.  I agree that the guards provoke lockdowns.  We just saw two CO's get convicted for setting up violence on purpose against inmates in Pelican Bay.

When inmates go on lockdown, at first it provides "action."
They are all cop wannabes and it breaks up the boredom for them to do cell searches, shake down inmates, be tough and in control.

What you said that was printed in the Times sums it all up.
"An attitude of punishment rather than healing permeates
every layer of CDC" And they're the ones with a gun.

Michael R.
-------------
Inmate letter from High Desert illustrates depression, 
hopelessness, medical neglect, psychological torture...
Lockdowns are making people sicker...this is not what we want as taxpayers, and, it endangers the public safety.  I hope the good Lord allows  me to be the Reporter at Judgment Day ceremonies.
Cayenne
------------

Cayenne, I have to tell you what my husband's letter said
today. Rather than paraphrase him, I'll write it all, so you can get the full effect.

"I've been feeling really really (underscored twice) bad the last three days. I'm not sure what it is, but I've been confined too long. It's starting to have an effect on me physically and mentally. I can't get my back evaluated either. I'm writing Dr. Baron, the chief Medical Officer, in tonight's mail to beg for help. 

I'm in constant pain and my left foot is almost completely numb now. The back of my left calf is also numb. I can't keep living like this. I'm in so much pain. I've been very patient. It's been this way for seven months. I've seen the doctor several times but all he does is give me a pain reliever that doesn't
even help all that much. Nothing else.

I'm really tired of this (bs) here. I'm fed up. I don't think I can program here anymore. I might HAVE to get a transfer, one way or another. It's mostly my back pain. I can't get any help for it and I'm fed up. I just can't believe this s---, how they could just leave me in a cell with no care for a back injury with numbness and pins and needles in my foot and leg! It's simply unbelievable cruel and unusual (underscored three times)!"

So, because he's in a state prison, he's required to suffer this kind of pain that anyone on the outside could find relief from any emergency room? It's the "let 'em rot" syndrome. No one cares. NO one knows. It's the wives, mothers etc. who get to hear their anguish with nowhere to turn. I just wanted you to know the latest from "High Drama" state prison.
Linda

New folsom is still on lockdown....since may 9, so that makes about 10 days they were not on lockdown since Jan 4th??    the guys in the shu are actually lucky in one aspect because they get to go out and exercise 3x a week, the others on lockdown are confined to their cells

Michael

Cayenne,
Thought you'd like to hear this little tid bit on sneaky underhanded ways the guards try to set up prisoners. This incident happened about a week ago on Pelican Bay B yard 5 block.  All the inmates were on the yard together.  This is a programing yard.    There were 4 tables on the yard, 2 for black inmates and 2 for white inmates.  The guards took 1 from the black area and "gave" it to the whites.  Then they stood back and waited.  The blacks of course were upset.  The whites however picked up that table and carried it right back over to the blacks and so neither side fell into the treachery the guards were wanting to happen.  They know even little things like this will set off a problem and this is just the type of thing they do to keep the men agitated at all times which causes fights and then causes lockdowns.
Linda C.

Another nightmare at Lancaster....MAC Chairman suffering
severe retribution for standing up for inmates.

Cayenne,
My husband has yet to get his 115 and my husband tells me that there are other inmates back in ad-seg who have gone weeks and months without a 115... (one Inmate has been there 52 weeks)

The longer my husband is back there the harder it will be for him to get back out to C Yard (Sensitive Needs), we didnt choose to go to Lancaster, it was the only place we could go when they forced to him to go into the sensitive needs program because of other inmates putting him down as an enemy....

I am sending an complaint to Internal Affairs Tuesday...

Lancaster is also holding up our mail, I sent stamps, envelopes, paper and a money order on May 11th and he still hasn't received it....Lancaster has gotten away with to much for to long and I am fed up!!!
Michelle

Dear Michelle:

I'd like to hear from the family of the inmate held for 52 weeks in isolation without a 115 write up. 

Your complaint has been taken not only to the highest levels of CDC and the legislature and you should be hearing soon.

I realize how difficult it is to do anything else in this time of extreme stress, but building our picket team at Lancaster even
higher is very important if we are to bring adequate news
coverage to this horrible mismanagement and perpetual lockdowns there.

I know you are working with churches on the Amend 3X in the Lancaster/Palmdale area and we thank you very much.  We're fighting for you and will continue to do so.  MAC is a suicide position, it is much better for the families to do the fighting with their votes on the outside.

Cayenne

Dear Cayenne:
There is no phone in all of California's prisons where an inmate could call an 800 number for help.  The Inspector General's office is either lying or clueless.

It's clear that they don't want to get the complaints, the legislators won't accept collect calls from prison either. They couldn't care less.  Lawyers can't afford the calls, so it denies access to legal help for inmates, when they're on lockdown (always on lockdown) they can't work on their cases, often have no writing paper or access to the legal library and miss important deadlines.

Nobody cares. Except the UNION. We do need about 200 
lawsuits filed over this terrible chaos and it is vitally important
that we build our group up for this reason. We know it's horrible, we're the only ones who care, so we're the ones that must organize and file lawsuits.  We just need thousands more to help us. I can see by the way you lead this campaign after it was dead that you are a high caliber person with great wisdom and a beautiful, compassionate but FIGHTING spirit.

The best person for this job is a woman - it's you Cayenne. I would follow you anywhere.  Time and time again over the years your call has been correct. This is all sensible. People should cut the bottoms off the newsletter and send it in to the inmates so they can learn how necessary their families are for us to be able to do a good job on their behalf. 

Thank you Ms. Cayenne.  I will be working as hard as I  possibly can until you say stop.  If that's never, it's fine with me.  Count on me.

Michael W.

Cayenne, I have the lockdown dates for High Desert as
follows:
2002
Jan 1-5
Feb 8-28. 1st First black/white riot (same small group as last time started it, probably set up by the guards)
March 1-31
April 1-30 10th, 2nd black/white riot 
May 1-31

2001
Jan 1-31
Feb 1-28
March 1-31
April 1-16
May 11-31
June 1-30
July 1-31
Aug 1-31
Sept 1-30
Oct 1-10 16th, anthrax mail threat lockdown
Nov 0
Dec 11-31

2000 (incomplete)
Oct 26-31
Nov 1-30
Dec 1-31
these are whites locked down in B yard. It's the only yard I can get statistics.

Linda

Dear Cayenne:

Pelican Bay lockdowns.

Of course the SHU is 23 hours a day in the cages.

I am not sure how long the general lockdown lasted after the riot 2 1/2 years ago.  Now however they have partial lockdown yards and people can stay on them indefinitely.  They have yard twice a week I believe but one cell at a time.  They have showers and phone calls every other day based on race and availability of time slots.  I am not sure how long they are
allowed to stay on the yard.  Visits are behind glass for one hour unless you come from a long distance and then they allow two hours.  Meals are taken in the cells.  When going anywhere within the prison the men are cuffed and shackled.  No jobs are to be had.  If one is fortunate to be enrolled in school his classes are via television. 

If and when the guards and classification believe a man can program he is then sent to one of the few programming yards which are not on lockdown.  Initially the only program yard was in A building but now they have started one in B building also.  These yards have the privileges of general population.

Linda C.

Cayenne,
Just another note on the lockdowns.  I updated you on Pelican Bay.  Well I now know that some of the men on these modified program yards ( the lockdown yards) have been there since the riot took place over 2 1/2 years ago.  That is quite a bit more than a few weeks.

My inmate thinks Alameida was referring to complete full lockdowns where there is absolutely no movement and low level inmates come in to do the cooking and cleaning and at The Bay at least this is not what is going on.  It is a word game being played.  The lockdowns up there and I would venture to guess at some of these other locations is considered a modified
program in which some privileges are allowed but still the majority of time is spent in the cell and contact between inmates is kept to a minimum.

These tend to go on much longer but  if you go to Alameida and call these programs lockdown he will deny they are lock downs saying instead they are modified programs needed for the safety and security of the inmates.  My inmate said the question we need to ask is why the modified programs last so long.  Then they can't use word games to try to weasel out of the truth.

Linda C.

A few things I want to tell you about. 

I write to several inmates. One particular one in Pelican Bay just wrote me that they have been on lock-down for the last two weeks. He says the release of some blacks and southern mexicans into general population is deliberately done to start fights and then used as an excuse to lock-down all the programs. The COs know who the troublemakers are and could control things if they wanted to. 

This guy is down to 37 points,he's latino, but still hasn't been moved to a closer lower classification facility. On the other hand my son's cellie in Lancaster just dropped under 50 and they want to move him further away. His Mother is 78 and they have applied for a hardship. The excuse here is that they
need the Level IV space. Maybe they should talk to Pelican Bay apparently they have room.

I reviewed the new visiting rules changes. Now I think they have made a mistake. They are attempting to seriously affect legal visits. As I read this they have seriously restricted and maybe made it impossible for a lawyer to visit an inmate and even have privacy. It is interesting they didn't do this on the first go-around and put it in this time. I wonder if they
hoped to slip it in at the last minute and have it done before the lawyers knew what hit them----nah not these forthright stalwarts. 

Some of the wording was changed for the lap and kiss idiocy, but now re-submitting the visitor questionnaire every two years is required and there are still IDs for kids. Since they have a computer check on every visit, what is the purpose/need for this? The family visits portion is replete with vague reasons for terminating or disallowing visits. Terms
like substantial evidence, and with or without conviction, or at the discretion of, crop up in numerous places.  Nowhere does this document recognize our right to see an inmate. Did I miss my right being taken away?

D.B.

Just got a letter from my husband at CTF-Central.  They are on lockdown for possibly 2-3 weeks.  The reason given was it is a general overall search.  Lockdown started around July 29th.  He wasn't specific about the beginning date. 

Kathleen B

Memorandum

Date: July 27, 2002

To: All concerned

Subject:     LOCK-DOWN STATUS

As you know, we have been on lock-down since Sunday, July 14, 2002. On that day a hole (divot) wasd found in the floor of a cell in A-1. The way the report was written made it appear to be an escape attempt. As a result the entire institution is being searched. Until that is complete, no un-lock will take place. What we are looking at is 3 - 4 more weeks, depending on how long it takes to finish searching.

The only movement being allowed is medical ducats - law library - and critical workers.

The critical worker list is being handled through the Warden’s office and only consists of Food Service - Laundry - C.T.C. - some Maintenance. The reason those are the only areas with workers is because they are the only areas considered essential to running the daily operation of the institution. As it goes along, more may be added to the list but that decision is the Warden’s call.

As to the workers getting canteen, phones, etc. NO!  Not at this time. The minute that it can be done, the critical workers will be let out to go to the store, use the phone... Again, that is the Warden’s call. This too may change in the near future.

Visiting remains normal. Regular visiting hours are being run as normal and family visiting dates are being honored.

[typed 8-7-02 from original]

Lancaster has had a transformer failure in the A Yard and locked it down for several days last week. I wonder how long it would take to get the transformer replaced if the failure occurred in:

            A. High Voltage Fence
            B. The CO's Lounge
            C. Any Local Neighborhood

They tried to restrict showers too but one clever inmate pointed out that the doors opened with keys too not just with
a power switch. Duh!

Bob
---------

Dear Cayenne:

HIGH desert State Prison lockdown has been ongoing since Feb 14th 2002 with no end in sight for B-5 Yard.  My son was put in that yard because a seargent said he recieved confidential info that he was a known trouble maker.

Jim P.,  Shingletown

Dear Cayenne:
I got a mail from a mother that visited her son at High Desert.  She spoke to someone there when she visited  recently, here is excerpt of what is going on at High Desert:

Every one is on lock down in B block. She told me a story as to why everyone is on lockdown. She says the lockdown has been going on for a year straight! The reason is 1 year ago 2 black men beat on a woman in visiting! She says that the 2 assailants were immediately sent to Pelican Bay, THEY ARE NO LONGER THERE. The WARDEN thinks that there might have been a conspiracy of some sort, so he put the block on lockdown and never lifted it!!!!!!! This happened a YEAR AGO! 

Visiting was canceled because the inmate count was off...

Its posted at Lancaster the Friends Outside trailer will be closing after September 21. I think, it was only posted on the guard gate, no where else, i didn't go to Friends Outside to see what was going on but visitors say its due to cutbacks.  Lancaster's Friends Outside is highly used, their Visiting was canceled because the inmate count was off and we all had to leave at noon today.  People traveling from long distances were turned away after noon.

Its posted at Lancaster the Friends Outside trailer will be closing after September 21 I think, it was only posted on the guard gate, no where else, i didn't go to Friends Outside to see what was going on but visitors say its due to cutbacks.  Lancaster's Friends Outside is highly used, they pick up people that come up from LA on the metro-link and people dropped off at the gate.
Michelle

Below I have typed the memo I received today regarding the  lockdown on B facility.  Nothing at all is mentioned regarding visiting.  Nor does it indicate if the same restrictions are in place on A facility. 

Lockdown began on or about July 8 of this year for all of Pelican Bay as a full lockdown.  It is gradually moving to modified programing once again.

Linda

Lockdown Updaate for B Facility as of Aug. 18,

Memorandum I received today states:

Due to increase of disruptive/violent behavior among disruptive prison inmate groups(gangs), effective  immediately, the following clarifications/modifications are being mplemented to provide a safer environment for both staff and
inmates:

1.  Critical Inmate Workers:  Whites, Hispanics, Others, and American Indians (AMI) ONLY.
2.  Program Workers: Whites, Hispanics, Others, and AMI will be released to perform their assigned duties as designated by their immediate supervisor.
3. Education: Will ensue for Whites, Hispanics, Others, AMI only.
4. Telephones: Telephones will continue to rotate between races as previously established.
5. Dayroom: None
6. Yard Program: Whites, Hispanics, Others, AMI only. 
B-Facility Program Supervisors based on safety and security needs will determine yard program on a daily basis.
7. Escort Status: Blacks Only.  Escort status will continue pending completion of an ongoing investigation.
8. Law Library: PLU status inmates ONLY will be allowed to attend the Facility Law Library.
9. Canteen: Canteen will be bagged and sent to all units to be distributed by 2nd and 3rd watch floor officers as program permits.
10. Concrete yard: Concrete yard will resume in the Modified Program Units as previously established before the institutional lockdown.
11. Cell Feeding: Continued in all units.
12: Packages: Special Purchases, books, Quarterly/Annual packages will resume.

Facility B lockdown will be reviewed daily.  All staff and inmates will be provided with further clarifications or modifications as they occur.

Writ was written by Joel Brown, and the reason is “retaliation for exercising my protected right to access to Courts.”  The information below has been excerpted from this document and is information on Lockdowns at Calipatria.  It speaks of CDC’s unwritten policy on appeals as “Deny-Deny-Deny.”

“It was and is easily discernable that CSP-Calipatria staff have engaged in Corcoran like behavior in pitting inmate vs. inmate in gladiator type battles, even after the Corcoran incident was uncovered—showing that it is and was a statewide practice or unwritten policy that has continued until as late as 2000 were a similar incident occurred with an inmate James Crespo, whom now faces or faced a weapon charge because CDC opened his cell door intentionally while other inmates were out unrestrained near his door and he had to defend himself by any means necessary, because it’s common knowledge that this practice goes on.”

“G. Janda was a lieutenant and Silvia Garcia was Chief Deputy Warden when they allegedly pitted inmates against one another—both have since been promoted to Captain and Warden at Calipatria.  Both have shown blatant animosity in dealing with inmates, and flouted the exposure of the Corcoran shootings and Senator Vasconcellos’ hearings on that matter, and flouted their professional duty to provide for inmate’s welfare and inflicting inhumane or oppressive treatment toward prisoners health and well being; and instead of being removed from office for those allegations, by proper investigative authority, they were promoted.  It’s highly conspicuous that G. Janda and Sgt. Fish which are evidenced in my retaliation claim Exhibits and are both named as defendants in a lawsuit.”

Judge Ulloa purposely failed to address Ground 2 of the Petition in wanton disregard of human life. . .”

“I’ve been complaining for years of the meager portions of food served to men by CDC, but have receive no relief.  If I might deem CDC rules changed metaphorically: It’s like poking a tiger in a cage, then under feed that tiger for years, common sense tells you the first change that tigers cage comes open, don’t be surprised if it mauls you for poking and not feeding it.”

Calipatria Lockdown information, taken from Program Status Reports:

“On Thursday, July 11, 2002 at approximately 1944 hours an Attempted Murder occurred on a Correctional Officer in Facility “A” Housing Unit A2.  The Correctional Officer received numerous stab wounds and in addition other staff received injuries as a result of this incident.  Facility “A” staff identified five (5) Hispanic inmates who were involved in the Attempted Murder of staff.  Effective Thursday, July 11, 2002, Calipatria State Prison was placed on Lockdown Status pending further investigation into the Attempted Murder of a Correctional Officer.  There will be no inmate movement excluding Minimum Facility.  An unclothed body search will be conducted on all inmates prior to exiting their cells.  All out of cell movement for all races will be handcuffed and escorted.  No Visiting for all inmates, showers will commence every 72 hours for Facility A and C.  Note Facility B African-American and White inmates will continue their current Modified Shower Program, Hispanic/Others will commence shower program effective Sunday, July 14, 2002.  Facility D will continue their current Modified Shower Program.  Facilities A, B, C & D MTA’s will conduct rounds in the housing units.  Effective Friday, July 12, 2002 all Facilities A, B, C & D will commence searches of Program Services, Chapel, Education, Vocation, Gym, Culinary, Housing Units, and Yard #1 and #2, concluding with all common areas.  All Facilities will conduct classification in the housing units.  Administrative staff will review this Lockdown Status Report on Tuesday, July 16, 2002.”  Signed S. Garcia, Warden

“Effective July 18, 2002, a list of critical workers for culinary, program and clothing room was approved.  Additionally, normal visiting for Whites, Blacks and Others will résumé.  (No Hispanic Visits.)  All out of cell movement for all races will be handcuffed and escorted.  No Visiting for all Hispanics, showers will continue every 72 hours by Third Watch staff for Facility C.  Facilities A, B, C & D MTA’s will conduct rounds in the housing units.  Effective Thursday, July 18, 2002 on Facility “C” a search team was assembled and staff began a thorough and systematic search of Facility “C.”  No classification will be conducted.  Administrative staff will review this Lockdown Status Report on Tuesday, July 23, 2002.”  Signed S. Garcia, Warden

“On July 11, 2002, an Attempted Murder on a Peace Officer occurred on Facility A.  Facility C searches were completed Sunday, July 21, 2002.  Information gathered by the Investigative Services Unit and by Facility C and D staff has not shown any connection between these facilities and the Facility A incident.  Facility C and D Managers are recommending that effective Tuesday, July 23, 2002, Facility C and D return to normal program status (Feeding and Workers) will résumé in the morning.  Yard will be released at 1300 hours barring no incidents in accordance with established procedures.”  Signed S. Garcia, Warden

“On Saturday, July 28, 2002 at approximately 1128 hours, an unprovoked battery on staff occurred in Facility B, Housing unit B2, by an African-American Inmate.  Upon review of the circumstances surrounding this case, it appears that this assault was pre-planned.

Effective Sunday, July 28, 2002, cell feeding will commence for all inmates.  All inmate movement shall be escorted in restraints with an unclothed body search conducted prior to exiting the cell.  Critical workers are authorized, with the above listed restrictions.

Administrative Staff review of the Modified Programming status will be conducted on Monday, July 29, 2002.”

“On Sunday, July 28, 2002, a Battery on Staff with Serious Injury occurred on Facility B.  Information gathered by the Investigative Services Unit (ISU) and by Facility C and D staff has not shown any connection between these facilities and the Facility B incident.  Facility C and D Managers are recommending that effective Tuesday, July 30, 2002, Facility C and D return to normal program status (Feeding and Workers) will resume in the morning.  Yard will be released at 1300 hours barring no incidents in accordance with established procedures.”  Signed S. Garcia, Warden.

“On Monday, July 29, 2002, at approximately 1705 hours, a Battery on a Peace Officer occurred in Housing Unit C-4 by an unknown assailant.  This incident is under investigation and due to this on-going investigation, Facility C is being placed on modified program status.  Interviews by Facility C staff are being conducted.  Showers will commence on Wednesday, July 31, 2002 per the 72-hour rotation.  All inmate movement will be escorted and in handcuffs.  Administrative staff review of the modified program status will be conducted on Tuesday, August 6, 2002.”  Signed S. Garcia, Warden.

Dear Cayenne:

The lock-down at Lancaster continues. Interesting that the authorities now seem to be saying that only the D Yard is really under lock-down. The others don't have any program and are in their cells all day, now get this, because they need extra personnel to control D Yard. They even had the 200 level I down for a week and they are outside the Level IV perimeter.

In the last week all the Yards were ransacked. Cells were torn up, wooden clothes hooks snapped off the walls (they are sold in the canteen and the indigent make their own out of popsicle sticks). TVs, typewriters, CD players have been damaged to the glee of the COs. Personal items have been taken. The Title
15 requirement to have the inmate witness searches was
ignored and the men were handcuffed behind their backs and required to sit outside in the sun for hours while the search was conducted. One man suffered a dislocated shoulder. This is what occurred on the "Honor Yard". To top it off the inmates are being handcuffed to walk over on the visiting days.

Its pretty obvious some elements in the prison authority want revenge for the fight on D Yard a few weeks ago. Two other things might be considered also. One is the Davis has decreed there will be no problems in the prisons that would reflect badly on his re-election bid. The other is the deliberate provoking of the inmates, especially on an honor yard to promote the agenda of the COs. More staff, more overtime, pay raises. It is interesting that there is a new warden
some where in this mix too. 

Bob

Dear Cayenne:

In order to avoid the violation of Title 15 rules, CDC has found they can declare an "emergency" and that allows them to ignore the requirement to give the inmates any time outside their cell during the lock-down (even Pelican Bay SHU inmates get an hour a day for exercise). Rhe requirement to be present was not followed and COs went through the cell search with inmates in handcuffs outside in the yard. They were there so long that one inmate had a dislocated shoulder.

Equipment was removed, damaged as was personal items like clothing, books, and even legal documents were included in the scourge. The search party is made up of COs from other yards so that the inmates cannot identify who is directly responsible and the assigned personnel can claim innocence (and ignorance?). 

Concerning the law eliminating all visits. Do I not have my civil rights violated if the state tries to tell me that I cannot visit my husband, father, wife, mother, son, brother, daughter, sister? I committed no crime. How can I be excluded? I think the fight has been fought from the side of the inmate up until now. I think it has to be fought from the side of the citizen outside. The court, lawmakers , and the public can easily side against the inmate, as they have done consistently, but it is a much greater burden to deny a mother the right to see her child.

Bob

Dear Cayenne:

During the most recent lockdown at Lancaster of about 6 weeks one inmate who had a history of serious bladder infections was not permitted out of his cell for treatment. Kevin Woosley, CDC number D63298 from A yard is now reported to be in a coma due to lack of treatment.

Bob

Dear Editor,

In the article about the ban of pornography in the prisons Russ Heimriech offers alternative suggestions for these men to deal with stress other than using pornagraphy.  I quote "  "There are other ways to relieve stress--diet and exercise, cold showers, for example."

Well diet is a bit hard for them to have much of a say in since they are fed by the prison on what can be had for a bit less than $3.00 a day.  Exercise, well yes they can exercise in their cells somewhat as space is limited and they are locked down much of the time.  Outside exercise is not readily available and weights also were banned quite some time ago.  That seems to put a kink in the exercise idea for relieving stress.  Then there is the proverbial cold shower.  Well wouldn't you just know it.  The staff controls the showers as well and especially during lockdowns they are lucky to get a shower every three days.  Looks like that puts the damper on Mr. Heimreich's suggestions doesn't it.

Linda C

[email protected]

Dear Mr. Walsh:
>>
>>Your article quotes Mr. Bach, "However, Bach said Tuesday that the 
>>project "is not experimentation, it's not torture. Right now, there is no 
>>data showing this program will be harmful to mentally ill inmates." That 
>>is a bold faced lie. Back in the 19th century a prison in Philadelphia 
>>and in the 20th century a prison in California showed the insanity rate 
>>for solitary confinement to be in excess of 30%. In both cases (and I 
>>believe Alcatraz was one) the units were shut down. As recently as last 
>>year the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles visited the SHU at Pelican 
>>Bay. Some inmates were found to be afraid of coming out of their cells to 
>>speak to the visitors after years of solitary confinement. These 
>>prisoners were not put into the SHU  for mental problems originally. Who 
>>in government is going to take responsibility for these people when they 
>>are released? Or as a result of these "non-experiments" can they be 
>>released safely?
>>
>>It is typical of government agencies to "study" and "re-study" issues all 
>>at taxpayers' expense. It would be nice if they would read the results 
>>and try to understand them especially when it involves an endangered 
>>species like human beings and not meaningless items concerning size and 
>>placement of advertising billboards.
>>
>>The Nazis ran experiments on humans and I'm sure Dr. Mengele's notes 
>>should be available from the Nuremberg trials. Just contact the 
>>International War Crimes Organization. Surely they'll provide a copy. 
>>Think of the money we will save.
>>
>>Please notice that Mr. Bach insists they are not conducting any tests 
>>then says there is no data,  proposes to develop it through placing 
>>mentally ill inmates in these cells. Isn't that an experiment? This 
>>doublespeak started with "government investment" as opposed to 
>>"government spending" and now covers any lie they wish to perpertrate.
 

Bob D

Regarding lockdowns, I don't have the exact dates for lockdown for C Yard at Lancaster.  they just got off lockdown on April 10th I think, they were on Lockdown for at least a month because D Yard suppossibly had a cell phone.  Last July when a cell phone was found on B yard, the whole institution was on Lockdown for at least 2 months so the cops could go search every yard.   My husband said that in the past year that we have been at Lancaster he had been on lockdown 90% of the time. 

Michelle 
 

Lancaster Yesterday I was in "A" Yard and one of the inmates who works in the Program Office said he saw his CO Supervisor's payroll check which he had left on his desk. It read under "Year to Date" $44,000. It is only mid-May. There has been a notice on the bulletin board for months stating that funds for the visiting rooms; toys, games, books, playing cards have been eliminated due to "budget constraints", of course donations would be accepted. The budget for CSP-LAC is nearing $100,000,000. I'm sure the few hundred bucks will pay for a few minutes of overtime the COs need. Bob 

Lancaster is on lockdown 90% of the time according to UNION families who do not know one another. High Desert, Pelican Bay have been locked down the majority of the time for 2.5 years. The cell phone incident took place when the son of a good friend, Shari Holland, whom I met in Detention Ministry, was using a video camera to record some of the conditions inside.  he got a camera smuggled in and somewhere there is a tape. It seems the FBI is also involved, but no one knows what is going on.  The cell phones were supposedly found during the lock-down and search. The rumor was that several staff were involved in supplying the contraband. The shut-down had the whole institution down. She also has a web site telling the story.  Bob 

Dear Cayenne: The guards love lockdown because it reduces risk, they can get paid lots of money and chase the women guards all day long. Cell searches provide plenty of overtime.  I agree that the guards provoke lockdowns.  We just saw two CO's get convicted for setting up violence on purpose against inmates in Pelican Bay. When inmates go on lockdown, at first it provides "action." 
They are all cop wannabes and it breaks up the boredom for them to do cell searches, shake down inmates, be tough and in control. What you said that was printed in the Times sums it all up. 
"An attitude of punishment rather than healing permeates 
every layer of CDC" And they're the ones with a gun. 

Michael R. 

Nobody cares. Except the UNION. We do need about 200 lawsuits filed over this terrible chaos and it is vitally important that we build our group up for this reason. We know it's horrible, we're the only ones who care, so we're the ones that must organize and file lawsuits.  We just need thousands more to help us. I can see by the way you lead this campaign after it was dead that you are a high caliber person with great wisdom and a beautiful, compassionate but FIGHTING spirit. The best person for this job is a woman - it's you Cayenne. I would follow you anywhere.  Time and time again over the years your call has been correct. This is all sensible. People should cut the bottoms off the newsletter and send it in to the inmates so they can learn how necessary their families are for us to be able to do a good job on their behalf.  Thank you Ms. Cayenne.  I will be working as hard as I  possibly can until you say stop.  If that's never, it's fine with me.  Count on me. Michael W. 

Dear Cayenne
Looks like the lockdown at lancaster will continue, yesterday morning on B Yard another C.O. got attacked, what exactly happened to her I'm not sure, I know she is in the hospital..  No visiting for B Yard Sat & Sun, thats all I know right know...  This isn't going to end in the near future, until these cops realize that they can't keep treating inmates the way they
have been it will continue...

Michael W.

I walked into Mule Creek Prison in Ione on Friday and this
announcement was shamelessly posted at the door and several places in the visiting room.

"Southern Hispanic inmates and Northern Hispanic inmates
on C yard will have no visits until further notice"

It was dated August 18 as I recall which means families have been separated now for nearly two months and two men are living in  a room the size of a bathroom "for safety's sake."

This makes me nauseous..

My question is this:

Why are Northerners and Southerners housed on the same
yard?

And what are the families of these inmates doing about this danger to their loved ones and isolation from the world?  What are we, the UNION doing about making some serious noise over this outrage and others at prisons statewide?

What pressure is being placed upon those who so casually and callously impose such great inhumanity upon other human beings?

Here's the facts of life for those who are unaware of which gangs are friendly toward one another in prison. If inmates don't join a gang, they will be tortured or killed so let's begin by recognizing there are four major gangs.

Northern California Hispanics (Nortenos) ally with most all Blacks

Southern California Hispanics (Soutenos) all only with Whites

When Northern Hispanics and Southern Hispanuices are put on the same yard, all four races fight.  (Blacks side with Northern Hispanics, Whites side with Southern Hispanics)

Whites and Blacks can peacefully co-exist on the same yard the majority of the time

Blacks and Northern Hispanics can mostly peacefully co-exist on the same yard

Whites and Southern Hispanics can peacefully exist on the same yard

Whites, Blacks and Northern Mexicans cannot live in peace together because the  Northern Hispanics and Blacks will gang up on the whites.

Whites, Blacks and Southern Hispanics cannot peacefully coexist on the same yard because whites and Southern Hispanics will gang up on the blacks.

And, of course, Northern and Southern Hispanics should never be placed together on the same yard and preferably not even at the same prison.

Misbehavior by any of the 18,000 mentally ill inmates should not be a reason to lockdown an entire prisons for months and years at a time.  They cannot control their behavior and should be in hospitals since intimidation and punishment makes the mentally ill much sicker.

We need to show our numbers on lockdown, medical neglect, psychological intimidation and starving prisoners before the election. 

CDC officials know this combination I've detailed for you here.  I believe they won't make these separations because they love riots, they love pitting inmates against one another for "excitement" - They love justifying their existence tto the voters.

The claim that Pelican Bay contains the "worst of the worst" is simply hogwash.

We need to show some teeth right now.  Stand by for a call to picket and to this picket plan to bring at least ten people so that we can produce a crowd to prove we are indeed a large voting group with the power to change any law, recall any tin god politician....

Mail this inside to inmates so they can see our position.  And for heaven's sake, the inmates shouldn't be playing into the hands of these sadistic monsters by fighting with one another and worrying their families sick.

The UNION is made up of red, yellow, black, white people and all combinations in between. We're so busy organizing and fighting back through the power of the vote, educating ourselves to the way the system is supposed to work and the way it actually works that the last thing in the world we're going to do is to divide ourselves by fighting over something ridiculous such as race or gang affiliation.

Mature, educated people with plenty to do don't participate in physical violence but use the mightiest weapons of all:  their pens and the power to vote. 

Don't agonize, put your energy toward organizing if you want to see the change. Take it as a personal responsibility and do your share.  Or sit and suffer.

Let's raise our pens and picket signs in battle now.

B. Cayenne Bird

Dear Cayenne:
The "Honor Yard" at Lancaster was locked down Wednesday and will remain so for at least two weeks. The reason is that apparently new transfers were placed directly into the yard in spite of the fact that to get onto this yard the inmate was to meet certain criteria. One was to be in the prison for one year. Another to have a good record. Another was older prisoners 
only. Neither of these was adhered to and suddenly there is a weapon discovery in the yard water fountain. I wonder how the CO knew just where to look?

CCPOA doesn't want "Honor Yards" it cuts the overtime down.

Bob

 http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/story/2232704p-2301253c.html

Reporter was 'duped'

With all due respect to Warden Art Calderon and a reporter, the recent article on Tehachapi prison is an insult to your readers' intelligence and the profession of journalism. I suppose the child-like description of "where we keep the bad guys locked up" is aimed to make locals feel comfortable about having 5,500 inmates caged up beside an elementary school. 

The truth is that journalists are all but banned from our 33 state prisons. To get past the warden's public relations office, you have to apply weeks ahead to be on a specific prisoner's visiting list and then you can't take a pencil, paper or camera with you. 

So how do you find out about the overcrowding, the substandard medical care, the $2.36 per day food, the gangs and drugs, the constant lockdowns, the overuse of solitary confinement, the untreated mental cases, prison rape, the growing geriatric population, the blanket denial by Gov. Gray Davis of parole to long-serving, qualified lifers, the battered women who weren't allowed to mention their abuse at their
trials, the shutdown over the past 10 years of almost all educational programs? Instead you write pabulum fed to you by that nice warden of that nice prison in that nice town.

DEBORAH D. JIMENEZ, Santa Rosa 

Cayenne,

On Friday visiting was cut off at 2 pm at Lancaster because of supposed "riot" at another prison and the officers were being sent there, this is what visitors and inmates were being told. Yet I have heard nothing about this anywhere else... 

Hear anything??

Michelle

Dear Michelle:

GREAT!  Now they're cutting visits because of riots at another prison. Soon there will be no visits. Lancaster is a long way from Pelican Bay, this is the third riot in two weeks, and I warned everyone repeatedly about the coming bloodbath.

Until today, most of the legislature has been out on a holiday.  We the people must simple refuse to take this callousness and irresponsibility from the officials we elect..