The Do-It-Yourself (DIY) trend is all the rage these days and apparently has been for some time. Nowhere is it more evident than in prison where inmates with so little are capable of making so much and hiding it well. German photographer Marc Steinmetz has photographed some clever creations by desperate German prisoners over the last century. Many of these cobbled together pieces were camouflaged to look like a relatively harmless object – escape ladders appear as chess sets, grappling hooks as deceptive candelabras.
FROM THE NEWS BLOG:
In a flurry of legislation-signing yesterday, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger put a lot of new bills into law, including one to release 20,000 to 25,000 inmates from California prisons. It's estimated that this will save the state about $270 million though it's still less than the 40,000 that a panel of federal judges ordered the state to release.
California's prisons are famously over-crowded, creating all sorts of institutional problems as well as budgetary problems. Earlier this week (before the legislation was signed) lawyers representing California inmates called for the Governor to be held in contempt of court for not complying with the judges' orders and that the system cannot provide adequate mental health and medical care. Vanguard's Laura Ling reported from one of them: Corcoran State Prison. (video in the comments below)
Releasing prisoners will take some of the strain off the state, and supporters of the plan say that ever-stricter stances on crime (such as California's "Three Strikes Law") have unnecessarily put many thousands behind bars. But some are unsurprisingly nervous about a new influx of ex-cons on California's streets.
What do you think? Can California stand to release some of the pressure on its prisons system? What else could they do?FROM THE NEWS BLOG:
In a flurry of legislation-signing yesterday, California Governor... more
Just a rant I wrote at work one day- I welcome all comments =)
I'm just struggling to survive in this down economy and this is my feelings right now.Just a rant I wrote at work one day- I welcome all comments =)
I'm just struggling... more
Corporations are running many Americans prisons, but will they put profits before prisoners? A grim new statistic:Corporations are running many Americans prisons, but will they put profits before... more
Jamie and Gladys Scott are blood sisters and have been wrongfully convicted of armed robbery. The sisters received double life terms each. No one was murdered or injured during this robbery. One witness testified that the robbery netted about $11. On the other hand, a victim said that around $200 bucks was in his wallet. Witnesses and the two alleged victims testified that the sisters had absolutely nothing to do with this robbery. Witnesses also testified that the sheriff coerced and threatened them to lie on the Scott Sisters. The sisters have been in prison since October of 1994.Jamie and Gladys Scott are blood sisters and have been wrongfully convicted of armed... more
AT PRECISELY 7 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 11, 2006, 17 federal prisoners across the country were taken out of their cells, held in isolation for two days, then bused to the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Terre Haute, Indiana. Here the government quietly began implementing the first stages of a secret new program, the Communications Management Unit (CMU). A completely self-contained unit housing almost exclusively Arab and/or Muslim inmates, it eventually will hold approximately 85 prisoners.
Special new rules set out in a “CMU Institutional Supplement” dated Nov. 30, 2006 include severe restrictions on prisoner communication. Contact with family and friends is limited; outgoing and incoming mail is monitored and copied, with a one- to two- week delivery delay; and no contact visits are allowed. Instead of 300 minutes of phone time a month, prisoners may receive only one 15-minute call a week, which the warden has the power to reduce to just three minutes a month. Unlike the usual weekly or biweekly all-day contact visits, visits in the CMU are for two hours, just twice a month, and are restricted to non-contact only. Calls and visits must be conducted in English unless prior arrangement is made.
According to Jennifer Van Bergen, the journalist who broke the CMU story, there are only three government offices—all within the Justice Department—that have authority to issue changes to federal prison operations: the Office of the Director of the Prisons Bureau, the Office of Legal Counsel, and the Office of the U.S. Attorney General. Van Bergen was unable to get confirmation of where the authorization originated. The Bureau of Prisons Web site () does not list CMU among its facility abbreviations, and a search of the site for “CMU” or “Communications Management Unit” yields no result.
CLICK FOR FULL ARTICLE....AT PRECISELY 7 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 11, 2006, 17 federal prisoners across the country... more
The exact cause of the 11-hour riot that broke out Aug. 8 at the California Institution for Men in Chino, Calif., won't be known until an official investigation by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) is completed. However, to some criminal-justice experts the violence that erupted at the facility, located about 40 miles east of Los Angeles, was an inevitable consequence of a state prison system long hobbled by massive overcrowding, program cuts and understaffed facilities. And given the state's ongoing budget woes — with $1.2 billion in cuts mandated to the prison budget — the situation is likely to only get worse.
The exact cause of the 11-hour riot that broke out Aug. 8 at the California Institution for Men in Chino, Calif., won't be known until an official investigation by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) is completed. However, to some criminal-justice experts the violence that erupted at the facility, located about 40 miles east of Los Angeles, was an inevitable consequence of a state prison system long hobbled by massive overcrowding, program cuts and understaffed facilities. And given the state's ongoing budget woes — with $1.2 billion in cuts mandated to the prison budget — the situation is likely to only get worse.
"You can't build yourself out of this mess," says Jeanne Woodford, former warden at San Quentin and former head of the CDCR. "The state can't afford it." Apparently, California only accounted for the construction costs and never included the operating expenses. "So even if those places are built," says Woodford, "where will California get the money to staff them? We're broke. How the heck are we going to operate these prisons? Most prisons cost from $150 to $200 million a year to operate. There's just no money for it."
In addition to overcrowding, the state's corrections efforts are the nation's most expensive — and one of the least effective. The state spends $10 billion annually, or $49,000 per inmate for a year in custody, according to statistics from the nonpartisan policy-advising group Legislative Analyst's Office. Yet, California's recidivism rate is 70%, one of the worst in the country.
Given the state's lack of traction on prison reform, a federal three-judge panel recently ordered California to come up with a plan in the next 45 days that reduces the inmate population by nearly 43,000 prisoners. Seth Unger, press secretary for the CDCR, says they will appeal any final ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. "Congress passed the Prison Litigation Reform Act to limit the power of the federal courts to take control of state prison systems and to order population caps or early release of inmates and we certainly believe the court has overstepped its bounds in this case," says Unger.
He says his department recently introduced a proposal, yet to be deliberated on by legislators, that would reduce the average daily prison population by 27,300. Of course, politicians, particularly state Republicans, are loath to endorse any measure that smacks of releasing prisoners early or that could be viewed as being soft on crime — which has been a roadblock to reforming the system in the past. Prison-reform advocates are hoping the ruling by the federal court will inspire political will for their cause.
Even if California avoids federal intervention and the CDCR's current proposal is adopted, mandated state budget cuts will force the department to cut half of the already depleted programs for rehabilitation, substance abuse and vocational training. That would spell disaster, according to Woodford. "We release 10,000 [prisoners] a month now and in that 10,000 very few have been involved in anything to improve who they are as human beings. That should scare us. And in that 10,000 are some very violent people that left a lockup unit like Pelican Bay [to go] right back to the streets — that should scare us."
Click link to continue...The exact cause of the 11-hour riot that broke out Aug. 8 at the California... more
The Ella Baker Center along with other community workers in the Oakland area have come up with five key points to fix our budget in California. They know that the old way of doing things in California is not working so they are working on providing real Solutions. The fact is that if you are poor or are a member of certain ethnic groups the chance of you going to jail is very likely. We have seen an influx in our prison population without rehabilitation. Creating huge profits for a few but with destruction to most of our communities. Real reform is needed and at least they are providing some Solutions to our problem. We have to move away from fear and work together to provide real solutions.
Solution #1: Replace the Death Penalty with Permanent Imprisonment
Converting death sentences to permanent imprisonment will ensure that we keep our communities safe without wasting critical resources. Experience has shown that permanent imprisonment works -- at a fraction of the cost. Five Year Savings: $1 billion
Solution #2: Close Division of Juvenile Justice Youth Prisons
California taxpayers currently pay $380 million each year to keep 1,624 young people locked up in youth prisons. Instead, youth should be sent to local facilities where they have access to effective treatment programs for the entire family. Five Year Savings: $1 billion
Solution #3: Keep the Response to Petty Drug Possession Local
We currently house 24,000 people in state prison for drug possession, at a cost of $1 billion a year. Instead, we should shift our response to non-violent drug crimes to the local level and provide effective drug treatment. Five Year Savings: $5 billion
Solution #4: Fix the Three Strikes Law
If we reform the Three Strikes Law to require that the most recent felony be a violent offense -- like every other state in the country -- we would save $1 billion that we now waste housing people in prison as a result of non-violent offenses. Five Year Savings: $5 billion
As our lawmakers return from their summer recess, the time is now to demand smart solutions to California's budget crisis. I hope to see you on Tuesday. If you live in the Bay Area and need a ride to Sacramento from the Ella Baker Center office in Oakland, please contact Books Not Bars organizer Joyce Cook.
Justice for families,
Zachary Norris
Ella Baker Center for Human RightsThe Ella Baker Center along with other community workers in the Oakland area have come... more
How about that all you anti-tax activist. Get ready for the wild ride you will be having with all these bad guys being released.How about that all you anti-tax activist. Get ready for the wild ride you will be... more
Too many street vendors in Venice, 400. The new Northern League president of the Province Francesca Zaccariotto decided to send 48 officers of provincial police and the government also will send 90 army soldiers. Only the first step, says the president, for "a public awareness campaign" to make it clear that "the purchase of a simple object can support situations of illegality".Too many street vendors in Venice, 400. The new Northern League president of the... more
Did you know that lobbyists and representatives for the private prison industry actually involved in making the laws and sentencing guidelines?
Also,
"Corporations are running many Americans prisons, but will they put profits before prisoners?
A grim new statistic: One in every hundred Americans is now locked behind bars. As the prison population grows faster than the government can build prisons, private companies see an opportunity for profit.
This week, NOW on PBS investigates the government's trend to outsource prisons and prisoners to the private sector. Critics accuse private prisons of standing in the way of sentencing reform and sacrificing public safety to maximize profits. " http://www.pbs.org/now/Did you know that lobbyists and representatives for the private prison industry... more
A proposed plan to solve California’s budget crisis would reduce the state’s prison population by 27,000, it was reported Tuesday, as opposition to the new fiscal deal mounted.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the budget deal, announced by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and bipartisan lawmakers on Monday, would involve the early release of thousands of inmates.
The Times said the reduction would be achieved through a combination of measures including allowing prisoners to finish their sentences on home detention and creating incentives for completion of drug rehabilitation plans.
The prison inmate proposal would help save the state 1.2 billion dollars in the coming fiscal year, the report noted.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca meanwhile condemned the proposed state budget, telling the Times that cuts to local government would force authorities across the state to shut down jails or cut back on street patrol officers.
“I think it is one thing to have a natural disaster… but it is another thing to have local cities and counties hit by a disaster predicated on the irresponsible actions of the state legislators,” Baca told the Times.A proposed plan to solve California’s budget crisis would reduce the state’s... more
To quote Leonard Cohen, “Everybody knows” – and according to media reports, everybody knows Michael Jackson abused prescription medications – legal medications that most likely brought about his death. Was Michael a troubled soul? It appears so. Were laws bent or broken in providing his access to these drugs? Possibly. Recent news reports suggest..To quote Leonard Cohen, “Everybody knows” – and according to media reports,... more
Michigan officials say three prisons will close this year, along with five minimum-security prison camps, to save more than $118 million.
More than 1,000 corrections employees will be affected. Department of Corrections officials said Friday they'll try to move as many employees as possible into vacant positions at other prisons.
The prison population peaked at 51,454 in 2006. But since then, the number of inmates has fallen to under 48,000. The number of criminals entering prison dropped 9 percent in 2008, according to state figures.
Prisons in Muskegon, Standish and Kincheloe will close between Aug. 1 and Nov. 30. The prison camps to close are in Shingleton, Painesdale, Iron River, Grayling and White Lake.
The eight locations cost $118 million to run.Michigan officials say three prisons will close this year, along with five... more
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration agreed late Thursday to release dozens of photographs depicting alleged abuses at U.S. prisons in Iraq and Afghanistan during the Bush years.
The decision will make public for the first time photos obtained in military investigations at facilities other than the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. Forty four pictures that the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was seeking in a court case, plus a "substantial number" of other images, will be released by May 28.
The photos, examined by Air Force and Army criminal investigators, are apparently not as shocking as those taken at Abu Ghraib, which became a symbol of U.S. mistakes in Iraq. But Pentagon officials nevertheless are concerned that the release could incite another backlash in the Middle East.
Some of the photos show military personnel intimidating or threatening detainees by pointing weapons at them, according to officials who have seen them. Military officers have been court-martialed for threatening detainees at gunpoint.
"This will constitute visual proof that, unlike the Bush administration's claim, the abuse was not confined to Abu Ghraib and was not aberrational," said Amrit Singh, a lawyer for the ACLU, which obtained the agreement as part of a long-running legal battle for documents related to Bush-era anti-terrorism policies.WASHINGTON — The Obama administration agreed late Thursday to release dozens of... more
New York - For the first time in a quarter century, the number of African-Americans incarcerated for drug offenses in state prisons has declined more than 20 percent while the number of white imprisoned drug offenders has increased more than 40 percent. The decline took place over a six year period from 1999 to 2005 and reflects fundamental changes..New York - For the first time in a quarter century, the number of African-Americans... more
