NCJ Number
69521
Date Published
1979
Length
146 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT EXAMINES AND DISCUSSES PHYSICAL CONDITIONS AND PROGRAMS IN CALIFORNIA PRISONS AND FINDS THAT THE DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS WHICH EXISTED IN 1975 STILL REMAIN. SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REFORMS ARE MADE.
Abstract
THE ANALYSIS OF THE CALIFORNIA PRISON SYSTEM WAS GUIDED BY THREE PRINCIPLES. FIRST, THE STATE HAS AN OBLIGATION IN THE INTEREST OF BOTH PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE INMATES TO DESIGN A PRISON SYSTEM THAT IS HUMANE AND THAT CAN BE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE POSTITIVE RESULTS DURING AND AFTER INCARCERATION. SECOND, A HUMANE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT IS REQUIRED--AN INHUMANE ENVIRONMENT CAN NEVER BE JUSTIFIED. THREE, REHABILITATION IN THE PRISON SYSTEM REQUIRES A POLICY THAT IS REASONABLY CALCULATED TO MOTIVATE INMATES TO CONFORM TO PRISON REGULATIONS AND, UPON RELEASE, TO BE LAW-ABIDING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. THE REPORT DISCUSSES CONDITIONS AT SAN QUENTIN STATE PRISON, THE SOLEDAD CORRECTIONAL TRAINING FACILITY, FOLSOM, AND OTHER FACILITIES, AS WELL AS PRISON INDUSTRIES, PRISON COUNSEL, ATTITUDES OF CORRECTIONAL PERSONNEL, AND THE CHOICES AVAILABLE. SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THREE 400-BED FACILITIES AND OTHER, SMALLER FACILITIES; ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES IN THE NEW BUILDINGS; THE TYPE OF PRISON INDUSTRIES TO BE ENCOURAGED; AND THE COMPENSATION FOR INMATES' LABOR. THE REPORT EMPHASIZES THAT PRISON CONDITIONS ARE CRITICALLY IN NEED OF REFORM AND IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENT, AND THAT SOME FACILITIES, SUCH AS FOLSOM AND SAN QUENTIN, SHOULD BE TORN DOWN RATHER THAN BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE AS FACTORIES OF CRIME. FOOTNOTES AND APPENDED MATERIAL NOTING THE TERRIBLE CONDITIONS ARE PROVIDED.