NCJ Number
47935
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
ROUTINE ACTIVITIES IN THE ADJUSTMENT CENTER AND B SECTION ('THE HOLE') OF THE PRISON FACILITY AT SAN QUENTIN, CALIFORNIA, ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
DURING CONFINEMENT A PRISONER CONSTANTLY FACES THE POTENTIAL OF GETTING INTO TROUBLE WITH THE STAFF OR WITH FELLOW PRISONERS. TROUBLESOME PRISONERS AT SAN QUENTIN MAY BE SUBJECTED TO THE ROUTINE OF THE ADJUSTMENT CENTER (AC) OR B SECTION, WHICH IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS 'THE HOLE.' THE AC IS A PRISON WITHIN A PRISON; A PRISONER WILL BE KEPT IN AC FOR AT LEAST THE MAJOR PORTION OF A YEAR, IF NOT FOR SEVERAL YEARS. UPON ENTRY INTO THE AC, A PRISONER IS USUALLY PUT IN ISOLATION. ALTHOUGH LEGALLY A PRISONER CANNOT BE KEPT IN ISOLATION FOR MORE THAN 29 DAYS, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS THE STAFF CAN CIRCUMVENT THIS LIMITATION IF THEY HAVE STRONG, NEGATIVE FEELINGS AGAINST THE PRISONER. THE MOST EXTREME FORM OF ISOLATION IS THE QUIET CELL WHERE A PRISONER FINDS HIMSELF IN A STRIPPED CELL, WITH JUST A MATTRESS ON A CEMENT BLOCK AND A METAL TOILET AND SINK. HE IS ALLOWED NO PERSONAL PROPERTY AND THE LIGHTS MAY BE KEPT OFF AT INTERVALS OR COMPLETELY AT THE DISCRETION OF THE STAFF. FOR REGULAR ISOLATION, PRISONERS ARE NOT KEPT IN QUIET CELLS. HOWEVER, THE PRISONERS ARE STILL LOCKED UP 24 HOURS A DAY, WITH NO PERSONAL PROPERTY AND WITH NO SMOKING PERMITTED. AFTER A PRISONER SERVES HIS ISOLATION TIME, HE IS PUT INTO GRADE 3 SEGREGATION WHERE HE IS KEPT IN HIS CELL FOR 23 1/2 HOURS A DAY AND IS ALLOWED A HALF HOUR OF EXERCISE EACH DAY IN FRONT OF HIS CELL. HE EATS IN HIS CELL AND MOST OF HIS PERSONAL PROPERTY IS KEPT FROM HIM. NEXT, HE GRADUATES TO GRADE 2 SEGREGATION WHERE HE IS ALLOWED TO HAVE HIS WALLET, COMB, TOOTHBRUSH, AND TOOTHPASTE. HE MAY ALSO USE THE AC EXERCISE YARD FOR AN HOUR A DAY. AT GRADE 1 SEGREGATION, HE IS ALLOWED INTO THE YARD FOR AN HOUR IN THE MORNING AND AN HOUR IN THE AFTERNOON. HE IS GIVEN THE FREEDOM OF HOLDING AN AC JOB, SUCH AS PUSHING CARTS AND CLEANING UP, AND HE IS ALLOWED NEARLY A FULL DRAW EACH MONTH FROM THE CANTEEN. B SECTION STANDS IN THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF SOUTH BLOCK. IT IS USED FOR SHORT-TERM PUNISHMENT OF PRISONERS, FOR HOLDING A MAN FOR SHORT-TERM INVESTIGATION, OR FOR HOLDING A MAN UNDER PROTECTIVE CUSTODY. THE SIX QUIET CELLS ON THE GROUND TIER IN B SECTION ARE STRIP CELLS SIMILAR TO THOSE IN AC. HOWEVER, THESE HAVE NO CEMENT BLOCK -- THE MATTRESS IS JUST PUT ON THE FLOOR. THERE ARE METAL SINKS AND TOILETS IN MOST OF THE CELLS, ALTHOUGH THE GUARDS FLUSH THE TOILETS FROM THE OUTSIDE ONLY ONCE A DAY. A PARTICULARLY TROUBLESOME PRISONER MAY FIND HIMSELF STARK NAKED IN A DARK CELL WHERE EVEN THE METAL TOILET AND SINK ARE REMOVED. THE ROUTINE OF SEGREGATION IN B SECTION CORRESPONDS WITH THE THREE GRADES DESCRIBED FOR AC. A SPECIAL GROUP OF PRISONERS ARE THOSE HELD IN B SECTION UNDER PROTECTIVE CUSTODY. THESE MEN ARE NOT BEING HELD FOR BREAKING RULES; THEY ARE BEING HELD FOR THEIR OWN PROTECTION, TO KEEP THEM AWAY FROM POTENTIALLY INJURIOUS SITUATIONS THAT MAY PREVAIL ELSEWHERE IN THE FACILITY SUCH AS OWING MONEY TO OTHER INMATES. (KBL)