Comments on: Corcoran SHU prisoners join Pelican Bay hunger strike

By: ponch

ponch — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:42:36 +0000

let them die they reach our communities and have people killed.

By: Napoleon Hill

Napoleon Hill — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:07:58 +0000

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By: tyrina

tyrina — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 04:34:14 +0000

greetings to CORCORAN to all who have posted comments: my husband is in the SHU IN CORCORAN its a shame when the law is corrupt and get away with things that they should be representing. mistakes happen in life that we regret and sometimes the punishment is harsh HOWEVER treating a shu inmate any less than a real person is unacceptable ……………………………………….and i will love him forever rather in or out of prison. god bless all and please find forgiveness in your heart allow God to take care of judgement

love tyrina

By: tyrina

tyrina — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 04:16:10 +0000

hello there. im in agreement with you these so called people are extremely ugly in their thinking and yes they must have family in law enforcement ………………or something who has the right to judge anyone as nasty as their attitudes thanks tyrina

By: tyrina

tyrina — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 04:03:34 +0000

i am responding to your words, which are only words. it is not our right to judge anyone, it does not mean that they should be treated in an ugly way ………….who says that if given another chance in life that they DO NOT deserve this treatment. things happen in life and it is what it is…………….inmate advocate mrs silva ins

By: concerned

concerned — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 05:51:10 +0000

OH please , when you dont know , ask questions. my brother is not in prison gang he is in prison for shoplifting at kmart to support his drug habbit wich he started in prison. he is in corcoran SHU because another prisoner falsified information on him , how can the cdcr take the word of a fellow inmate trying to save his own ass. Tru if you do the crime than do the time . How can we trust the system when the system itself is not trustworthy.

By: Thinkaboutit

Thinkaboutit — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 08:35:26 +0000

Okay, they are choosing to go on a hunger strike. These are grown men. They have that right. As for the conditions: If being in a cell with meals brought to your door, free television, the best medical money can buy, the best psychological help money can buy, social interaction with at least 6 other people you are housed with, if that is what we call torture now, then most of the world is being MORE than tortured. Probably 50% of the world live in worse conditions than these prisoners, and most people in America cannot have surgery for a $5 copay. Most people in America do not have the luxury of having a psychologist standing by to be able to talk to. Most people do not have guards standing by to protect them (even if it is from themselves). If homeless people knew how good it is in the prison system they would commit a crime just to get there. There is little to compare..what I just mentioned to sleeping in the rain and digging through dumpsters. Most people in the world would say, "If this is torture, sign me up!"
I am sure this is how torture is used to be…. let's see shall we grow bamboo up their foot, subject them to electrical current, smash various body parts with a hammer?.. no no,, I KNOW WHAT WILL MAKE HIM TALK!! PUT HIM IN A CELL WITH NO WINDOW!! SERIOUSLY? Words like torture, gulags, inhumane and barbaric are extremely inappropriate and flat out misleading in regards to our prison system. Should we give them 2500 SQ. Ft. cells with a hot tub and bowflex in them? How about professionally catered meals by world famous chefs? Final note.. how can you have a cell mate in "solitary confinement"? SHU is NOT solitary confinement. Solitary confinement does not exist in the California prison system.. This whole thing is blown completely out of proportion for the simple reason that people are believing what these inmates tell them. The bottom line is they are manipulating gullible people into trying to get more than what they have. It is just a big game. Most of these individuals are eating the whole time and claiming to be on a hunger strike. Simply feeding misinformation to the media via family members etc. If you want a good cause to get behind how about orphans and widows?

By: Annette

Annette — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:53:24 +0000

I happen to be the only child that hasn't been to jail or prison. I know first hand the manipulation and lived with it my whole life. I do know what I"m talking about. I don't have to be pro law enforcement to be anti inmate.

Not stupid, informed.

By: Gary

Gary — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 19:58:21 +0000

Your post sounds like you've been there. I've knew a man who spent half of his life (he died out of prison) Locked up , I have been locked up in county jail for the longest 3 months of my life. We both had addictions that lead to breaking a law, He could deal with it, me, I couldn't. I did realize a lot of the men there were comfortable being there it was like they were on vacation and getting ready to go back to work once they got out. Going back on vacation was expected not even thinking about staying out after being released. The Billion dollar question is how can society ease the $$ spent on populating the system with non violent offenders? I think instead of locking them up create a workforce. America would get cheap labor and if I know behavior low end offenders would be more effected by enforced real work than kicking it locked up. Unrealistic idea probably but if we can put a man on the moon why can't we solve the crime problem?

By: Gary

Gary — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 19:19:56 +0000

it is so unsettling to know there are people in prison that are innocent on the other hand it is so comforting to know that most of people with a PIN that they got with their first offense are locked up. Like Richard Prior said after visiting a prison," thank God they're in prison"." Luther why did you kill everyone in the house? The RE "Because they were home". Ask yourself if the victims and there was a victim of the prisoners ,were they given any compassion? How can you give trust when none is earned? Respect is a given, but even by a convicts code trust is earned and even then it's sketchy. If they want to get out make them prove it. Stop all the bs. Life can be brutal and if you live by the sword,guess what? Karma is real and there is hope for everyone just don't turn your back to any of the men at Pelican Bay.

By: Thinkaboutit

Thinkaboutit — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 04:19:37 +0000

I noticed something. All of these claims are from prisoners. Prisoners said this, prisoners said that. So we are to take their word for it? If they said the guards were pulling them out of their cells every hour and beating them for being on a hunger strike would this be taken as gospel? I have yet to see an article from a non- prisoner who has seen the prison conditions for themselves. These individuals are not in prison for being honest, kind, gentle, moral, etc. If being in a cell with meals brought to your door, free television, the best medical money can buy, the best psychological help money can buy, social interaction with at least 6 other people you are housed with, if that is what we call torture now, then most of the world is being MORE than tortured. Our military does not eat as well as these prisoners. If homeless people on the street knew how well they would be taken care of in prison they would commit a crime just to get there. Should I live on the street going through dumpsters or should I go to prison with a roof over my head, and meals brought to me? Probably 50% of the world live in worse conditions than these prisoners, and most people in America cannot have surgery for a $5 copay. Most people in America do not have the luxury of having a psychologist standing by to be able to talk to. Most people do not have guards standing by to protect them (even if it is from themselves). Inside prison you do not hear the cries of ones being "tortured" you hear laughter and lively banter in the pods. You hear cheering as their sports team score on the television. You hear conversations of life on the streets etc. Most people in the world would say, "If this is torture, sign me up!"

By: Chumlee

Chumlee — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 01:04:09 +0000

NCOE, with all due respect the bottom line to all the requests you have posted are in fact all there for the inmates. They had there chance at all that on the general population yards. All the requests you have posted are all on the mainline (especially #5). Like I said earlier, you work your way in you work your way out. And yes, more and more are eating their 3 meals a day.

By: Annette

Annette — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:30:04 +0000

The angry talk is necessary. We;re tired of paying over and over agian for their housing, education, and medical expenses.

As far as gang activity, unless you work with the prisoner and the institution, you have no idea of the level of criminal gang activity! Inmates in gangs shouldn't be allowed to walk away without debriefing. They shouldn't be able to manipulate and control the process. They knew the consequences when they joined and have played "chicken" with the rest of us for years.

Take off the rose colored glases we have less than 10% of the population going hungry. And if youy knew the whole story, would you be surprised to know they're eating?

By: Samara

Samara — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 20:03:56 +0000

I agree with what you have said in your piece. I think all the angry talk from some of the others posted here is totally immature and unnecessary. It`s non-progressive verbal wind.

By: Jim Morrison

Jim Morrison — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 22:57:03 +0000

These inmate's manipulate you libs. These inmates are receiving up to $130 dollars a month canteen the only thing are doing without is state food what a joke. They have there mattresses stuffed with hoe hoes and twinkles all the while you libs cry about their stupid asses. I'll tell you what when they parole meet them at the gate feed them shelter them and welcome them in your home and let them play with your children and then you will know crime first hand and chant for the death penalty.

By: Maria

Maria — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 03:20:03 +0000

My bad I meant support the hunger strike!

By: Maria

Maria — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 03:03:06 +0000

“he who is free of sin then throw the first rock.” that’s what I thought!!! No one is perfect and just because you fucked up in life doesn’t mean you should be treated worst than dogs on the dog pound.Everyone has the right to demand human treatment.Don’t judge cause you might be walking on their shoes some day.It doesn’t take research to know that cruel and unusual punishments are unconstitutional!!!Support the riot!!!

By: rick

rick — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 19:29:39 +0000

I agree. I have relative there and they deserve to be there. They are in prison for committing crimes. And when they can't behave in general population..well, there's the SHU. Who cries for their victims? Who pays for them being there? They don't. If you ask me, the system has become weak. Three square meals and a place to sleep. That's all they should get.

By: NCOE

NCOE — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 06:31:13 +0000

I am a detention chaplain. For many years I have worked with high level gang members both inside facilities and outside on the streets. As a civilized country, we should be standing up against ANYONE being subjected to SHUs. Solitary confinement has been condemned by the United Nations and the U.S. Office of the Inspector General. Research, again and again, has shown than SHUs are ineffective, expensive, and cause people to go mad. What is is gained? Not safer streets or institutions. Not more money for education and other social needs. Not productive, rehabilitated citizens.

Prisoners have committed crimes, but are any of you reading this only the sum of your transgressions? We've all done things we're ashamed of but those acts don't define the whole of us, do they? It is the same with prisoners. Those of us who know them well, see THEM…the wrongs they've done and we don't condone them, but we also see people, not so different than ourselves.

Originally, SHUs were constructed to house "the worst of the worst," however, this is not the current situation.Today, in too many cases, prisoners are accused of being members of gangs using false or circumstantial evidence. Validations can also be handed out for gang tattoos received prior to incarceration and for having magazine articles about George Jackson in their cells. Men who have been accused of gang membership but have DONE NOTHING can be sent to longterm isolation (SHU). They can escape the SHU only if they ‘debrief,’ that is, provide information on gang activity. Debriefing produces false information (wrongly sending other prisoners to the SHU, in an endless cycle) and can endanger the lives of debriefing prisoners and their families.

The requests of the prisoners on the hunger strike seem reasonable to me:
1. Hold us personally accountable. Don't punish us as part of a group if we didn't do anything.
2. Abolish the debriefing policy and modify what is considered active/inactive gang activity.
3. Comply with the recommendations of the US Commission on Safety and Abuse in Prisons regarding an end to longterm solitary confinement. (3,259 men are now in California's SHUs. 800 more are waiting for a cell.) Some prisoners have been kept in isolation for 30 years.
4. Provide food in accordance to prison regulations.
5. Provide constructive, self-help programs, education, religious instruction and other productive activities. Provide sweatshirts and watch caps when it's cold. Allow one telephone call a week.

By: Donna

Donna — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:50:09 +0000

To Laura and Annette-neither one of you know what you are talking about or you are relatives of law enforcement. Annette-your comment to let them starve, what does that say about you? Your both stupid!