Inmates, California officials warn prisons crowded

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

IONE, California (Reuters) - Convicted murderer Greg Rollo knows the brutality of life behind bars after 31 years in a prison. But he says life has grown much worse since he was moved to a triple-bunk bed in an open gym with 199 others.

California inmates, officials and courts are all sounding warnings that prison overcrowding poses a growing danger and is undermining California's stated objective of rehabilitating inmates after they have served their time.

"The majority of these guys are getting out; they are going to be in your neighborhood," said Rollo, 54, who admits to committing "a terrible crime" but believes overcrowding will only make inmates more hostile. "Do you want less crime or do you want retribution against criminals?"

Jake Serna, 48, another inmate, interjected, "Isn't it a crime for them to house us like a bunch of animals?"

As the most populous U.S. state, California has a particularly pressing problem and its response is being closely watched.

A report by Pew Charitable Trusts on Wednesday estimated the United States faces costs of up to $27.5 billion to handle its growing prison population over the next five years.

At California's Mule Creek State Prison, where Rollo is incarcerated, an inmate is raped every few months and many others are assaulted, according to both guards and prisoners.

Prisoners often bemoan their fate. What is unusual in California is that complaints about overcrowding are coming from both sides of the prison bars.

"We have 172,000 prisoners in facilities designed to hold about 100,000," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said last month.

"Our prison system is a powder keg. It poses a danger to the prisoners, a danger to officers, and a danger to the well-being of the public if ... we are forced to release prisoners because of overcrowding."

Residents of Ione say that excess waste water going into the prison treatment system has even polluted local wells.

PANTS FOR A FAT MAN?

Mule Creek prison, about 110 miles northeast of San Francisco, has 15 housing units surrounded by an octagonal electrified fence and a capacity of 3,000 prisoners. It holds 3,942 inmates.

"This is not conducive to good mental health and rehabilitation," said Glenn Hanes, 35, one of the inmates housed on a triple bunk bed.

"A system that has over a 70 percent recidivism rate is a failure," said Hanes, an intense, well-spoken man who is serving a 15-year-to-life sentence for second-degree murder. "Building new prisons is like getting a fat man new pants."

Republican Schwarzenegger wants to add tens of thousands of prison beds and ship some inmates out of California. And state officials are studying ways to reduce the prison population after years of tough sentencing, including a "three strikes" policy for repeat offenders.

"I'm in prison for the rest of my life for the possession of 11 grams of marijuana," said Dennis Howie, 53, a heavily tattooed prisoner with three prior robbery convictions.

At Mule Creek, 800 men sleep on the triple bunks in public areas and share toilets. Some consider themselves lucky to be locked in narrow cells with just another inmate and toilet.

Daniel Carpenter, 48, convicted of molesting a minor, complained he has been assaulted even in his double cell. In the brutal pecking order of prison life, child molesters are seen as the lowest of the low.

"If not for the overcrowding, I'd be in a single cell," he said during a visit to the prison library. "This is cruel and inhuman."

California already spends an average of $90 per day to house inmates, so more money for prisons is controversial. Many voters are skeptical about improving the lot of criminals.

Among the prisoners at Mule Creek is Charles "Tex" Watson, Charles Manson's top lieutenant, serving a life sentence for murder. He sat quietly in the yard.

Another is Lyle Menendez, who with his brother, killed his wealthy Beverly Hills parents.

"We know you guys out there see us as monsters," said convicted murderer Lance Wright, 43. "I know its difficult for society to open their arms."

Warden Rich Subia argues that overcrowding keeps him from providing better rehabilitation training, which he believes will ultimately benefit society far beyond the prison walls.

"I'm not providing them with effective programs," he said. "Do you want them back more productive or do you want them worse than when you sent them to me?"

link

someone call them a

[Peikko 1,575]

Not all criminals are convicted of heinous crimes. Yes, they are there for a reason, but your attitude is petty and ridiculous. Releasing the less dangerous criminals back into society without rehabilitation is an awesome idea, right?

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

Not all criminals are convicted of heinous crimes. Yes, they are there for a reason, but your attitude is petty and ridiculous. Releasing the less dangerous criminals back into society without rehabilitation is an awesome idea, right?

no one said that they were all convicted of heinous crimes. and my attitude is piss on them. live with it.

[Peikko 1,575]

Hahaha, another constructive argument from Charlie boy, excellent!

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

Hahaha, another constructive argument from Charlie boy, excellent!

following more personal attacks by you

[Peikko 1,575]

Attack? Very funny, hahahaha.

[eric&gen 0]

Can you imagine all the bars of soap being dropped everyday and the prisoner picking up the soap next to the other prisoner during shower time lol..

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

Attack? Very funny, hahahaha.

"...your attitude is petty and ridiculous."

do you even remember what you type?

[Peikko 1,575]

Oh, that's an attack? No, that's someone pointing out that wanting to 'piss on' jailed criminals because of the real problems that are caused by overcrowding is inappropriate hence I say your attitude is petty and ridiculous.

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

Oh, that's an attack? No, that's someone pointing out that wanting to 'piss on' jailed criminals because of the real problems that are caused by overcrowding is inappropriate hence I say your attitude is petty and ridiculous.

yes, that's an attack. if you're seeking sympathy for them, you won't find it here. go annoy someone else with your personal attacks as i'll report them.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Not all criminals are convicted of heinous crimes. Yes, they are there for a reason, but your attitude is petty and ridiculous. Releasing the less dangerous criminals back into society without rehabilitation is an awesome idea, right?

no one said that they were all convicted of heinous crimes. and my attitude is piss on them. live with it.

Not everyone that is wrong is illegal and not everything that is right is legal. My standards of morals don't depend solely on our legal system.

[Peikko 1,575]

Report me for finding your attitude ridiculous? I am not sure what your complaint is going to be, but sure, if you don't like it then off you go.

[Scott & Lai 12]

The elephant in the room is illegal aliens. 25% of California's prison population are illegals.

[Peikko 1,575]

So that makes it ok to let the prison system fall apart? It's rather short sighted to revel in the unpleasant conditions that these prisoners are facing when there are bigger problems like letting prisoners out early and without proper rehabilitation. There is a bigger picture and if prison officers (according to the article cited) are worried about the situation then it is probably safe to say it's something that ought to be taken seriously.

[Scott & Lai 12]

So that makes it ok to let the prison system fall apart? It's rather short sighted to revel in the unpleasant conditions that these prisoners are facing when there are bigger problems like letting prisoners out early and without proper rehabilitation. There is a bigger picture and if prison officers (according to the article cited) are worried about the situation then it is probably safe to say it's something that ought to be taken seriously.

Uh...I didn't say that made it ok to let the system fall apart. I'm simply saying that the presence of a large number of criminal aliens is a major factor in prison overcrowding.