08/10/2013
To Whom It May Concern,
Prisoners across California, on hunger strike for a full month, say they “seek what any human being strives for—humane treatment, dignity, equality, and justice for our families, loved ones, and ourselves. These are the fundamental rights of all people, including those incarcerated by the state.”
It is because of this statement that this cause is so important to me. Secretary Beard claims this hunger strike is a gang power play and claims that people who haven’t been allowed to touch another person in decades are not in solitary confinement. The truth is being in these SHU's for long periods of time is detrimental to the health of anyone; mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically and psychologically. These prisoners are in extreme isolation, with little to no contact with others. These SHU's are described as 8 x 10 foot windowless concrete cells with fluorescent lights that inmates spend typically 22 to 24 hours a day. That free hour or so is when they are allowed to go to shower or to exercise which takes place in a "cement yard" which extends to about the length of three cells. That is, if yard time isn't cancelled which it seems to be 3-4 times a month at Corcoran in which the inmates will stay locked up for 4,5,6,7 days at at time-that's 24 hours a day for up to 7 days. Even then a guard in a central control booth controls the doors; he just presses a button, no contact required. These inmates do not get to make calls home and are only allowed non-contact visitations with family and friends (3 visitors max) that usually last no longer than one or two hours through a glass partition. Per CDCR visiting guidelines...
It is because of this statement that this cause is so important to me. Secretary Beard claims this hunger strike is a gang power play and claims that people who haven’t been allowed to touch another person in decades are not in solitary confinement. The truth is being in these SHU's for long periods of time is detrimental to the health of anyone; mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically and psychologically. These prisoners are in extreme isolation, with little to no contact with others. These SHU's are described as 8 x 10 foot windowless concrete cells with fluorescent lights that inmates spend typically 22 to 24 hours a day. That free hour or so is when they are allowed to go to shower or to exercise which takes place in a "cement yard" which extends to about the length of three cells. That is, if yard time isn't cancelled which it seems to be 3-4 times a month at Corcoran in which the inmates will stay locked up for 4,5,6,7 days at at time-that's 24 hours a day for up to 7 days. Even then a guard in a central control booth controls the doors; he just presses a button, no contact required. These inmates do not get to make calls home and are only allowed non-contact visitations with family and friends (3 visitors max) that usually last no longer than one or two hours through a glass partition. Per CDCR visiting guidelines...
"The prisoner is escorted in handcuffs by staff to the visit. The handcuffs are removed only after the prisoner is secured in his/her side of the visiting booth; thus, parents who do not wish to have children see the prisoner in restraints should wait away from the booth or glass partition until the prisoner is settled."
How is this not torture? It is sensory deprivation to the max! psychologists have argued that mentally healthy inmates are pushed to the edge by long stays in isolated cells. This treatment can only be described as cruel and unusual punishment. I believe in discipline but that is not what is happening here. I mean how exactly is this type of treatment rehabilitative or constructive at all? How does CDCR, The State or anyone for that matter see this as effective treatment for people who will one day come back out into society? Do they even care? It's seems they don't. It seems the goal here is to dehumanize these men, to humiliate and break them down and unfortunately in the process they are breaking down families. They are breaking down relationships and to be quite honest they are breaking down all of society. It is unjust and inhumane. Martin Luther King Jr. said that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," and I for one believe that, it's true! Where does it stop? How far will we as a society go? The truth of the matter is that injustice can happen anywhere, but I guess until it happens to you Governor Brown, Secretary Beard, Warden Connie Gipson, Warden Greg Lewis and the rest of you that are in authority, it's really nothing that you are too worried about huh?
I have heard it said that all we need for evil to triumph is to do nothing, come on Governor, Secretary & CDCR!!! It's time to get a conscience and stop doing nothing or worse yet, doing the wrong thing. Yes, these inmates (who happen to still be human) have committed crimes and they're paying the consequences of those crimes but to inflict pain like this is not what you are here for! I've read the mission statements on a lot of the CDCR prison websites and well, here, let me remind you of what one of these mission statements states...
I have heard it said that all we need for evil to triumph is to do nothing, come on Governor, Secretary & CDCR!!! It's time to get a conscience and stop doing nothing or worse yet, doing the wrong thing. Yes, these inmates (who happen to still be human) have committed crimes and they're paying the consequences of those crimes but to inflict pain like this is not what you are here for! I've read the mission statements on a lot of the CDCR prison websites and well, here, let me remind you of what one of these mission statements states...
"California State Prison, Corcoran - Mission Statement
The California State Prison (CSP), Corcoran is committed to ensuring and instilling the public and inmates' families with the confidence that CSP-Corcoran is committed to providing the best medical, mental health, education, vocational and self help programs for all inmates confined to Corcoran.
CSP-Corcoran not only meets this commitment by providing it's employees with the proper training, tools and safe working environment, but also by encouraging ideas and collaboration between all departments."
Hmmm, none of that conveyed that we as family and friends should be worried about the state sanctioned torture that is happening and coincidentally that we are also paying for! It actually looks like what you are trying to convey is that you are there to house them, yes, but also to rehabilitate these men. Am I reading that wrong?
I honestly can't believe in a civilized society that we would be ok with this type of treatment for anyone. I can't understand how the educated people that are in authority don't see the repercussions of this type of dehumanization and torture. This is a crime against humanity. Look it up! Oh, wait, here you go, I looked it up for you...
"Crimes against humanity, as defined by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal CourtExplanatory Memorandum, "are particularly odious offenses in that they constitute a serious attack on human dignity or grave humiliation or a degradation of human beings." They are not isolated or sporadic events, but are part either of a government policy (although the perpetrators need not identify themselves with this policy) or of a wide practice of atrocities tolerated or condoned by a government or a de facto authority. Murder; extermination; torture; rape; political, racial, or religious persecution and other inhumane acts reach the threshold of crimes against humanity only if they are part of a widespread or systematic practice. Isolated inhumane acts of this nature may constitute grave infringements of human rights, or depending on the circumstances, war crimes, but may fall short of falling into the category of crimes under discussion."
It is types of governments that operate like this in which the "Crimes against humanity" was even instituted! Look what happened in the holocaust, Adolf Hitler effectively and systematically dehumanized and tortured and then put to death 5.5 million people. Why you ask? Because they didn't fit into his perfect civilized society, because they were less than human to him. Not only did he single out a whole ethnicity but he also singled out the handicapped (both physically and mentally), the uneducated, alcoholics and yes criminals. It started out small like anything but he convinced a whole country that these people were less than nothing and should be treated as such. As we look back, we all say "how could this have happened?" Well, simple, I'll say it again, "Evil triumphs when good people do nothing". I'm not saying this is the exact same thing, but what I am asking is have we learned nothing from history? Are we really the civilized society that we claim to be? Gandhi was once asked what he thought of western civilization and his response was "I think it would be a very good idea". Well, me too!
CDCR please take the time to really train your staff to be qualified to do these "validation" reviews and seriously change the way these men are deemed validated in the first place. I mean, Really? Artwork? An address? A Birthday card? Another inmate debriefing? A book? Are you kidding me? These are the items that can get our friends and loved ones validated and send to an isolated hell, errr... I mean cell? So what this tells me is that It's not always behavior related issues that gets a person thrown into the SHU like CDCR would like us, the public to believe. It's saddening and disheartening that these are the policies that are currently in place. I get that they have committed crimes but they are still people. People who have made mistakes, sometimes costly mistakes. Some of these inmates are truly repentant and just wish to do their time and then come back out with a chance of being productive and truly contributing to their society.
Some of these men came into prison still as children, thrown away and put into a very dark place where they are racially separated not only by other inmates but staff as well. Yet, many of these men have still managed to educate themselves and still be positive and hopeful towards the future. We aren't asking that you let these prisoners out of prison but we are asking for you to be compassionate and open and understanding to the detrimental effects on these prisoners well being that are placed in the SHU. I do believe that some prisoners are truly hellbent on their own agendas to further their prison careers but not everyone. Please take the time to figure out who the true trouble makers are and give our loved ones a chance at a better life! A chance at rehabilitation. A chance to hold their moms, wives and children. A chance at cultivating positive relationships. A chance at a better life, better than the one they started out with. Is this not a reasonable request?
It is not our job to condemn inmates to such cruel punishments. They have been convicted, sentenced and are paying the consequences of their actions. Leave the rest to God! Take effective measures when necessary but please do it with a clear conscience, the truth and without biased. Remember, not only is it detrimental to the prisoners health but also to societies health as a high percentage will come back out into society and be expected to be productive. Please remember, there are countless children that have to live without their fathers already and by keeping them isolated from them like this is only causing more harm to them and may contribute to them making the same mistakes in life. It seems history is doomed to repeat itself, generation after generation if something different is not done.
Albert Einstein said "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results". I agree, and I will bet a lot of others would also. Do something different. Be different. Be compassionate. Where is the humanity? the decency in man? The conscience of a good man? I pray everyday that change will come for the better. I pray for the inmates, the families and yes, I pray also for the staff of CDCR and all who are in authority. I pray for wisdom, knowledge and guidance! I pray for peace of mind and for peace period! May the good Lord be with all of you and may you all hear him say "Well done good and faithful servant" come judgement day.
Affectionately yours,
Darlene Fernandez,
Proud supporter of the hunger strikers
For more information on the hunger strike, the core demands and updates please click here prisoner hunger strike solidarity
"An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind" -Gandhi
"Almost everything you do will seem insignificant, but it is important that you do it" -Gandhi
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