California is under federal court order to reduce its large prison population by almost thirty percent within the next two years. The court found the overcrowded prisons inflict cruel and unusual punishment on inmates. Don Spector is director of the Prison Law Office, the advocacy group that argued the case against the state of California. He explains what prompted his group to file a lawsuit.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111726472&ft=1&f=10...
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Thu, 09/24/2009 - 06:42
Coming up, from print to television to, yes, radio, media companies are struggling as the industry sheds jobs and scrambles to create a blueprint of its future. We explore how the tough media landscape is affecting journalists of color. But first, to California, where we take a look at the state's troubled prisons. Today, the California Institution for Men in Chino remains on lockdown after a weekend riot reportedly injured 250 inmates. The riot is the latest blow to a system plagued by underfunding and overcrowding. 646-204 Last week, a federal court ordered the State of California to reduce the number of people in state prison by 27 percent over the next two years. The court ruled that prison overcrowding has led to such a dangerous situation for inmates that it constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. The (unintelligible) on a 184-page decision said that this was a case in which, quote, "the rights of California's prisoners have been repeatedly ignored, 640-822 where the political process has utterly failed to protect the constitutional rights of a minority, the courts can and must vindicate those rights."
Recently, I spoke with Attorney Don Spector. He is the director of the Prison Law Office. That's an advocacy group that argued the case against California. And he explained what prompted his group to file the lawsuit. Mr. DON SPECTOR (Director, Prison Law Office): Well, this case began with complaints from prisoners who were not receiving anywhere near the level of care to which any human being should have. 1Y0-A05 Their prisons were filled with prisoners needing medical and mental health care. And there weren't anywhere near the number of psychiatrists or medical doctors to take care of them.
Fri, 03/05/2010 - 00:28
Hi! I hope this finds you well. I'm sorry that I have not written sooner in response to your message included with the last issue of DRJ, but I've been so busy with other things that I've just not had time. One of the main things was access to postage while on look-down and for Level II and III prisoners otherwise. Some of this has been temporarily and partially resolved, but much more remains. By example, I was placed on Level II August 8th, 2000 and denied all access to correspondence materials and hygiene (through commissary) for over 50 days. 70-646 The mail room refused to issue postage, claiming it would be provided by the commissary, while the commissary was claiming it was the responsibility of the mail room via indigent.