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Little Hoover Commission toby.ewing@lhc.ca.gov Dear Commissioner: We all know that if you break the laws, you go to prison. However, not everyone in or prisons are violent, hardened criminals. Inmates come from every walk of life. Even you or I could find ourselves in prison should the circumstances or chain of events be just righ Our prisons have become deliberatly overcrowded (a source for unrest),plagued with contagious diseases (no attempt at prevention), inmates are suffering and dying because they're deliberatly being denied medicines and proper medical care (a Civil Rights Violation), many inmates are physically and mentally abused by correction officers (numerous newspaper stories and personal stories by the abused inmates and the brave correctional officers who have come forward to speak about these abuses) the list is endless. All of these issues demand immediate attention and correction by the Little Hoover Commission, the Prison Reform Committee and direct intervention by Governor Schwarzenegger!!! California's prisons have become nothing short of "Hell Holes", manned by overpowering abusive correctional officers and corrupt administrators backed by a union who buys off our State Officials (oop's, I forgot, it's called a "contribution") and has "ABSOLUTE AND COMPLETE CONTROL" over everyone and everything within this penal system!!! The California Correctional Peace Officers Association is not a "UNION", it's nothing more than a gangster mafia!! It's manned by people who have no true respect for our laws (they feel immune and above our laws) because they're vigilantes who make up their own rules. Something's very wrong with California's penal system when District Attorney's are "AFRAID" to prosecute any correctional officer even though this officer is guilty of a "horrendous law breaking action"! They would rather let this individual escape the punishment of our laws rather than face the threatening (could be hazardous to their health and that of their family) retalliation by the CCPOA!! The tactic's used by the California Peace Officers Association to remain in control of the penal system is nothing short of the exact same thing mafia's and street gangs use. Why not let this UNION run California's State Government out in the open. They've certainly managed to do it under the guise of "contributions"!! The CCPOA has bought their way up the California governmental ladder. Our highest State officials for years have "TURNED A BLIND EYE" to the corrupt, abusive ways of the CCPOA. How shameful, of our elected officials!! They take a sacred oath to "uphold the laws of the land", yet they've allowed themselves to be "bought off" by this UNION and refuse to see this organization for what it really is, A MASSIVE GROUP OF SADISTIC THUGS"!!!! Most people have been taught to respect our laws and those who enforce them. But how can anyone with a conscience and moral values have any sense of respect for a group who "deliberately" abuses the people under their watch because they know our officials will let them get away with it. I'm sure there's many "good" law enforcement people out there. But it seems that soon, they too become part of this mafia gang. They dare not speak out of the abuses or they will become "one of the hunted" on this UNION gang's "hit list"!! If you think this is not a true statement, then just ask or read about those BRAVE officers who have come forward to report the "wrong doings" of fellow workers. They live in fear of their lives and that of their family. The California Correctional Peace Officers Association has created a band of sadistic officers who take pleasure in the abusement of the inmates. These officers "brag" on the fact that "nothing will ever happen to them because of the UNION intervention". This too is a true fact. Perhaps your committee, the Prison Reform Committee and the govenor should "check out" the internet. You will find hundreds of stories about inmate abuse, retalliation against whistleblowers and you can even read about the comments of these correctional officers in some of their websites they've created. Try this website for starters: ccpoa.blogspot.com (pacovillas ccpoablog) You just might learn something about the "real" co's. If something's not done to change California's prison system from brutal to more compassionate soon, you may have a huge bloodbath on your hands. It's common knowledge that the majority of people will eventually "fight back" against the abuser. How do you think our Country got it's beginnings? It certainly wasn't from just sitting back and letting the British continue to abuse and control our forefather's lives. The citizens of California are also part of the blame for allowing our prison system to become "death camps". We all need to do our part to change California's prison system to one that's humane and actually "rehabilitates" the inmate through educational programs not by abuse and neglect. This corrupt, broken prison system needs immediate reform!! Kim A.
Dear Editor These are a few comments after reviewing the Little Hoover Commission Report and the Governor’s CDC reform plan: 1)A Civilian Commission would strengthen the system because it would add accountability. Those opposing it like Secretary Hickman, and Donald Spector, do not think a civilian group is capable of understanding complex issues. A “professional group” created the system that demands change, and civilians have been the group requiring that change. Accountability is key to the development and success of reform. 2)”Overcrowding is the single biggest reason for the problems in the correctional system.” Assessments should be made immediately to release low risk inmates. Assessments should be made immediately to release parolees violated on parole technicalities, not crimes. Appropriate programs for drug offenders should be agreed upon before release. Parolees should be allowed to parole to an area that would offer the best success of finishing parole in a stable environment. It should not be mandatory for a parolee to return to his/her home area. 3)Mental health is an extremely serious concern in prison and should be given utmost attention. Prisons do not cure mental health problems or drug addictions. Proper care, placement, and treatment is crucial to successful reform. 4)Modern technology should include cameras that are always on, incapable of being turned off, and observed from an outside group. A prison employee or official should never be allowed to take a prisoner any where a camera is not in place. To take an inmate “off camera” should result in immediate termination of employment. Large companies use such systems to deter theft, such a system could save lives, and provide opportunities for implementing change where needed. 5) Continued health care. Inmates should have adequate continued health care upon release. Some illnesses or injuries occurred in prison, some life threatening, and an inmate may need additional care until he/she is able to establish themselves. Sincerely Cheryl Knutsen
On page 14 and 15 of the Little Hoover Commission's report, the civilian oversight is eliminated. This is a serious mistake and puts too much responsibility on a former warden (part of the present system for many years) who could die tomorrow with a heart attack. Two areas of our focus should be that CDC and all connected to it are incapable of policing themselves and that even in life and death emergencies, the families of prisoners and advocates have no place to go for help, often resulting in law suits that were completely preventable. You have a ton of writing and studying to do to make the media aware
that cutting out the Civilian Oversight gutted the plan to the point where
it cannot work.
B. Cayenne Bird
No Independent Oversight The Independent Review Panel recommended that a reorganized correctional department be led by a Civilian Corrections Commission, which would function as the department’s board of directors. The commission, the panel said, would bring public scrutiny and a public voice to the correctional system, making it more transparent to the public. In testimony to the California Performance Review Commission, former Governor Deukmejian and the panel’s executive director said that the agency does not have the capacity to “correct” itself and that without independent oversight, meaningful reform will not occur. The executive director reiterated this position to the Little Hoover Commission. Secretary Hickman has said that the Administration does not believe the civilian commission is necessary, that the responsibility rests with the secretary. He said that concerns about public scrutiny are addressed by the Little Hoover Commission, Bureau of State Audits and Legislature. 9 The Little Hoover Commission, in its reports on the correctional system, has advocated for an oversight mechanism that includes civilian and expert representation and has suggested the Board of Corrections perform that function. The Commission believes that it is in the public interest and the interest of the new department to have outside, independent and expert advice and oversight. REFORMING THE YOUTH AND ADULT CORRECTIONAL AGENCY
Dear Editor: I am writing in regards to the Governor's plans for Prison Reform and have several comments to make on it. The Department should not be make up by one person to head the CDC. This places too much work on one person. The Department should be made up on CDC members, the public and media personal. This will help alot more in the long run, rather depending on just a single person, who in fact was a former prison warden. Mentally ill inmates need to be set away from the main prison population and be treated by competent medical doctors, who know how to manage the mental ill person. Prison guards have no knowledge on the care for these inmates. Medical care for prisoners need to be given to inmates, not taken away. They receive very little care now. Over crowding of prisons is a difficult thing to stop, but those who are imprisoned for minor crimes should be released and placed in other areas of care. The men who are on their death beds should not be kept in prison, they should be released to families or places where they could be cared for and not by tax payers money. Rehabilitation of all prisoners, with the possible exception of those who are sentenced to life without possible parole, must be provided education so when they are released, they can become productive tax paying citizens. Accountability of all CDC members must be made for any wrong doing towards inmates, other members, or families of inmates. If they abuse or cause injury to inmates for any reason, they should be removed from their jobs and after investigations, be fined or punished as any other citizen would be. The media personal should have access to all inmates without having a guard standing next to them. And if anything is published that came from this media/inmate visit, the inmate must not be punished for speaking their minds. Wardens to prisons should not be randomly picked for their posts, but rather their credentials should be make public and then the public can say if a person is worthy of the job or not. Thank You for taking time to read my concerns. Susan Lutinski
Dear Editor, I've read Governor's Schwarzenegger's Reorganization Plan to reform the CDC and while it is a long over due step in the right direction it lacks the accountability that a "Civilians Commission" could provide as previously stated by Governor George Deukmajian as a necessary element to provide "teeth". The previous governor was so adamant regarding the need for a Civilians
Commission, he stated that any attempt to reform the CDC would fail
without it.
Women's needs were hardly addressed. The Reorganization Plan should include a Director of Women's program, as recommended by the Little Hoovers Commission. Cheryl Knutsen
Proposed Reform Plan I recently read an article that states that after reviewing the Governor's plan to reorganize the Youth and Adult Correctional Agency, The Little Hoover Commission has concluded that the plan would enable significant improvements regarding the performance of correctional programs and enhance public safety. I personally read this proposed plan myself and as a taxpayer, I completely disagree with them and here is why, There is to little consideration regarding the most fundamental and necessary programs needed to reform and rehabilitate prisoners, male and female alike. There is little or no focus on lowering recidivism rates and it is amazing to me that the Little Hoover Commission would even consider implementing this band-aid style attempt of reform that would not even consider adopting or creating a plan similar to that of the State of Missouri that has proven an extremely low recidivism rate of only 10%. The recidivism rate in the State of California has been as high as 88.4%. (see available statistics. http://www.corr.ca.gov/OffenderInfoServices/Reports/Annual/PVRET2/PVR ET2d2003.pdf When over half of the prison population returns back into custody it
should be a prime concern!
Statistics have proven that the majority of the inmates in California prisons suffer from mental illness yet the amount of authority the medical care providers have within the prison walls is almost nil. The mentally ill inmates should be in hospitals and not kept in prison cages. Rehabilitation is all about healing. The proposed reform will be cutting necessary programs at the expense of the under educated, drug addicted and mentally ill inmate and let's not forget about the general public, their safety, and what will be the ultimate cost to the tax payer that is funding this proposal to begin with? At the same time much attention is going towards creating a Risk Management Program designed to protect the state from lawsuits stemming from the inmate abuse that occurs daily. I agree that there should be cameras inside the prison walls that cannot be turned off and that the only way to solve the abuse is to end it. Fire those correctional officers that are doing the abuses and hold them legally accountable for their wrong doing. Put them behind bars. The refusal to allow for a Civilian Corrections Commission has created a great distrust of this proposed plan and the scrutiny will continue. There will still be no measurable amount of accountability. The proposed program does not embrace the idea that the Civilian taxpaying communities concerns and considerations are credible when they should in fact invite such a proposed opportunity. To much authority and responsibility lies in the hands of the proposed Secretary position. The proposed plan has it's positive points yet at the same time it lacks in to many areas. It is no doubt that the prison system needs to be reformed but grabbing to quickly at a program that is lacking such as this one will not guarantee the positive changes that are needed. Allowing this plan to be implemented in California without making further considerations and revisions will be a huge costly mistake for the taxpayers.
It's a flimsy excuse to eliminate the Civilian Commission because doctors, teachers, nurses, social workers and other citizens wouldn't understand the "technical" difficulties of CDC. These are the people on the front line and know more about what is needed than those currently in charge in my estimation! How degrading to the citizenry to be told "You're all too stupid to understand how we must operate, so we don't want your involvement." How much intelligence does it take to know the difference between right and wrong? This is about political power people and if we want to see true reform we must not accept the premise that civilians are too stupid for the job! How outrageously degrading. But this is how the gods of law enforcement think and operate. I have been taunted many times with statements that the families of prisoners are "too stupid to ever organize" any sort of serious voting group. Those are the assumptions upon which all this oppression is based. That there will be no opposition to it. This is where you and your pen and picket sign, and your vote come into play. It's time to stop being the football and be the kicker. Keep on writing until we're heard on this civilian oversight commission and the need to get the mentally ill out of the prisons and into more healing environments. B. Cayenne Bird Hickman did try to get the Inspector General's position eliminated.
Even though they are useless in real emergencies, we still need an independent
agency to be set up. Of course, putting former law enforcement in the Office
of the Inspector General's office isn't going to bring about real investigations.
But the thing you need to ask yourself is WHY Hickman wanted no Independent
Oversight of the CDC? It is a key element that the civilian's commission
not be eliminated. And only those legislators not financed by CCP0A should
be allowed to make appointments to it. CCPOA has no problems raising money
and putting people into office to represent their interests. And that's
exactly what they've done and why the votes on the bills are aways predictable.
We out-number everyone as voters
Letter to Editor, Letter to The Little Hoover Commission. Dear Sirs, and Editors. I'm writing in regards to a portion of our Governors plan for Prison Reform. I have grave concerns to his plan to have only one person, Sect. Hickman, in charge of the whole prison system. Mr. Hickman feels that he alone can run the system without the help of others, ie: California citizens He feels they would be more harmful than useful due to the fact they have no knowledge of the internal workings of the CDC. I'm sure there are many intelligent people who could do a job as well as Mr. Hickman, and very probably better. The commission has been run for way too long by the CDC and CCPOA, and look at the complete mess they have made of it. There is nobody who will stand up against them, they have complete power over what is done or not done inside of prison walls. The inmates are at their mercy. Prisoners are beaten, abused, both medically and mentally, locked in cells for days and months at a time. They are even murdered. Who is there to protect the inmates? Where is the accountability for the wrong doings of guards? No place!! You can't set out a fox to guard the hen house. The commission must include members who are not bought and paid for by the CDC and CCPOA, such as Government personal, Lawyers, Courts, or others in the legal system. What the commission needs are people from other professions such as Doctors and nurses who can go and evaluate the medical needs of inmates. Teachers and Social Workers who can see to the educational needs and job training for rehabilitation. Media people must be allowed free access to inmates so they can go and talk to inmates to find out what their needs are and if they have complaints that the public at large should know about. The Clergy need to be allowed in prisons to see to the religious needs of prisoners. Then too, citizens from the general public should be on the commission so all phases of society can be represented. And above all, cameras that can't be compromised should always be on for the protection of not only the guards, but inmates as well. I believe that until a system such as this is implemented will there ever be any safe way to run a prison system for the good of all. Malissa Silveria
To: opinion@sacbee.com BCC: Rightor1 Dear Editor The Little Hoover Commission Report and the Governor's CDC reform plan needs civilian watchdogs: I feel that it is essential that a Civilian Commission be appointed to strengthen the system by adding accountability. Secretary Hickman, and Donald Spector, who oppose the Civilian Commission, do not think a civilian group is capable of understanding complex issues. If we are to have only those who work in the complex system, there will never by any reform or rehabilitation as proven by their past and current performance. Accountability is key to the development and success of reform and rehabilitation and civilians are the very people who are calling for it. Civilians are running top government offices and successful businesses within the state, therefore are quite capable of grasping complex issues such as balancing the budget, humane treatment of inmates and education for opportunity of those who will one day be released back into society. Teachers, nurses and clergy make daily decisions based on complex issues. The Civilian Commission is essential to success! I am calling for a diverse group to oversee and help attain the governor's reform and rehabilitation plan. Shirley Wetherwax, Voting taxpayer
http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=221 Proposed California Prison Reform
The writer, Patricia St. Peter, is a member of U.N.I.O.N. United
for No Injustice Oppression or Neglect www.1union1.com
By Patricia St. Peter
I personally read this proposed plan myself and as a taxpayer, I completely disagree with them and here is why, There is to little consideration regarding the most fundamental and necessary programs needed to reform and rehabilitate prisoners, male and female alike. There is little or no focus on lowering recidivism rates and it is amazing to me that the Little Hoover Commission would even consider implementing this band-aid style attempt of reform that would not even consider adopting or creating a plan similar to that of the State of Missouri that has proven an extremely low recidivism rate of only 10%. The recidivism rate in the State of California has been as high as 88.4%. (see available statistics. http://www.corr.ca.gov/OffenderInfoServices/Reports/Annual/PVRET2/PVR ). When over half of the prison population returns back into custody it should be a prime concern! (see prison population statistics http://www.corr.ca.gov/OffenderInfoServices/Reports/WeeklyWed/TPOP1A/ . Mental health and rehabilitation are two main ingredients and necessary components in reforming inmates yet, in the new reform plan, they are departments that are separate and apart. Mental and medical health issues are geared more towards lowering overall costs than to heal the sick. Mental and medical health care costs are high. There are other states using programs that are more affordable. We should be mimicking those states and not cutting back funding for the programs we are already using that are lacking. Statistics have proven that the majority of the inmates in California prisons suffer from mental illness yet the amount of authority the medical care providers have within the prison walls is almost nil. The mentally ill inmates should be in hospitals and not kept in prison cages. Rehabilitation is all about healing. The proposed reform will be cutting necessary programs at the expense of the under educated, drug addicted and mentally ill inmate and let's not forget about the general public, their safety, and what will be the ultimate cost to the tax payer that is funding this proposal to begin with? At the same time much attention is going towards creating a Risk Management Program designed to protect the state from lawsuits stemming from the inmate abuse that occurs daily. I agree that there should be cameras inside the prison walls that cannot be turned off and that the only way to solve the abuse is to end it. Fire those correctional officers that are doing the abuses and hold them legally accountable for their wrong doing. Put them behind bars. The refusal to allow for a Civilian Corrections Commission has created a great distrust of this proposed plan and the scrutiny will continue. There will still be no measurable amount of accountability. The proposed program does not embrace the idea that the Civilian taxpaying communities concerns and considerations are credible when they should in fact invite such a proposed opportunity. To much authority and responsibility lies in the hands of the proposed Secretary position. The proposed plan has it's positive points yet at the same time it lacks in to many areas. It is no doubt that the prison system needs to be reformed but grabbing to quickly at a program that is lacking such as this one will not guarantee the positive changes that are needed. Allowing this plan to be implemented in California without making further considerations and revisions will be a huge costly mistake for the taxpayers. The writer, Patricia St. Peter is a member of U.N.I.O.N. United for No Injustice Oppression or Neglect Dear Commissioner: The Little Hoover Commission appears to be a promising reform plan with some exceptions. First a Civilian Corrections Commission needs to be written in as part of the plan. Many civilian tax payers would like to sure that the Little Hoover Commission plan is a reliable plan that will not drain from other important public programs such as education, health care and housing, especially when public resources are scarce. A case in point; the rate of inmates returning to prison is staggering. The cost of this recidivism is outrageous. This is a complete waste of tax payers dollars. Here is an idea that is reasonable. Examine ways to improve, revise or change programs that already address recidivism such as vocational and educational programs within the prisons. A cost effective prison reform program lowers recidivism rates, not increase them! Another problem cutting back on prison mental health care. This also perpetuates the recidivism rate. Such cut backs results in a lack of mental rehabilitation that fosters independent living and social skills for inmates release home into society. Another issue of great concern that is not adequately addressed is the Dept. of Corrections chronic failure to provide adequate basic medical care to prisoners. Failure of this basic human need in prisons leads to more costly medical care as inmates medical conditions rapidly deteriorate from bad to worse. As a result, Inmates either die which results in costly law suites due to medical neglect or inmates must be transported to an outside medical facility requiring costly around the clock guard watch. In times of budget crisis the old proverb "an ounce of prevention cost less than a pound of cure" makes absolute sense! The word reform denotes a positive effective change. A positive effective change requires continuous oversight of plans implemented. Such oversight allows for immediate feedback of effectiveness and alerts to areas of ineffectiveness. As a result of this monitoring, revisions or new plans are readily available for immediate implementation. Again I reiterate a Civilian Corrections Commission is crucial to an effective prison reform plan. I am concern about the authority and responsibility of the proposed secretary position. Can one person ensure that the department follows through on it's obligation under state law to indemnify its correctional officers of their acts and omission within the course and scope of their duties including violations of an inmate federal rights? How will this one person prevent political turning of heads and closing of eye to the misconduct of correctional officers in return for multimillion dollar campaign donations from C.C.P.O.A to both the governor and legislature? I can see my tax dollars going up in smoke with those imported cigars! While there are some positive point in the Little Hoover Commission plan, there is a lot left to be desired. Well thought out plans that considers the viewpoints of all who are effected by the action proposed are the most successful plans. "Haste Makes Waste" Robin Goods
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