Mr. Cal Terhune, Director
California Department of Corrections
P.O. Box 942883
Sacramento, CA 94283-0001

Dear Mr. Terhune:

It has come to my attention that a decision has been made to revoke quarterly packages sent to inmates from their families.  This will have a disastrous result for the inmates, who now are under such cruelty and oppression, in fact primates in a zoo receive better care than prisoners in the California State Prison system.

The prisoner I write to has been on lockdown over 90% of the time for this last year, and now we learn that the guards are receiving “hazard” pay when they are on lockdown.  The guards are instigating these fights that are the cause of these lockdowns, so that they can receive this extra “hazard” pay and overtime, which can be several hundred dollars a day.

Plus they will add five guards instead of one during these lockdowns.  This is costing the California taxpayers millions and millions of dollars.

Recently this prisoner was given a cellmate that weighed over 200 pounds and very tall, he was real mean, fortunately this prisoner kept his head in his Bible and prayed that he would not be murdered in his cell.  His prayer was answered.  There have been a lot of bodies being taken out of this prison in the past [as many as two a week], that have not been investigated.  The guards do this on purpose to punish a prisoner, and the mean evil prisoner is rewarded for his work.  Also there is a lady guard called the “Shower Shark,” who likes to watch the men take showers.

I have also learned that the California guards are not tested for drugs, and there are many that are involved in drugs themselves.  They are making money on the side, I have no first hand knowledge, but have been told that this is a problem by those on the inside who are in the know that this is as high as 30-40%.

Many inmates are highly educated, and need mental stimulation.  The prison is holding their mail from them, books and legal documents that are sent are not given to them.  This is in violation of United States Code, Title 18, §1702. Obstruction of correspondence.  “Whoever takes any letter, postal card, or package out of any post office or any authorized depository for mail matter, or from any letter or mail carrier, or which has been in any post office or authorized depository, or in the custody of any letter or mail carrier, before it has been delivered to the person to whom it was directed, with design to obstruct the correspondence, or to pry into the business or secrets of another, or opens, secretes, embezzles, or destroys the same, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.”   Guards who steal, as they routinely do and pilfer the mail of prisoners should be fired.  The rules and regulations that allow this tampering with the mail should be changed, a prisoner has a right to be his own attorney and receive documents that have been prepared for him under Johnson  v. Avery, 393 U.S. 483 (1969).

The  lack of nutritional value of food is causing health problems and mental problems, as the mind cannot function without proper nutrition.  I am told that some of the food is not fit to eat, and has to be thrown out.   They need more raw natural fruits and vegetables, which are full of natural vitamins and minerals to keep the body in health.  They also need to have time outdoors to receive some sunshine every day, and exercise and good water to drink, this is just the basics to sustain a healthy life.  They throw out salami to the seagulls and the seagulls won’t even eat it.

The suffering and retribution that is going on in the prisons, is subhuman and needs to STOP!   The State has millions of dollars to spend on new facilities, but not enough money to feed the prisoners, and provide them proper nutrition and medical care.  The system has been corrupted by the paybacks into certain slush fund accounts of the Judges of the courts, in total violation of the California Constitution, Article 6, Judicial. ARTICLE 6 JUDICIAL. §19.  “The Legislature shall prescribe compensation for judges of courts of record.”  This also needs to STOP!

Locking prisoners up in 6 x 9 cages for months at a time, violates both the United States Constitution and the California Constitution, for cruel and unusual punishment.  Due to the cruel non-justice system, a very high percentage of prisoners should not be doing hard time.  Many Three Strikers have done something quite minor, sometimes 20-30 years ago, and are being thrown in jail for life.  This is a waste of the taxpayers money, as they should have received 30 days in county jail instead of 25 to life.
 

E-mail:
 Governor Grey Davis
 Senator Maurice Johannessen
 Elizabeth Leaf, CDC
 Cayenne Bird