Number 61 December 2020 A Collective Curriculum WISHING YOU A SAFE, HEALTHY AND LARGE RELEASES SHOW NO PEACEFUL HOLIDAY SEASON IMPACTS ON VIOLENT CRIME, SO WHY VIOLENCE IS DOWN IN WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?! “There are fathers we could give to their families. There are CALIFORNIA PRISONS mothers we could give to their families.” Emile DeWeaver (SEE AGREEMENT TO END HOSTILITIES, PAGE 24) he main worry about decarceration is public safety rison officials have noticed a dramatic decrease related to releasing violent criminals and a possible in the number of violent incidents throughout the uptick in crime. Ironically, those who have committed system, and as one might expect, they've pointed P murderT can be safe to release: According to a study by the to the lockdowns and cohort programming (only allowing Stanford Criminal Justice Center, between 1995 and 2010... one building out at a time to participate in recreation, among prisoners convicted of murder who were released, the eat, etc.), as the cause of these changes, so what do you rate was a minuscule 0.58%. think they've secretly been discussing? They're trying to In California more than 30 percent of California’s prisoners figure out how to make these emergency lockdowns, and — nearly 40,000 people — is serving a life sentence (mainly everything that goes along with it, a part of the permanent for violent crimes), including 5,100 serving life without the program, particularly at some of the facilities that have possibility of parole. (More than the number of people serving an extensive history of Rocking and Rolling. Some of us, however, know that the reason for the reduction in violence life sentences in Florida, New York, and Texas combined.) has less to do with lockdowns and cohort programming If Gov. Newson wanted to decarcerate at scale, he and more to do with the fact that there are fewer people could. Legally, he could declare an emergency, as Gov. on the yard at any one time. Granted, the reason for fewer Schwarzenegger did in 2006 to alleviate overcrowding (a people on the yard is because of the lockdowns and cohort process now known as “Realignment”). Before Realignment, California prison officials warned that Sensory Deprivation or Pop Reduction..................Continued on pg 23 the violent crime rate would surely rise. Instead, according "This heartwork is dedicated to California Prison Focus in thanks to the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California and for all their support for so many years." Roberto Turios [While academic researchers, the state’s violent crime continued to IT'S A SETUP eligible since 2005, Mr. Turios was denied parole in September!] hover at about the same level it was in the 1960s — a historic Due to risk of retaliation, we have been asked not to low. include the entire letters. But we feel it is critical that we ....Once you accept that some violent offenders can safely report the following questions taken from three different DELIBERATELY INDIFFERENT OR INTENT TO HARM? return to their communities, mass decarceration suddenly letters, that were asked to individuals at their parole "Three days ago I talked to one of the sergeant. I said I’m looks plausible. hearing. Each had been denied. not trying to rat on anybody but the fact is, I love my life, and • we only get one time here. Your subordinate is wearing her Source: Boatwright, Wayne. “California Could Reduce Prison California Prison Focus has received multiple letters mask up under her mouth while serving the meals. I asked Population by Half”. San Francsco Chronicle, August 11,2020. describing questions that were asked at their BPH (board her to please wear it over her mouth. Otherwise it’s literally hearings), that were a clear set up for failure. defeating the purpose. And she just ignored me. I asked other ● Do you believe we are prejudice? ● What would you do if you were back in your staff serving food to tell her and they still wouldn’t do nothing. neighborhood and you saw a cop beating up your This don’t make no sense. In my opinion this is equivalent to the brother? police who sat back in the George Floyd killings. They just let ● If you were outside, would you join the BLM stuff go down." Anonymous CSP-LAC, May, 2020 protests? - That’s the first question he stated, but (Excerpt from a KAGE Universal phone interview) in my transcripts it doesn’t state it." HANGING IN THERE FOR MY SON June 2019. IMMIGRATION DETENTION AND Hello. I’ve been wanting to write write you, but my Health is not COVID-19: I.C.E.-COLD FACTS allowing me to do much. Sometimes I feel that the days are getting ccording to the American Bar Association, as of shorter, but I realize that is me, that I am getting slower. I guess it’s December 7th, U.S. Immigration and Customs normal. I’ll be 88 soon. But anyway ~ Thank God that am still here. Enforcement (ICE) reports that 16,693 individuals God know's that I have very important reason's to be alive, my Leo A and my son Gerald. He is the one that helps me to do things for Leo. were in ICE detention as of November 13, 2020. As of November 18, 2020, 419 in ICE custody were being He is a Blessing for me. Leo is the youngest. monitored for Covid-19 or held in isolation. As of November About Leo, they have so many problems in that prison. They 13, 2020, ICE had tested 62,080 in its custody. Advocates are always on lock down. Sometimes the inmates, they don't even said the novel coronavirus isn't the only factor to blame know why. Some officer killed himself and after that some inmates for the growing number of deaths in ICE custody. "The overdosed, so they took away all the programs. They wont be able to pandemic is playing a role -- but also the conditions of use the phones. And what the guards don't admit is that they are the detention, and what it does both to your mental health and ones that take the drugs and cell phones, etc. inside. The ones that get punished are the inmates, by searching their cells, so everybody the poor medical care that exists inside." Silky Shah of gets affected except them [the guards]. But until they, up there in Sacramento, do what they’re supposed to, nothing is going to change Detention Watch Network, 2020. that corruption - or change for me that I am aware of. All this a is very painfull, and at the same time I feel helpless, because if I had the money, Leo wouldn’t be there. Anyway, Leo has a meeting with the Board next year. I already sent some support letters, and am Praying that something good will come up this time... DROP LWOP May God Bless you all... your friend, Ms. G (J’s Mom) PAROLE DENIED!! IS ANYONE PAYING ATTENTION?! June 2020. "I just got a 7 year denial at the Board. I had just finished doing a 5 year denial. I’m 72 years old now. The Board is playing God with my life.... The Board of Parole are corrupt and abuse their authority. Just like these staff here. Now they have some that are threatening inmates that write 602 appeals on them on the yard crew. Plus they are going through inmates’ C files here and putting inmates’ business out on the yard. True or Not! You understand they have their snitches that play along with them. For a radio or TV or etc.. They are corrupt here and even staff that aren’t state it. But they are scared to tell on them. That’s why people outside are protesting. Everyone understands now. But they also need to protest these officers in prison. Cut their pay and fire those that break the law. The counselors here also have their inmates that play along. I look at it -- what is fair is fair, and what is wrong needs to be corrected! Just like that cop that killed Floyd he committed murder, but just because he is a COP means it’s OK. No, he needs to get the same treatment as if I committed the same crime The public pay these fools to protect and use sense and good judgment!!" J [Ms. G's son. Real names withheld due to risk of retaliation] To Be or Not to Be... Paroled from the Prison Focus Mail Box (Page 9): "Prison staff here on B-yard are extremely lax in their Covid-19 practices...We urge our families, friends, and support networks to mobilize...” hostilities and violence among the men. Despite the monumental accomplishments of these men, FREE THE CREATORS OF despite the excessive “tough on crime” sentencing laws that TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS The world is THE AGREEMENT TO END Pelican Bay Prison Report, PFIssue 48, Winter 2016 sanctioned CDCR to confine and torture them for decades, Greetings dear readers. First and foresmost Happy changed PRISON FOCUS ● On the 23rd of each month, people in GP walk around despite good behavior and their participation in programming Holidays. I'm sending my sincerest wishes for your and by your example; ISSUE NO. 61 WINTER 2020 HOSTILITIES the yard with someone from a different race, taking a stand and community building and activism inside prisons and out, your loved ones' health, strength and freedom, inside and By Kim Pollak with the agreement.... Mr. Y stated that some people try to and now despite the threat of COVID-19, these elders remain out, during these trying times.