Pubdate: Mon, 26 Aug 2002
Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA)
Copyright: 2002 San Jose Mercury News
Contact:  http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/390
Author: Kay Lee
Note: Kay Lee works with the Pacific Institute of Criminal Justice in 
Berkeley and runs a prison conditions project called Making the Walls 
Transparent.

WE'RE MAKING PRISONS MORE DANGEROUS

STATE prison rules are not just about being "tough on crime" or winning a 
"drug war." They're not about prison reform or human rights or social 
justice. There is a lack of common sense displayed by a broken system that 
puts everyone in the country in more danger.

Some of the proposed rule changes for California prisons have already been 
implemented in prisons around the country. Soon they'll be in all the prisons.

The way these warehouses are run today is dangerous -- to the prisoners, 
the guards, their families, and all of society. Yes, even you. If you are 
ever unfortunate enough to run up against an angry, shellshocked, 
psychotic, hungry ex-prisoner, let me know how it turns out.

The proposed rule changes in California that concern me most are:

* A proposal for timed five-second hellos and goodbyes for visitors. I 
visualize a room overflowing with guards with stopwatches.

* A proposed rule that would forbid the children of prisoners from sitting 
on dad or mom's lap. Explain that to a child who wants to be held by their 
parent.

* "No contact" visits for death row prisoners. This means the prisoner will 
never touch another human being who doesn't despise him for the rest of his 
days. All visits would be over closed-circuit television or from behind 
glass. Florida has already instigated this dangerous rule, even though 
there were no security breaches to make the rule necessary.

So why would I say this rule is dangerous? Because if a prisoner has 
nothing to lose, life is more dangerous for the guards around him.

* And one that bothers me a great deal with its senselessness is the 
proposed rule that would forbid drug offenders from having family visits 
for one year after incarceration. Every study ever done says prisoners do 
better with family contact. Why do drug offenders always get the worst of 
the deal?

It seems to me that prison rules are now made not because an incident 
caused security problems, but to make the guards' jobs easier.

For instance, in Florida if you needed toilet paper, you called out your 
need and a guard brought you a roll of two-ply toilet paper (if he was in 
the mood). Now, you get one roll of one ply toilet paper per week for each 
two-man cell. So the guards can do less work.

These kinds of rules may seem to make the guards' jobs easier on the 
surface, but believe me, with all incentives gone, with no rewards in place 
for good behavior, the guards are going to find their jobs more dangerous. 
The system will produce more angry, damaged people and society will 
eventually pay the price.
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MAP posted-by: Beth