Reforms for State Prisons
You have made factual errors in your Dec. 2 editorial. One of my top priorities when I was appointed director in August 1997 was to give major attention to the Department of Corrections’ use-of-force policy. I appointed a panel of outside experts to review policies on use of force. I did this well before this summer’s legislative hearings.
The department has already made great strides by instituting monthly director’s use-of-force reviews and creating wardens’ use-of-force reviews at each prison. We have reexamined our investigative process and instituted reforms, which included creating an independent office of internal affairs that reports directly to me. We are analyzing the recommendations of the select shooting review panel and developing action plans on the recommendations. Pending completion of our reforms, I have sent to each of the 33 prisons clear instructions on our current use-of-force policy and restated the policy against using lethal force to stop simple inmate fistfights.
We have initiatives underway to reduce recidivism. We have been successful in working with the Legislature on enhanced funding for Preventing Parolee Crime programs and expanded substance abuse treatment programs.
We currently have nine warden nominees (not the 36 you reported) pending confirmation before the state Senate.
We are committed to solving prison problems.
C.A. TERHUNE
Director
Department of Corrections
Sacramento
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Does anyone have a thought as to how far the California Department of Corrections will go to investigate the many “rogue” corrections officers who have been allowed to run rampant for years? A sergeant of CDC told an Orthodox Jewish inmate this month: “You need to get right with Christ” and, “That’s why Jews were persecuted before and it will happen again.”
This employee of CDC would be slapped with a lawsuit in an office or business atmosphere. What recourse does an inmate have? File pro per? Years would pass before it would be addressed and the harassment would continue. There is more to clean out at CDC than the obvious brutal tactics seen at Corcoran, Pelican Bay and San Quentin!
JUNE QUIGNON
South Gate