Thompson, Don. (1Feb06) "Youth prisons found squalid by inspectors," Mercury News.com. And, Thompson, Don. (2Feb06) "Reforms just beginning, California corrections secretary says," Mercury News.com.

OVERVIEW

One of the nation's largest corrections systems which consists of 8 youth and 32 adults prisons may also be the most in need of immediate reform. According to reports on the youth prisons in California, these youth live in horrible conditions where inmates can break off weapons of metal from rusty shower doors, where employee communication systems barely work and where there are holes in dorm walls and surrounding fences.

After the slaying of a prison guard at Chino prison in 2005, Corrections Secretary Roderick Hickman ordered a first-in-the-nation review of each of California's 40 prisons. His position is still under review by the senate. Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero (D-LA) who headed up one of Hickman's hearings, states that: "This is truly the shame of the nation when we look at juvenile systems. It's intentional neglect, and it's been this way for years and years and years, and it has not gotten any better." In his defense, Hickman claims that the reforms which began last year will take some time to become evident: "We are literally changing the tires on a moving car."

With little funding and staff and bureaucratic slow-downs, Hickman is fighting an uphill battle. But, something needs to be done to improve these facilities where inmates were dying of medical neglect at a rate of about one a week in Dec. of 2005.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION & DISCUSSION

1. What is your philosophy of corrections and prison reform? What role should the state vs the federal goverment play? How much efffort should be put into rehabilitation vs. simple containment?
2. What are some reasons why California's prison system could have become such a state of disrepair?
3. What are some creative ways to reform this system? (i.e. partnerships with private organizations, schools, job training and creation, etc. )

IMPLICATIONS

Alex de Tocqueville evaluated America several centuries ago and one of the places he went to create his reflections were our prisons. There are some telling things about our society that arise from looking at the squalid conditions of our prison systems. More care, creativity, funding and less bureaucracy needs to go into the reformation of such a system.

Christen B. Yates cCYS