Aryan Brotherhood of Texas: How did neo-Nazi prison gangs become so powerful?

Three US justice officials who tackled white supremacist prison gangs have been killed. Originally formed to fight other gangs, these groups are now accused of a range of criminal activities on the outside, from drug smuggling and kidnapping to murder. How did neo-Nazi prisoners set up huge criminal networks?

 

By Jon Kelly BBC News Magazine, Washington DC

With skinhead haircuts and swastika tattoos, their leaders are buried deep within the brutal confines of America’s penitentiaries.

But three murders in less than three months have shone a spotlight on far-right prison gangs, whose empire of drug-dealing, racketeering and murder extends well beyond the walls and barbed wire around them.

The bodies of Kaufman County, Texas, district attorney Mike McLelland, 63, and his wife Cynthia, 65, were found on Saturday.

McLelland’s deputy, Mark Hasse, was killed in January, on the same day it was announced that their office was pursuing a racketeering case against the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT), a white supremacist group formed in Texan jails.

Police are investigating whether their deaths were linked with the killing of Tom Clements, Colorado’s head of prisons.

The chief suspect in that case, ex-convict Evan Ebel, is said to have belonged to the 211 Crew, another violent racist prison gang. Official documents state his body was covered with Nazi-themed tattoos. Ebel died in a shoot-out two days after Clements.

While the killings remain unsolved, they have focused attention on the increasingly dangerous white supremacist networks formed in prison.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which monitors hate in the US, describes the ABT as “the most violent extremist group in the United States”. It says the gang, thought to have around 2,000 members, has committed “at least” 29 murders in the US between 2000-12.

Its primary objective has moved beyond conducting turf wars inside jails or propagating racist ideology, however, into running a ruthless Mafia-style organised crime network.

An FBI indictment in November 2012 charged 34 ABT members with three murders, several attempted murders, assault, kidnapping and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. According to court papers, the ABT has a tightly organisational structure composed of five regions, each run by a “general.”

“If you look at domestic extremist groups in the US, they are responsible for more homicides than anyone else, although most are crime-related, to do with insubordination or revenge or against those who owe them money,” says Brian Levin, director of California State University’s Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism.

Of the confirmed ABT murders from 2000-12, the ADL estimates that 41% were “internal killings”.

Continue Reading @ BBC News

 

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Slick Con Artist Scamming Prisoners Families: Esteban Rogelio Garcia aka Texas Writ Writer

4/10/13

UPDATE ON SCAM ARTIST ESTEBAN GARCIA & TEXAS WRIT WRITERS!!! 

Esteban has closed the doors & emptied everything out of the office located at 2401 Scott Avenue, Ft. Worth, TX. His wife has thrown him out & he is living in the warehouse where he has his other “scam”… Aquatech. He’s moved the TWWA into this warehouse as well & from my sources – who are very well aware of his every move – things are in complete disarray. Nothing new for Esteban, no organization with him whatsoever. His downward spiral has begun!!!

I admit, I am a Facebook addict. I have made many important connections there as well as good friends. It’s an interesting place with lots of stuff

Image via CrunchBase

going on all the time.  Many activists and advocates supporting various causes use facebook. Regardless of privacy issues, facebook is one of the hot  places to share information, garner support and have fun. Today I came across a very serious post. One of my friends who is also active in prison reform stated she had been scammed- actually robbed of $8,000. The man she trusted to HELP her and her husband turned out to be a fraud. After much investigating what she discovered  is more than alarming. I am going to post her findings here. Its all about truth and anyone that knows me, knows I will expose the fraudsters that prey on others. I absolutely despise people that target and take  advantage of others.

It seems that prisoners and their families are easy targets. After dealing with the criminal justice system, they are vulnerable, dismayed, confused, hurt and angry. They need and want help. Most they are desperate. Its not easy having a loved one locked up. The families are treated like criminals,  simply because of their association to a prisoner. When they seek help and reach out, it is usually a very serious issue that must be addressed immediately and properly. Its a damn shame when a scammer enters the picture and begins the routine- it starts with many promises and ends only with the family in more pain, and much money lost. Esteban Rogelio Garcia is is a predator. Using the name of  “Texas Writ Writers Association” one would think he is totally above board. Using Christianity and God is one of his hooks. After all, a man purporting strong faith would never harm others, right?

Esteban Rogelio Garcia

Mugshots.com ID: 20045684

Gender: Male

Race: White

Height: 5′ 7″ (1.70 m)

Weight: 180 lb (82 kg)

DOB: 9/10/1951

Address: 1900 B Reece St

City: Bryan

State: Texas

Zip: 77803

Attorney: Gustitis, Stephen (Bar # 08634600)

Filed on: 4/26/1995

Crime Name: 02/28/94-CRIMINAL NONSUPPORT

Crime Type: Misdemeanor A

Current Status: Disposed

The original post from facebook today:

( I have redacted the name of the person who sent this to me)

URGENT!!! For most all of my FB friends, we are all dealing with a loved one incarcerated & we are all desperately trying to help that loved one. I am begging you, please, do yourself a huge favor, before you decide to “hire” ESTEBAN GARCIA OR THE TEXAS WRIT WRITERS out of Ft. Worth, TX, PLEASE…. do your due diligence! Spend the money & get a criminal history report on this man!! I can tell you that he is indeed a scam artist – the best I’ve ever come across. His history includes numerous charges & convictions of fraud, identity theft, bad checks, weapons charges just to name a few, from 1974 through 2009. He has highjacked the life story of Fred Cruz & is passing it off as his own. Not one person on his “staff” has any legal credentials whatsoever & Dawn Rhoden his former Assistant DA was Disbarred by the State of  TX. Victims in the State of Tennessee alone have lost over $20,000. to this man all of which went directly into this man’s pocket! The Missouri Writ Writers closed their doors in 2004 except for on his bank account. There are NO cases him, the TWWA or the MWWA have overturned, no Writs EVER filed!! Again, take the time & do your homework prior to getting involved with this man & bogus operation!!! Right now we know there are current victims in TX, MO, TN, FL, CT, IL, CA & IA & I am afraid there are more states that we don’t even know about. There are numerous State, Local & Federal Agencies involved who have verified this man is running a scam so if you chose to not believe me, call any one of them & check for yourself!!

The following is a private message to me- my notes are in black

Just got in from visit with my husband & saw your repost of my original about Esteban. I’d be happy to share my 65 page background check of him with you however it’s file is too massive to download via FB. If you’d like me to send it to you, send me your actual email address & I will be more than happy to email it to you! ( I did receive a large PDF file and I can’t figure out how to load it here).

This man is a con all the way but at the same time very slick Carol, a lifelong career criminal. He’s never had anything, not even a home, vehicle, etc. in his name. That motorhome he’s living in now is in his wife’s name. He’s highjacked the story of Fred Cruz & is passing it off as his own…. will send you that link as well. (about being the 1st Mexican in TX to overturn a fellow inmate’s murder conviction, true story but not Esteban’s) Will send you several links…..

Sorry to bombard you with all of these but I want you to have documents to back up your claims! There is one lady who refuses to believe even though I have shared all of this & then some with her, (redacted). She has spoken to no less than 7 or 8 of us who have all been taken by this scumbag for thousands of dollars & yet she still refuses to believe & accuses all of us of “bashing” him. My husband & I alone lost $8,000. to him Carol. We were one of the lucky ones in that I did get my husband’s 81 1/2 lbs worth of legal files BACK from him thanks to a previous employee of his! However there are other victims here in TN who he is refusing to release their files & we have had to file theft charges on him for these legal files! It’s a nightmare trust me. What he’s done to us just here in TN, he’s taken 7 inmates & their families & over $20,000. just in TN. Carol, that report I just emailed you only spans from 1995 through 2009… there are even more from the early 70′s up until 1995…

Yes, you feel free to spread the word any way possible! We have the documentation to back up every single thing we are saying! He had our legal files for just shy of 8 months & when I got them back not one file with the exception of the Technical Records had even been touched!! Yet they were working hard on his case all that time with “8 paralegals” pursuing it daily!!! WRONG! Besides that not one employee in that office has any legal credentials whatsoever! He posted in Dec. how they hired former DA Dawn Rhoden & how lucky they were to have her – how she was just tired of working for the bad guys & now wanted to help the good guys – all for $10.00 an hour. How lucky they were! You know why? Because she’s been disbarred by the state of TX that’s why!

There is no trace whatsoever of ANY case that him, the TWWA or the MWWA has ever overturned let alone 120+ that he claims. Not a name, case number, nothing & he won’t give you any info on them either! Not a letter of reference you can verifty either.

We’ve reported him & the TWWA (which has only been in operation since last year) to the TX Bar Assoc., the TX UPL (Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee), the FW P.D., the Dallas FBI office, the TN FBI office in Knoxville & the TN DOC Law Enforcement office.

This week I file withthe TBI (TN Bureau Invest.). He’ll never set foot back in another TN prison I do know that & if he tries, their going to “let” him & then when he shows up they’ll arrest him on the spot. This scumbag has most definitely slipped through the cracks of the justice system Carol!The judgement from the Brazos County Atty. General is for $73K & I spoke to them last week. They had his last known address listed as Beatrice, NE. I gave them his TX address & they were thrilled. Not sure if they will pick him up & place him under arrest & take him to jail or not. In TN he’d go directly to jail, do not pass go & no collecting $200. – no get out of jail free card….. He owes it for child support he failed to pay. He claims he BEAT the lawsuit!! According to the Atty General when I spoke to them man the other day, Mr. Garcia did NOT win the case & does owe the money!!

The MWWA closed their doors in 2004 yet the bank account is in his name & the MWWA, not the TWWA…. a little odd if you ask me for a business that no longer exists! I have cancelled checks to show the “for deposit only” stamp on the bank of each if anyone doubts this! 

(Note:  I searched for TWAA on the IRS website for tax exempt organizations-I did not find Texas Writ Writers Association listed)

---

Exempt Organizations Select Check

Esteban’s got at least 6 or 7 aliases!!! The one he uses the most is Steve Ray Garcia.

The FBI  verified that he’s obviously a con artist, nothing legit about him anywhere – said he knows the system & how he knows how to ride that fine line between legal/illegal type thing. He has his “contracts” for the TWWA written so that they state he’s doing the work “free of charge/pro bono” then the “donation” receipts are just that, donations. I can back up all of this with the documents!

Since the original post, a few more people have come to me and confirmed this guy is bad news. I share this with you because we all need to know. Those of us who have loved ones in the system are victims. Victims of the cruel and inhumane ‘justice system’. We must stand up and fight back, especially against predators like Esteban Rogelio Garcia. If you ever thought of doing business with him or TWWA, you had better think twice and walk away now. I absolutely believe this guy is a fraud and has only caused more pain and suffering. I have studied the links sent  to me, the pdf file, and the person who sent me the private message above is a stand up, reliable individual.

If you have contracted Esteban Rogelio Garcia aka Texas Writ Writers Association  to do any legal work for you on behalf of a loved one, please contact me via the comments section.

Links sent to me:

http://law.justia.com/cases/texas/tenth-court-of-appeals/1997/2051.html

http://txboda.org/cases/re-dawn-darice-dede-rhoden-handy

http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/writwriter/film.html

http://www.law.uh.edu/libraries/ethics/attydiscipline/2012/October2012.pdf

http://www.texaswritwriters.com/index.html

writwriters ( Twitter)

@writwriters1

We are a non-profit legal aid organization who assists U.S. prisoners illegally convicted of any crime.

Nation-wide · http://www.missouriwritwritersassociation.com

For Real Prison Reform, Longer is Not Always Better

By Lizzie Buchen

Last week, while defiantly declaring the end of California’s prison crisis, Gov. Jerry Brown insisted further reductions in prison overcrowding “cannot be achieved without the early release of inmates serving time for serious or violent felonies,” a move that would “jeopardize public safety.” In other words, now that Realignment is sending low-level offenders to local custody instead of state prison, those who remain in prison need to stay there to protect the public.

This unfounded assumption is used to justify a large and growing mass of the state’s unnecessary incarceration. Most serious and violent offenders do need to serve some time behind bars to protect the public, but we keep them there for far too long. And the terms are only getting longer. If California wants a sustainable solution to its prison crisis, it needs to rethink its increasingly harsh sentencing policies across the gamut of offenses – not just the low-level targets of Realignment and Prop 36.

A recent study found that California offenders who committed violent crimes can now expect to serve seven years in prison – in 1990, they would have served less than three. Looking at people who committed murder, those who were released in 2009 served an average of 16 years; now, they can expect to serve more than 50 years. This lengthening of sentences for violent crimes is a major reason California’s prisons are overflowing and will continue to do so. In 2009, nearly 100,000 of the state’s prison inmates were doing time for violent crimes, a number that will only grow as the exit door continues to recede.

Continue Reading @ California Progress Report

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What’s On Your RAP Sheet?

By Katti Gray

Via @ The Crime Report

Paroled from prison in August 2010, Sandra France was bent on finding a job that steered young people away from the drug addiction and drug-related crimes that had her cycling in and out of prison for 35 years.

That job hunt, however, initially bore little fruit for the 50-year-old ex-offender.

Then she heard about Project ReNu, launched in early 2012 by the Brooklyn, NY-based Center for NuLeadership On Urban Solutions to help the formerly incarcerated figure out precisely whether their recorded criminal histories were undercutting their employment prospects and, where possible, boosting the ex-offenders’ image among potential employers.

Project ReNu’s sole counselor—one of four full-time members of NuLeadership’s staff—steered France through a process aimed at equipping ex-offenders with the details of their “records of arrests and procedures” (or RAP sheet) and correcting errors that those documents sometimes contain before a potential employer sees them.

France completed Project ReNu with what she hopes is a ticket for entry into a legitimate world of work with which she is barely familiar: a state-sanctioned “certificate of good conduct” granted to successful Project ReNu clients who, like France, have multiple felony convictions.

(A “certificate of relief” is available to persons with just one felony conviction.)

In addition to that certificate, France received a document detailing her criminal history, including the date and time of her convictions. And she was schooled in how to articulate other aspects of her life, such as her ongoing drug rehabilitation and involvement in peer support groups, her active church membership, and her on-the-job training in the field where she hopes to be hired.

“These documents show how far I came [and] that, although I have been incarcerated and I’ve been on drugs, I’ve been doing a lot of positive things,” said France, who is now interning at an outpatient clinic for substance abusers—a step toward becoming a certified alcohol and substance abuse counselor.

Those accumulated documents are a package that can be given, perhaps preemptively, to employers.

Reducing Recidivism

With several studies linking gainful employment to lesser rates of criminal recidivism, jobs—and housing—top the list of the most critical material needs of the formerly incarcerated, Shelli Rossman of the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. told The Crime Report.

And, notes Rossman, ex-offenders not only require the tools essential for what can be the monumental task of landing a job—especially during a lingering recession when employers have their pick of prospects who’ve never been to prison—but they also need help hanging on to the jobs a fraction of them do manage to get.

“My hunch is that part of the difficulty in job retention is the nature of the job to begin with,” said Rossman, a senior fellow at the Institute’s Justice Policy Center. “These are high turnover, like food service jobs, where … they’re constantly hiring and replacing staff, not just this population.

“These tend to be low-level jobs without benefits. They …not only undermine the individual financially, but also in terms of morale.”

Even so, findings of the Urban Institute’s five-year “Returning Home: Understanding the Challenges of Prisoner Reentry” study of ex-offenders in Maryland, Illinois, Ohio and Texas included this one: “Former prisoners who held an in-prison job, participated in job training while incarcerated, earned a GED during prison, and/or participated in an employment program early after release, work a greater percentage of time the first year out than those who did not.”

The key assumption of Project ReNu is that paid wages will reduce the likelihood that a previously convicted person will return to crime and to prison, , says  Divine Pryor, executive director of NuLeadership, which is housed in the same Brooklyn building as the agency where parolee France is interning.

Another foundational principle is that if potential employers can see that formerly incarcerated job applicants are confronting their past, and can articulate their achievements during a job interview, then that forthrightness just might work in the applicant’s favor, says Prior, whose organization offers a broad menu of prisoner re-entry services and criminal justice policy programs for both juveniles and adults.

“The best way to empower yourself is to know everything that other people know about you,” he adds. “If you’ve ever been arrested for anything, it’s on your RAP sheet—every single encounter you’ve had with law enforcement that causes you to be fingerprinted.”

According to Prior, the “labyrinth of challenges” facing ex-offenders as they re-enter society can include correcting errors that may have been made by the system or have cropped up through other means, such as identity theft.

Continue Reading  HERE

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Choosing Substance Abuse Treatment Over Prison Could Save Billions: Study

We know that treatment not only saves money, but does in fact save LIVES.  The Prison for Profit mentality MUST change.  The question is no longer how, but when.  Just so you all know, I do NOT support Partnership at Drugfree because of their stance on Cannabis. However, the following is a good article.

 

Sending substance-abusing state prisoners to community-based treatment programs instead of prisons could reduce crime and save billions of dollars, a new study concludes. The savings would result from immediate reductions in the cost of incarceration, and by subsequent reductions in the number of crimes committed by successfully treated offenders, which leads to fewer re-arrests and re-incarcerations, according to the researchers.

Almost half of all state prisoners abuse drugs or are drug-dependent, but only 10 percent received medically based drug treatment while they are incarcerated, according to Newswise. Inmates who are untreated or not adequately treated are more likely to start using drugs when they are released from prison, and commit crimes at a higher rate than those who do not abuse drugs, the article notes.

The researchers built a simulation model of 1.14 million state prisoners, representing the 2004 U.S. state prison population. The model estimated the benefits of substance abuse treatment over individuals’ lifetimes, and calculated the crime and criminal justice costs related to policing, trial and sentencing, and incarceration.

The model tracked individuals’ substance abuse, criminal activity, employment and health care use until death or until they reached age 60, whichever came first. They estimated the costs of sending 10 percent or 40 percent of drug-abusing inmates to community-based substance abuse treatment instead of prison.

In the journal Crime & Delinquency, the researchers found that if just 10 percent of eligible offenders were treated in community-based programs instead of going to prison, the criminal justice system would save $4.8 billion, compared with current practices. If 40 percent of eligible offenders received treatment, the savings would total $12.9 billion.

Via @ Join Together

 

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Almost Half Of Federal Prisoners Held For Drug Crimes

By Nicole Flatow

Although the overall U.S. prison population declined slightly in 2011, the federal prison population continued to rise, with rates of drug and immigration offenders that eclipse those held for violent crimes. While only 8 percent of federal prisoners were sentenced for violent crimes in 2011, almost half of federal inmates – 48 percent – were in prison for drug crimes, according to Department of Justice statistics. Another 11 percent were held for immigration offenses – one of the largest-growing segments of the prison population.

These numbers reflect the impact of the aggressive U.S. “War on Drugs,” a major contributor to the United States’ standing as the number one jailer in the world. Overall declines in U.S. prisons of 0.9 percent are attributable to state prisons, as some states have been moved by budget crises to adopt innovative reforms, and some jurisdictions have moved toward decriminalizing minor drug offenses.

But federal drug law remains draconian, with harsh mandatory minimum sentences for sometimes minor nonviolent roles in drug deals.

Continue Reading @ Think Progress

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The Reflections of an Inmate

The following was posted in my PRM Facebook group. I had to share ( with permission, of course!) with you all….

Via Keri Driver “My husband is an inmate at Avenal State Prison in Avenal, CA. He has managed to stay in school through correspondence courses despite trips to the “hole” and adverse transfers. He wrote this paper as one of his English 102 papers. I wanted to share so maybe the public would look at prisoners in a different light.”

The Reflections of an Inmate
By Thomas E. Driver

When members of society hear, see, or use the word “inmate”, it most often carries the image as being f lesser worth or value. The stereotypical depiction is negative, often fueling contempt, judgment, scorn and rejection from the majority of the members of society.
That is, until it enters a person’s personal life. The common response towards the word inmate is condemnation, persecution and rejection. Once a friend, family member or themselves lands in lock-up, everything changes. Now the word inmate becomes a real person, having value and worth. Previous judgments and cries for the “lock ‘em up and throw away the key” type sentencing now seems overkill, appalling, very unrealistic, unjust and even inhumane.
I am inmate Driver E30443. The word “inmate” is like a heavy burden I must carry out into society. My desire is to encourage a change in how society defines those labeled as inmates. What I hope to encourage is how the value, worth and wisdom of inmates has the potential to prevent others from making the same mistakes and help families better understand why criminal behaviors develop to begin with. To one day discover the automatic response to the word inmate is to include the recognition of potential knowledge, experience and wisdom. That consideration for the possible positive changes, growth and maturity that rehabilitation can produce is given. The label of inmate also has the ability to instill the perspective that this person has potential value, worth and possible experience and wisdom to offer. I desire for society to remember that most inmates did not choose to aspire to become an inmate or criminal in their youth. Many members in society only differ from inmates because they were never caught before changing their behaviors, had influential connections or enough money to avoid the label. Life events greatly influence and lead people to live such negative lives.
Inmate Driver E30443 is also, Tommy, the youngest son of the very respected and loved couple of Robert and Mickey Driver. The lucky man that is married to the amazing and wonderful Keri Driver who sees her husband as just that; her husband, not an inmate. Driver is also the little brother, the favorite uncle and the loved father. Along with his wife Keri, he shares hopes and dreams for the chance to be of great worth to the majority of members of society. The recognition he desires is not for him but for society to have to undoubtedly recognize the potential of any person, to become a valuable, contributing member of society.
Inmate Driver E30443 – the victim of childhood abuses that as a result of, became a drug and alcohol user, that as a result of became a criminal that resulted in him becoming an inmate. Now unlike society seems to believe, the results of the effects in their lives that lead to becoming an inmate do not stop once this label is reached. These changes can continue and the possibility these changes may be positive in nature are very likely. As a result of being an inmate Driver has discovered how to face and deal with the effects of abuse in a positive, healthy manner. He now has the knowledge, experience and wisdom to help youngsters who are currently facing the same effects he had to face and now because of being an inmate has learned the skills needed to help the youngsters and their families so they better understand the effects from their child’s trauma(s). Inmate Driver is a wealth of knowledge and experience that could potentially benefit hundreds of thousands of others, possibly even being a major cause for the decrease in criminal activities.
Inmate Driver E30443 is also the certified welder that earned blue ribbon awards at the Sacramento County Fair along with being the fabricator of numerous structures in or around historical buildings. Driver is also the Olympic hopeful and sixth in state wrestling champion in 1986 for Washington State. Certified in air conditioning and refrigeration, Driver can also construct solar energy panels. Certification was also earned in vocational landscaping producing numerous positive articles and letters about how to improve the landscapes and environments he has access to. Inmate Driver is also known as the graduate student who earned and Associates in Social Sciences degree from Lassen Community College receiving Presidential honors for maintaining a 3.8 GPA while also facilitating or attending numerous self-help programs, often spending hours trying to instill positive changes in his peers.
Inmate means to me: a man with hard work ethics, pride, humility, courage and wisdom. A positive influence, leader and example to not only fellow inmates but to correctional staff and members of society as a whole. A man, that while serving justice for his past criminal behaviors, took advantage of the opportunities to learn and change and become a law abiding, honest and respectable man with values, principals and standards that are very positive. Making him a valuable asset to society.
I am Inmate Driver E30443, call me Tom or Tommy. I was incarcerated twenty-five years ago for shooting and killing a man that threatened my life and held me captive at gun point. I am no longer the immature criminal, liar, thief and disappointment I was back then. Today I am an example of successful rehabilitation. I am honest, responsible and hopeful. I am the son my parents are now proud of for my positive changes and growth. I am the husband my wife calls “home”, her “life and breath” as I too see and feel she is to me. I am the rehabilitated father that pleads with his son to not make the same mistakes in life that I once did. I pray the wisdom and experiences I share will give my son Joey the tools he needs to avoid the regrets and negative experiences of bad choices and enjoy a wonderful and successful life. Inmate: man/woman, son/daughter, husband/wife, father/mother, brother/sister, uncle/aunt, potential person to heal our children and our families. Source of wealth of knowledge, experience, and wisdom viewed by many as priceless because of the potential benefit to society. Inmate Driver E30443, who am I to you?

For California Prison Realignment Hype, Scary Tales Deserve Skepticism

By Mike Males and Barry Krisberg

Over the last 30 years, California has created an oversized, overcrowded prison system entailing billions of dollars in taxpayer expense, endless safety and health crises, a dismal record of rehabilitation, and increasingly proscriptive court orders to regulate almost all aspects of prison operations.

One major reason for this crisis is that a number of counties were over-relying on the state system by sending thousands of lower-level property and drug offenders to prison. California’s legislature and governor had no choice but to cut prisoner numbers. They mandated that counties, as of October 1, 2011, could no longer send offenders to state prison unless they were convicted of serious, violent, or sex crimes.

Called “realignment,” the state plan aimed to reduce prison populations by 40,000 over the next five years, saving taxpayers around $2 billion annually and recognizing that unnecessary incarceration does not achieve public safety goals. Realignment is the first step in making local jurisdictions more self-reliant – with the added hope that the counties will design better strategies to prevent reoffending than prisons have.

So far, realignment has been meeting its stated goals. In its first year, prison numbers fell by 27,000. While the numbers of violent, serious, and sex offenders committed to state prison remain the same, counties are assuming responsibility for their drug possession, petty theft, car boosting, and other low-level offenders that are best managed locally.

It is too early to assess the effects of realignment, if any, on crime rates. These data won’t be available for several months. Nevertheless, some opponents of realignment are already asserting that the new policy is overburdening counties and creating a crime epidemic.

Over the past several months there have been multiple news reports charging that the realignment is increasing crime across California. Additionally, there have been a few law enforcement assertions regarding crimes committed by locally-supervised probationers who, prior to realignment, would have been supervised by the state parole system.

Continue Reading @ California Progress Report

 

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Prison Break: California Rethinks Criminal Justice

By KQED and the Center for Investigative Reporting

 

 

Above: At a cost of $50,000 per inmate, California Governor Jerry Brown said the state’s justice system was failing. Now, his historic overhaul of the criminal justice system is underway. KQED and the Center for Investigative Reporting take a look at how well it is working. This shortened version of the half-hour special aired on KPBS Evening Edition on Friday, August, 31, 2012.

At a cost of $50,000 per inmate, Governor Jerry Brown said the state’s justice system was failing. Now, his historic overhaul of the criminal justice system is underway. KQED and the Center for Investigative Reporting took a look at how well it is working.

Via @ KPBS

 

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Civil rights group sues California over the state’s Security Housing Unit at Pelican Bay State Prison

By Rina Palta

Rina Palta, KPCC

A bunk in the Security Housing Unit at Pelican Bay State Prison in Crescent City, CA. (August, 2011)

The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) filed suit in federal court Thursday on behalf of California prisoners in Pelican Bay State Prison’s Security Housing Units, the most isolated, restrictive prison cells in the state.

Inmates in the SHU (pronounced “shoo”) spend 22 and a half hours in their cells each day and have more limited access to other prisoners, visitors, and programming than inmates in the general population. They’re mostly kept one person to each cell and exercise once a day in a concrete, enclosed space.

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials have said that conditions in the SHU are admitedly restrictive, but with good reason. SHUs are CDCR’s primary method for combatting prison gangs, which they say wreak havoc on the prison population and have close ties to criminal street gangs.

People get to the SHU one of two ways: either they’ve committed a new crime while in prison (like assault or murder); or they’re deemed prison gang members or “affiliates.” Those convicted of a crime serve a fixed sentence, those in the SHU because of gang affiliations are kept there indefinitely. Currently, Pelican Bay’s SHU has 1,128. In August 2011, Warden Greg Lewis said about 95 percent of SHU inmates were serving indefinite terms.

Currently, the way back to a lower level cell for these inmates is a process called “debriefing,” which amounts to telling prison officials everything the inmate knows about prison gangs. Inmates can also get out if they demonstrate having no gang activity for six years.

On a press tour of Pelican Bay last year, prison officials said debriefing allows them to know the inmate is no longer a gang threat and also provides useful information in dealing with a major prison problem. Restricted communications—which officals say does not amount to “solitary confinement”—is used to keep gang “shot callers” from passing on orders and information to subordinates.

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