US Prison System and California's Gulag

[eamo]

The state of Texas seems determined to kill Linda Carty.


The daily mail seem sure of her guilt.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ecuted-US.html


But dig a bit deeper and it seems there are grave doubts about Ms. Carty's conviction, and it seems she and her family has suffered victimization and ill-treatment even by Texas prison standards.

http://www.reprieve.org.uk/events/savelindacarty/


The death penalty is final and inhuman. And no system is infallible. Killing Linda will not bring back Joana Rodriguez. but will be another shame on the state of Texas. Let Linda live. I have my doubts about the effectiveness of on-line petitions but I suppose signing them is better than not. There are several supporting Linda's cause.


http://uk.news.yahoo.com/death-row-g...507854.html?nc

http://www.deathrow-usa.us/TXLindaCarty.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Carty


Also concern in Texas, this is from the Texas observer:

Carty was born on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts when it was still a British colony. As such, Carty holds British citizenship, and under the terms of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, when she was first arrested, the British consulate in Houston should have been informed. But it wasn’t.

source:http://www.texasobserver.org/cover-s...t-a-fair-trial

[Count Bobulescu]

Just read the wiki entry and did a search for a US campaign. I’m struck that I couldn’t find any request/plea from the UK Government or much evidence of a US campaign. Based on that, and that alone I would not be optimistic. When Texas Gov Rick Perry jumped into the Prez campaign and was the subject of a lot of media coverage, a supporter touting his machismo was quoted as saying “it takes balls to execute an innocent person”. Don’t think there’ll be any clemency from Perry. Then I found this as third and fourth items in search Ouch! Have never seen anything like this before.

http://digitaljournal.com/article/316375

and this

http://majorityrights.com/weblog/com..._of_clive_staf

[Andrew49]

Joe Arpaio…This guy is a publicity seeking buffoon. Bills himself as….America’s toughest Sherriff. Be glad he is not running your life.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Arpaio

With fresh calls for Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio to face a federal criminal trial, many are predicting the end of his controversial career. What few people realize outside metropolitan Phoenix is how much already Arpaio’s world has fallen apart around him. One-by-one, Arpaio’s closest allies have been forced from power or severed support, leaving the combative 79-year-old sheriff seeking his sixth term increasingly isolated and vulnerable as emboldened foes sharpen their attacks. The latest Arpaio political supporter to fall is former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas, who was disbarred April 10 for engaging in unethical conduct to intimidate and smear his and Arpaio’s political adversaries.

A stinging 247-page opinion written by a three-member Arizona State Supreme Court disciplinary panel supporting the disbarment ruling also concluded there was “beyond reasonable doubt” that Thomas had violated federal civil rights laws.

While Thomas, a Republican, has not been criminally charged, the opinion made it crystal clear that his unethical and allegedly illegal conduct was the result of his “unholy collaboration” with Arpaio, also a Republican, to use their law enforcement powers to retaliate against critics.

Sheriff Joe's world crumbles ... LINK

[fluffybiscuits]

I've watched a couple of documentaries about US jails. The warders use a system that forces everyone into race based gangs - divide and rule. It's a microcosm of the «real world»

Was aware of the race issues but that is shocking. It suits the wardens to have them all seperated out by race and then dish out punishment because god help them if the prisoners come together. Your post prompted me to read up a bit more on the issue and in places like California (where its oh so trendy to be liberal rather than being liberal by choice) there is race segregation in the prisons (http://newsmine.org/content.php?ol=s...ia-prisons.txt) . Such segregation enforces stereotypes and disables any sort of harmony that may develop. This is a policy advocated by some politicians....

[C. Flower]

"Miami Mega Jail with Louis Theroux is showing on RTE 2 at the moment.

Short interviews with prisoners - at the moment, a 14 year old, waiting in a cell for a court date, and expecting a 10 year sentence.

One 21 year old, just sentenced 40 years for stabbing a junkie/customer, said he felt relief to be in jail, as outside was hell.

[Count Bobulescu]

With fresh calls for Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio to face a federal criminal trial, many are predicting the end of his controversial career. What few people realize outside metropolitan Phoenix is how much already Arpaio’s world has fallen apart around him. One-by-one, Arpaio’s closest allies have been forced from power or severed support, leaving the combative 79-year-old sheriff seeking his sixth term increasingly isolated and vulnerable as emboldened foes sharpen their attacks. The latest Arpaio political supporter to fall is former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas, who was disbarred April 10 for engaging in unethical conduct to intimidate and smear his and Arpaio’s political adversaries.

A stinging 247-page opinion written by a three-member Arizona State Supreme Court disciplinary panel supporting the disbarment ruling also concluded there was “beyond reasonable doubt” that Thomas had violated federal civil rights laws.

While Thomas, a Republican, has not been criminally charged, the opinion made it crystal clear that his unethical and allegedly illegal conduct was the result of his “unholy collaboration” with Arpaio, also a Republican, to use their law enforcement powers to retaliate against critics.

Sheriff Joe's world crumbles ... LINK

It’s been a long time coming. I know AAG Tom Perez. He used be my County Councilor.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politi...y.html?hpid=z3

It’s been a classic old-West showdown: the self-acclaimed “America’s toughest sheriff” vs. the Feds.
For years, the Justice Department has investigated Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona. In December, the department accused Arpaio of violating the civil rights of Hispanics for unlawfully stopping, detaining and arresting them. Then, for months, Justice officials tried to negotiate a settlement. In April, when negotiations fell through, the department threatened to sue

[eamo]

Kevin Craft gives me hope for America. It is because of him I heard of Kelly Thomas RIP . Now if you are very sensitive and have never heard someone upset and swearing then don't watch the video.
This is the tragic, murderous, incident which he is talking about.

Two Fullerton, Calif., police officers will be tried in the death of a mentally ill homeless man whose apparent beating by police was captured on video, a judge ruled today.
Officer Manuel Ramos, 38, and Cpl. Jay Cicinelli, 40, are charged in the death of Kelly Thomas, 37 -- Ramos with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter, and Cicinelli with involuntary manslaughter and assault or battery by a public officer, according to The Associated Press. Both have pleaded not guilty.
Attorneys for the officers have questioned whether medical treatment, not the actual beating, could have resulted in Thomas' death.
"The grainy-but-gripping video of a homeless man being beaten to death was the key evidence in the prosecution's successful effort to convince the court to force a police officer to stand trial for murder in the second degree," said Royal Oakes, an ABC News legal analyst, according to ABC News Radio.
"The video of the beating conjured up memories of the Rodney King police beating of two decades ago," Oakes said. "The videotaped evidence will no doubt be the centerpiece of the D.A.'s case in the upcoming murder trial, where one officer could be facing 15 years-to-life behind bars."
The July 5, 2011, surveillance video, taken from a publicly mounted camera, coupled with an audio recording device worn by an officer, stunned a packed courtroom of Thomas' supporters when it was shown for the first time Monday.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s42WS_g-rI"]Cops Beat A Homeless Schizophrenic Man To Death Caught on Video. - YouTube[/ame]

Here is a report on the death of Kelly Thomas.
It is harrowing.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DTRCy9tPOA"]Cops Beat Homeless Man to Death - Officers did not use excessive force [© RTAmerica, ABC] - YouTube[/ame]

Here is the full video of the killing of Kelly Thomas.
Be warned, this is horrible.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWxIHAnd47Y"]POLICE BRUTALLY BEAT HOMELESS MAN CAUGHT ON TAPE - YouTube[/ame]

Some dont even get as far as the California Gulag.

[fluffybiscuits]

Horrific stuff Eamo isnt it? Its disgusting that such police officers dont look inside themselves and look at their morals. People like them should be stripped of their position and locked up...

[Count Bobulescu]

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/...permax/258002/

Jose Martin Vega was no saint. Convicted in 1995 of 15 counts of racketeering and armed drug trafficking, he was sentenced, at the age of 20, to four consecutive life sentences. Nine years after his conviction, and after a violent confrontation at another maximum security federal prison, Vega found himself at the United States Penitentiary -- Administrative Maximum ("ADMAX" or "ADX") near Florence, Colorado. As its name suggests, this lonely place is where America sends many of its most troublesome prisoners.

Vega first came to ADX on April 5, 2004. Six years and 26 torturous days later he was dead -- at the age of 35. On May 1, 2010, using a bed sheet, Vega hanged himself in his cell in the control unit of the prison, an especially isolating part of the facility. Although Vega was not shackled when he hanged himself, the photos contained in the coroner's report show an unconscious man shackled at the hands and feet while prison officials are administering rescue efforts. At ADX, in the control unit especially, even the dead or dying are shackled.

[C. Flower]

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/...permax/258002/

A set of photos of San Quentin and some men who live there - after a fashion - in today's Mail.

"Three strikes and your out" seems to mean a life sentence for some addicts for three petty non-violent offences.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...st_read_module

[C. Flower]

There are still prisoners in Georgia on hunger strike. Retaliation has included cutting off heat and serious beatings.

http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?...4&jumival=8631

[Sam Lord]

I've watched a couple of documentaries about US jails. The warders use a system that forces everyone into race based gangs - divide and rule. It's a microcosm of the «real world»

The good news is that the prisoners recognise this and are working against it.

There has been a historic decision by the prisoners in California who went through the hunger strikes to put an end to racial hostilities commencing Oct. 10 (this week) :

Agreement to end hostilities

Dated Aug. 12, 2012

To whom it may concern and all California Prisoners:

Greetings from the entire PBSP-SHU Short Corridor Hunger Strike Representatives. We are hereby presenting this mutual agreement on behalf of all racial groups here in the PBSP-SHU Corridor. Wherein, we have arrived at a mutual agreement concerning the following points:

1. If we really want to bring about substantive meaningful changes to the CDCR system in a manner beneficial to all solid individuals who have never been broken by CDCR’s torture tactics intended to coerce one to become a state informant via debriefing, that now is the time for us to collectively seize this moment in time and put an end to more than 20-30 years of hostilities between our racial groups.

2. Therefore, beginning on Oct. 10, 2012, all hostilities between our racial groups in SHU, ad-seg, general population and county jails will officially cease. This means that from this date on, all racial group hostilities need to be at an end. And if personal issues arise between individuals, people need to do all they can to exhaust all diplomatic means to settle such disputes; do not allow personal, individual issues to escalate into racial group issues!


Like the Attica rebellion, the Lucasville prisoners who took over their prison in April 1993 deliberately united across the racial lines that prison authorities use to divide and conquer prisoners. The multi-racial leadership has remained united to this day throughout their isolation on death row. This photo of a sign made during the rebellion was used as an exhibit during their trial in 1996. – Photo: Courtesy Staughton Lynd (below)

3. We also want to warn those in the general population that IGI [Institutional Gang Investigators] will continue to plant undercover Sensitive Needs Yard (SNY) debriefer “inmates” amongst the solid GP prisoners with orders from IGI to be informers, snitches, rats and obstructionists, in order to attempt to disrupt and undermine our collective groups’ mutual understanding on issues intended for our mutual causes (i.e., forcing CDCR to open up all GP main lines and return to a rehabilitative-type system of meaningful programs and privileges, including lifer conjugal visits etc. via peaceful protest activity and noncooperation e.g., hunger strike, no labor etc.). People need to be aware and vigilant to such tactics and refuse to allow such IGI inmate snitches to create chaos and reignite hostilities amongst our racial groups. We can no longer play into IGI, ISU (Investigative Service Unit), OCS (Office of Correctional Safety) and SSU’s (Service Security Unit’s) old manipulative divide and conquer tactics!

In conclusion, we must all hold strong to our mutual agreement from this point on and focus our time, attention and energy on mutual causes beneficial to all of us [i.e., prisoners] and our best interests. We can no longer allow CDCR to use us against each other for their benefit!

Because the reality is that collectively, we are an empowered, mighty force that can positively change this entire corrupt system into a system that actually benefits prisoners and thereby the public as a whole, and we simply cannot allow CDCR and CCPOA, the prison guards’ union, IGI, ISU, OCS and SSU to continue to get away with their constant form of progressive oppression and warehousing of tens of thousands of prisoners, including the 14,000-plus prisoners held in solitary confinement torture chambers – SHU and ad-seg units – for decades!

We send our love and respect to all those of like mind and heart. Onward in struggle and solidarity!

Presented by the PBSP-SHU Short Corridor Collective:
•Todd Ashker, C-58191, D1-119
•Arturo Castellanos, C-17275, D1-121
•Sitawa Nantambu Jamaa (Dewberry), C-35671, D1-117
•Antonio Guillen, P-81948, D2-106

And the Representatives Body:
•Danny Troxell, B-76578, D1-120
•George Franco, D-46556, D4-217
•Ronnie Yandell, V-27927, D4-215
•Paul Redd, B-72683, D2-117
•James Baridi Williamson, D-34288. D4-107
•Alfred Sandoval, D-61000, D4-214
•Louis Powell, B-59864, D1-104
•Alex Yrigollen, H-32421, D2-204
•Gabriel Huerta, C80766, D3-222
•Frank Clement, D-07919, D3-116
•Raymond Chavo Perez, K-12922, D1-219
•James Mario Perez, B-48186, D3-124

[Count Bobulescu]

6:26 AM ET | The Associated Press reports that California voters have passed Proposition 36, a reform to California's 3-strikes law. "The ballot measure has a provision requiring a defendant's 'third-strike' crime to be serious or violent, with some exceptions, before triggering a 25-year-to-life prison sentence," The Los Angeles Times explains. "The three strikes law, approved by voters in 1994, has been popular with Californians for years. But as the state's fiscal crisis dragged on and a growing share of the state budget has been consumed by state prisons, polls began to suggest Californians were willing to reconsider the law." In keeping with the metaphor, a foul ball will no longer count as a final strike.

[eamo]

6:26 AM ET | The Associated Press reports that California voters have passed Proposition 36, a reform to California's 3-strikes law. "The ballot measure has a provision requiring a defendant's 'third-strike' crime to be serious or violent, with some exceptions, before triggering a 25-year-to-life prison sentence," The Los Angeles Times explains. "The three strikes law, approved by voters in 1994, has been popular with Californians for years. But as the state's fiscal crisis dragged on and a growing share of the state budget has been consumed by state prisons, polls began to suggest Californians were willing to reconsider the law." In keeping with the metaphor, a foul ball will no longer count as a final strike.

So it seems the cost of imprisoning such a large proportion of their population will be the reason for changing the law.

No matter, it is progress.

It should help stop cases of injustice like the case of Dale Curtis Gaines.

Dale Curtis Gaines has never been convicted of a violent offense, but his prison term of 27 years to life is longer than many sentences imposed on rapists, child molesters and killers.

Gaines was sent to prison under California's tough three-strikes law, which targets repeat offenders with previous convictions for at least two violent or serious crimes when they commit any new felony. Two prior residential burglaries made Gaines eligible for a lengthy prison stint when a jury found him guilty of a new offense in 1998.

It seems there was widespread opposition even from within the establishment to the crude "three strikes" rule.

In reality, Prop. 36 would codify what already takes place in the most populated counties of the state. Three courageous district attorneys -- District Attorney Steve Cooley, a Republican, George Gascon of San Francisco County and Jeffrey Rosen of Santa Clara County -- have risked their careers by refusing to seek the life sentence for a third strike if the offense is not serious or violent. These three DAs support Prop. 36.
Not only does this change make the punishment fit the crime, it would make Three Strikes uniform throughout the state.

Here is a web page by the league of women voters of California giving arguments and rebuttal of arguments on both sides.

http://www.smartvoter.org/2012/11/06/ca/state/prop/36/

[C. Flower]

Very interesting item on Pat Kenny this morning - interview with a US author who is explaining how slavery was made unconstitutional in the US, but not illegal. It was never made illegal when in the prison system - by various means thousands of black people were forced into indentured labour. US prisons are more or less labour camps in many cases and jail almost a norm at some stage for young black men.

"The Re-enslavement of Black Americans" is the name of the book.