Posted by copwatch | Sun, 03/18/2012 - 2:33pm story
California’s prison isolation units remain inhumane despite proposals to amend policies 3/12/12
Amnesty International welcomes proposals by the California prison authorities to provide a route out of isolation for validated gang members through a step-down process.
However, Amnesty International remains deeply concerned by conditions in the state’s Security Housing Unit (SHU) units, which fall short of international standards for humane treatment.
Posted by copwatch | Sat, 02/11/2012 - 7:48pm story
SOLITARY WATCH: News from a Nation in Lockdown
Dec 30, 2011 by Sal Rodriguez Since the widespread hunger strikes across California protesting the conditions of long-term solitary confinement in the California prison system, there have yet to be any indications of substantive change on the horizon.
Posted by copwatch | Mon, 10/03/2011 - 11:43pm story
Posted by copwatch | Fri, 09/30/2011 - 5:46pm story
Contact the Governor.
Tell him you support the prisoner hunger strike, and the prisoners' FIVE DEMANDS!
Tell him to stop the retaliation by the CDC (California Department of Corrections) against the hunger strikers!
Governor Jerry Brown
State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 445-2841
CDCR Bans Lawyers: TAKE ACTION NOW!
Posted by copwatch | Thu, 07/28/2011 - 10:01pm story
I’ve been eating well this summer, enjoying the local fruits and vegetables of northwest California, while sixty miles away a group of men risked their health by refusing to eat for three weeks. I’m in Big Lagoon, surrounded by ocean, lagoon, and forest in an area of coastal California described by National Geographic as among the top twenty “unspoiled” tourist destinations in the world. An hour’s drive north of here is Pelican Bay State Prison, a state-of-the-art hellhole that was recently the center of a three-week hunger strike led by prisoners in the Secure Housing Units (SHU).
Posted by copwatch | Tue, 10/04/2011 - 12:09am story
1. SHUs don’t work.
Rates of gang activity, yard violence, illegal drug sales and assaults on staff are increasing in California, while decreasing in other states. Maryland has recently closed its SHU.
2. SHUs add violence to the prison system.
The psychologically brutal and degrading conditions of long term SHU confinement encourages violence and harassment by guards and enrages inmates.
3. SHUs cause short, medium, and long term psychological breakdown and social deterioration.
SHU inmates have no physical contact with anyone for years on end and rarely are able to talk to anyone else in the prison.
4. SHUs do not serve public safety.
Inmates are often released directly from the SHU to the general public without skills that would help them survive. They are thus often less well equipped than nonSHU inmates to function in society. Staff working in SHU units have higher rates of drug use, family breakdown, and spouse/child abuse.
Posted by copwatch | Fri, 09/30/2011 - 4:42pm event
California prisoners are on hunger strike again! The hunger strike that started on July 1 of this year in support of 5 demands, has been resumed by thousands of prisoners at Pelican Bay, Calipatria, CCI Tehachapi, Centinela, Corcoran, Chuckawalla Valley State Prison, Ironwood State Prison, Salinas Valley State Prison.
The prisoners say that the California Department of Corrections has retaliated against prisoners for participating in the strike and made only nominal policy changes in response to the strike. Prisoners say it is necessary to continue to put pressure on the CDCR to meaningfully change long-term solitary confinement policies and practices. Up to date information can be found at http://prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com/.
Posted by copwatch | Thu, 09/29/2011 - 11:29pm event
October 5th: in Sacramento
12pm to 2pm
CDCR Headquarters,
1515 S St.
More info call: 415-238-1801
Support the Prisoner Hunger Strike! Support the Five Demands!
All out to Sacramento!
In SOLIDARITY, a group of us will be leaving Eureka on Tuesday night (10/4) to participate in the Oct.5th demo. We'll stay the night in Oakland and rideshare with Bay Area folks to Sacramento on Wednesday morning! We will return to Eureka on Wednesday night (10/5).
If you want to go, please contact Redwood Curtain CopWatch at 707.633.4493 or email copwatchrwc@gmail.com.
Find updates on the hunger strike at
Posted by copwatch | Thu, 07/28/2011 - 1:17am event
Call every Thursday and Friday until the demands are met!
Call for the CA Prison Hunger Strikers!
Support Prisoner Hunger Strike and Five Core Human Rights Demands
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