California prison guards accused of cruelty, racism

[Newsjock]

Source: Sacramento Bee

Jason Brannigan's eyes widened as he relived the day he says prison guards pepper-sprayed his face at point-blank range, then pulled him through the cellblock naked, his hands and feet shackled.

"I can't breathe! I can't breathe!" Brannigan recalled gasping in pain and humiliation during the March 2007 incident.

"They're walking me on the chain and it felt just like … slaves again," said the African American inmate, interviewed at the Sacramento County jail. "Like I just stepped off an auction block."

Brannigan, 33, said the incident occurred in the behavior modification unit at High Desert State Prison in Susanville, where he was serving time for armed assault. He is one of more than 1,500 inmates who have passed through such units in six California prisons.

A Bee investigation into the behavior units, including signed affidavits, conversations and correspondence with 18 inmates, has uncovered evidence of racism and cruelty at the High Desert facility. Inmates described hours-long strip-searches in a snow-covered exercise yard. They said correctional officers tried to provoke attacks between inmates, spread human excrement on cell doors and roughed up those who peacefully resisted mistreatment.

... The Bee's investigation also revealed a broad effort by corrections officials to hide the concerns of prisoners and of the department's own experts. Their final report, released only after The Bee requested it in April, downplayed the abuses.

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2010/05/09/2737459/the-public-eye-guards-accused.html

[bluestateguy]

1. Now THAT is one union that is out of control

The California prison guards rightfully deserve to be called union thugs.

[Imajika]

3. Unions represent their dues paying members...

Prison guard unions represent the concerns of prison guards - they do NOT represent the prisoners.

Police unions represent the concerns of police - they do NOT represent the civilian public.

Teachers unions represent the concerns of teachers - they do NOT represent the kids.

People seem to forget this all too often - especially where teachers unions are concerned.

[Solly Mack]

2. k/r