Dear Sirs,

I'm a NH native who looks forward to reading your paper every month. After some encouragement from friends, I've decided to write this letter.

I am currently serving a three year term at Valley State Prison in Chowchilla, CA for possession of 1.2 grams of a controlled substance. This is my first (and only) conviction. Thought your readers might be interested in hearing about the conditions in a maximum security women's facility.

There are 8000 women at Valley State Prison and Central California Women's Facility combined (CCWF is located across the street from VSPW). We live 8 women to a cell. The cell living space is 246 square feet, which breaks down to less than 31 square feet per woman. This is, by the way, in violation of their own laws. (See Ruiz v Johnson 154 F2d995 (2001) “Unconstitutional to house more inmates than the design capacity.” CCWF + VSPW designed for 4 to a cell.) This makes for the spread of infectious disease very easy, especially as there is extremely limited access to disinfectant, and no access to bleach.

Now a little about the procedure here. When one first arrives at VSPW, you are on 'A' yard in 'Receiving' for approximately 60 days. During this 60 day period, everyone is classified on a point based system based upon your rapsheet, controlling case, age, behavior at county jail, etc. It is then determined if an inmate will be a level I, II, III, or IV. I was assigned 12 points making me a level I. I know many women who have close to 300 points to give you an idea of the range. While on 'A' yard, all women also receive medical screenings. More on that later.

After being “classified”, it is determined for most women that they will go “over the wall” into general population. In general population, all levels are housed together. (In my cell are 3 level IV “lifers”). This can be difficult, both for the minimum security inmates and the maximum security long-timers. The level I's are exposed to situations and personalities that are very resentful and have nothing to lose. Some women are even expected to pay “rent” to the lifers in their room! It is also hard on the level IV's to see “short-termers” coming in and out of prison (70% recidivism rate at VSPW). Many times newcomers don't know the ropes, and unhygienic, or mentally incapable of dealing with their situation.

As far as medical and dental and psychiatric care...I have never seen so many young women receive hysterectomies. And so many ladies with uncontrolled blood pressure and diabetes. The state many times won't dispense prescriptions (for medical conditions) that people had on the streets – always trying something less expensive if they can get away with it. The dental care is tooth extraction. That's it, that's all. No cleanings, no fillings, as as soon as one gets a toothache, out it comes. And the psychiatric care, hmm where to start? First to give credit, unlike the majority of staff here, mental health employees actually do seem to care, but they are extremely overburdened and encouraged to prescribe medication that will calm people. (Seroquel, Trazodone, Thorazine, lithium) Once an inmate is on one of these medications, they will be written up if they decide not to take it, and it is much more difficult to discontinue the meds than it is to get them.

Now I don't know about prisons elsewhere, but the system here in CA is definitely not designed to help anyone. In fact it's not even expected to—especially by the staff. Many correctional officers joke to the inmates about to parole with a “see ya next month,” or even, “How long until you come back this time?” People will live up to expectations – and everyone expects them to return. Just because they wear a uniform shouldn't give them the right to criticize and humiliate anyone. We inmates know where we are and this constant behavior by the staff only causes more resentment and chaos.

The CA prison system also utilizes inmates as slave labor. There are extensive almond fields, all worked by inmates, along with dry cleaning, eye glass production, and clothing, men's prisons package milk, juice and other foodstuffs. Even when an inmate requests GED classes or training in a vocation, if the fields need workers that will take precedence. The highest paid workers make $.90 an hour, the lowest $.08. Many kitchen workers and yard crew receive no wages at all.

Well, I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea. It is a very hard place, and many inmates are completely cut off from their family and friends. Thank you for reading and feel free to write back with any comments.

Sincerely,
Tara Mitchell
X25354
VSPW
B3-4-2L
Chowchilla, CA 93610