Overcrowding in Prison: Who's to Blame? August 27, 2004 If you've followed the news at all, you are well aware of all the finger pointing that has been going on as of late toward the Department of Corrections and CCPOA. The CDC has been faced with a lot of upheaval recently due to budget, legislative issues and even internal administrative problems - we all know that there are areas that are in need of improvement, but public slander by the media isn't the way to get anything accomplished. The CCPOA of course has had more than its share of negative press recently, painted by the media as a big union bully, the bane of the state's budget and center of much political controversy. We've all read the negative press and in many ways have thickened our skin because of it. Quite frankly, we're getting used to receiving the short end of the stick. But every now and then an article, an editorial or a story in the media will just get under your skin, pushing you to stand up and say, "That's enough… That's not fair… I can't take it anymore!" One such editorial commentary was posted this week in The Reporter, which is published out of Vacaville, California. The editorial title was "Overcrowded Prisons Getting Worse" - a real life situation that the public should be made more aware of in my humble opinion. So what's the problem? Well the problem is that instead of writing an informative editorial about this issue, one that has been on-going for years, the editorial was instead written to allude that the overcrowding situation is being exaggerated to the media, to benefit Correctional Peace Officers and the CCPOA. The editorial comments were based upon a memo that was released earlier this week regarding the emergency efforts that have been put in place by CDC at Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga to accommodate 60 additional inmates and increase safety. Yet the writer chose to focus instead on her own conspiracy theory that Correctional Officers were making these changes to inflate the danger-factor and seriousness of the situation. The additional inmates will be housed in a dayroom facility that has been set up to utilize double and triple bunk beds. Because of the extra "bodies", all inmates will experience a decrease in available shower, phone and recreation time and have to share limited bathroom facilities. A brief mention was made of the potential situation for unsanitary conditions due to the limited space and restroom facilities, however the limitation of phone use was what seemed to upset this writer more than anything else. Could it be that the media is more concerned with getting phone time with their "sources" for future articles than with the actual welfare of those inmates that they champion for? It's no surprise that no mention was made of the increased risk to the Correctional Officers that will have to patrol the overcrowded dayroom area at night. Use of dayrooms and gymnasiums as emergency housing has happened many times before, at many California prisons, including our own Ironwood State Prison. Increased risk to all involved - both inmate and officer - is a dangerous result of overcrowding. It's not just that there isn't enough staff to secure the population, but it's that there still is not sufficient availability of housing to accommodate the number of those incarcerated within the California Penal System. The editorial does not beat around the bush. Ms Chappell says outright that she feels that the overcrowding situation "may be just what the California Correctional Peace Officers Association wants to ensure job security. After all, they will need more staff and more money to deal with those violent and unruly inmates. I honestly believe that the many recent restrictions, changes, and cuts to inmates is in part an effort on behalf of the CCPOA and the California Department of Corrections to show the public just how necessary their pay increases and need for additional staff really are. They must stay tough on the most dangerous beat in the state." She continues, saying "It's only tough because they've made it tough. Many other countries have dealt with crime and punishment in very different ways much more successfully than we are doing now. In fact, even other states within the United States are much more successful than we are in California." That's enough… That's not fair… I can't take it anymore! Return to HOME

DISCLAIMER CCPOAIronwood.com provides the news and information listed on this site as a service to the officers and CCPOA members of Ironwood State Prison. CCPOAIronwood.com is not responsible for the actual content, advertising or other information found on the sites that are linked to outside of the CCPOAIronwood.com. If you have any questions or concerns about anything linked to sites outside of CCPOAIronwood.com, please contact the webmaster as soon as is possible. Copyright © 2001 - 2004, CCPOAIronwood.com - All Rights Reserved. Questions? Comments? - Email the WEBMASTER Design Copyright © 2002 YourCompany Inc. - All rights reserved.