Prison System Condemned in Concealed Report by Independent Review Panel

Los Angeles, CA California's prison system has been condemned in a 400 page report that to this day has been basically concealed from the public. The report, of the Corrections Independent Review Panel cost the State over a million dollars and took five months of intensive investigations to complete, was presented to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Department of Corrections in June of 2004. Heading the review panel was former California Governor George Deukmejian, appointed by the Governor to investigate the Department of Corrections with the assistance of a cadre of law enforcement experts representing many agencies and associations. Here is the Executive Summary posted on the Department of Corrections website.

The Full Disclosure Network® presents this ten minute video presentation featuring Joe Gunn, Executive Director of Corrections Independent Review Panel told FDN host Leslie Dutton the prison system was in "chaos, a disaster and total disarray". This is the second in a series of FDN video news blogs covering the ongoing crisis in California's jail and prison system. DVDs of the series are available for purchase.

Here are a few of the many points covered in the video and report:

The panel spent months reviewing reports and materials from Office of Inspector General, Little Hoover Commission, State Auditor.
Interviewed current and former members of Governor's Staff, State Legislators, current and former members of Department of Corrections staff, California Youth Authority, Office of Inspector General staff, members of the Little Hoover Commission, leadership of the CCPOA (prison guards association), experts in the field and concerned citizens, totally 470 people altogether.
The panel presented 239 recommendations to reform the state's correctional system.
Listed as some of the major problems are: Ethics, "code of silence", Union/labor contracts and influence over management, union campaign donations, use of force, accountability, and youthful offenders.

Known as "the news behind the news" the Full Disclosure Network® is seen on 43 cable systems and the Internet website at www.fulldisclosure.net In 2002 the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences presented host Leslie Dutton with an Emmy for the 2001 public affairs series entitled "L.A.'s War Against Terrorism" featuring LAPD Chief Bernard Parks, L.A. County Sheriff Leroy Baca, L.A. City Councilman Mark Ridley Thomas and Police Union Director, LAPD Captain Ken Hillman. Channels and airtimes can be found on the website.

Comments to date: 96. This is page 1 of 10.


Liza NorCal	Posted: 12:17 am [PST] on November 09 2009
it is sad the prison system does little to nothing to change the future of young men who are forced to grow up in prison because of mistakes they made as youngsters. Not all of them are bad, some are just surviving the onlyway the know how and would do it another way ifthey had some proper guidance.

Terri M Los Angeles, Ca	Posted: 09:57 pm [PST] on November 08 2009
This is impossible! Now with the Governor trying to appeal the 3 judge ruling...they are too money hungry to continue running this business this way. It sickens me

Fred Sottile Rancho Dominguez	Posted: 09:33 pm [PST] on August 26 2009
Everybody in office should be voted out. This will send a message of dissatisfaction to elected officials. Number one among the people voted out should be the judges. This is an action that will cost nothing and will have a dramatic effect. I have yet to hear a better idea. Let's make it a nation wide movement. As for a Federal Judge overseeing the prisons, forget it. Another judge? No. Let the tax payers elect a responsible board. Not everybody gets a vote, I said THE TAX PAYERS.

Frank Courser Escondido Ca.	Posted: 03:08 pm [PST] on August 23 2009
California paid a million dollars for that report. The governor has ignored all 239 recommendations in the report. The Governor and the legislature have a responsibility to the citizens of this state to listen to the experts and do the best thing for the citizens of the state. Sentencing reform should be the top of the list for the governor and legislature, yet the idea of looking soft on crime has lead them all to look dumb on crime. There is an answer. Be smart on crime!

JULIE CA	Posted: 05:55 pm [PST] on November 29 2008
GET RID OF THE GUARDS UNION

Patricia Victorville, CA	Posted: 06:52 pm [PST] on November 20 2008
A recidivism rate of 70% - desite all that money poured into the prison system? California is locking up far more individuals than those who are truly dangerous to society. Once caught up in the system, it seems they are set up to fail. Meanwhile, education funding is being cut. Social services are being cut. T

Buchanan San Diego	Posted: 08:48 am [PST] on November 19 2008
Human rights have to take center stage.

docswife san diego	Posted: 04:27 pm [PST] on November 18 2008
The CCOPA is a disgrace and should be fired now. The Governor should be held accountable for his inaction in this situation. It is his job to have the best interest of the citizens of California and he has failed miserably. Until people wake up and see what is going on and stop believing everything these politicians say nothing will change. Another way is when one of their own is arrested and thrown to the wolves then they will see the total corruption that happens behind those walls. As long as no press is allowed to investigate and report the truth nothing is ever going to change. Any and all good changes that could have been make the Governor refused to sign them. He should be held accountable for the cover up regarding corrections. Hopefully people will get their heads out of the sand.

Tony Cantero Diamond Bar 91765	Posted: 01:58 pm [PST] on November 16 2008
CCPOA must be exposed for what they really are; an organization to rape the tax payers of CA ‼ The majority of prison inmates are non-violent offenders who are better off on house arrest (wearing an electronic monitoring device while using their residence as their prison).

Kirama Reno NV	Posted: 07:12 am [PST] on November 14 2008
The California prison system is broken beyond repair.