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TO ALL WHO VISIT AT AVENAL
Those of you who visit at Avenal may be aware that a couple of weeks ago the CDCR began mass moves for Avenal inmates, especially those identified as “Southerners” from various yards at Avenal, to Yard 6 or F yard.
These inmates who are being transferred are NOT gang affiliated, but are none the less are being ’classified’ by the CDCR as ‘Southern Hispanics.’
Yard 6 at Avenal has long been on a ‘modified program’ due to housing of various warring factions, including the ‘Bull Dogs.’ Many of those being shipped to Yard 6 are well programming prisoners, many with jobs and involved in established self-help programs on their other yards. However they are being precipitously told to roll up and are being transferred very suddenly and they are losing their jobs and self-help participation at the same time.
There are even a couple of LIFERS who have parole dates and are just waiting out their review time before going home.
Visiting has been heavily impacted, and much of it has been suspended while this “conversion” goes on, additionally visiting on 6 yard was already disrupted with various factions alternating weekends to visit.
Worst of all, the CDCR is attempting to force the warring factions of “Southerners” and “Bull Dogs” to program together, which in their minds is expedient, by loading the yard with programming inmates, all of whom are now identified as 'Southerners.'
Many of the new Southerners who are being transferred have already receive threats from the Bull Dog members, and at least one “kite” has been dropped, indicating what the CDCR politely calls as ‘an incident’, which will kick off once the two factions are on the yard together.
Some of the incoming prisoners are refusing to sign chronos saying they will mingle with Bull Dogs, not because they have a problem but because they are in fear of their safety if they are put in the same space. Some who have refused to do so have reportedly been placed in the hole or given disciplinary write ups for failure to integrate.
Many have written 602s on the move only to be told by one Captain to - go ahead, "he will wipe his a** with them.”
On Thursday, I spoke at length with Terri Gonzales, Associate Director (AD) for Level II and III prisons in Sacramento. AD Gonzales gave me the official version of this ‘conversion’, that it is the way things are going now with realignment and that all moves were carefully considered and there was extensive communication with all inmates involved.
To all of which I can only say—YEA RIGHT!
AD Gonzalez and I had a very frank though civil conversation, and the upshot of our conversation is that she has agreed to come to the Inmate Family Council meeting at Avenal at March 3 at 3 pm. AD Gonzalez is notifying the Warden at Avenal, that many family members who are not council members will likely be in attendance.
This is somewhat unprecedented, for an AD from Sacramento to come on a Saturday to speak to family members, and I would personally like to ask all those Avenal visitors who might be visiting that day or who can visit or even come to the meeting that day to be there, it is important to present the department with a large showing of concern!
And if you are an Avenal visitor whose inmate has not been impacted by this move, please don’t be complacent—your guy could be next, Southerner or not.
This is another VERY IMPORTANT POINT, if you can’t be there, please send AD Gonzalez your concerns about these sort of moves. AD Gonzalez’s email address is;
terri.gonzales@cdcr.gov
Please come if you can, and email me to let me know if you think you can be there.
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PSYCHOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENTS FOR LIFE INMATES-APPROVED
In a process that has had more twists and turns than a Halloween cornfield maze, the latest, BUT CERTAINLY NOT THE LAST,
chapter of the Board of Parole Hearings’ (BPH) battle to legalize the Forensic Assessment Division (FAD) played out recently when, beyond all comprehension, the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) issued a notice of approval of changes to Title 15.
The approval of the FAD was completed by the OAL, , even though the OAL had in their hands the evidence detailing numerous, blatant lies, by the BPH during this whole process.
We are asking the question, WHY did the OAL approve the FAD?
*Go to the MAJOR NEWS tab for the details*
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From The California Fourth
Circuit Court of Appeals,
The California Forth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled the
long-term denials of parole hearings under Marsy’s Law
constitute ex post facto jeopardy for inmates sentenced
and imprisoned prior to the law’s imposition in 2008.
In legal terms this means the 7, 10 and 15-year
denials of parole hearings were improperly imposed
and these denial terms may not be applied
to crimes committed and sentenced imposed prior to 2008
CLICK on the MAJOR NEWS tab for the details...
IMPORTANT NOTICE
URGENT CALL TO ACTION
