California Prisons

Laura Magnani

Laura Magnani of AFSC’s San Francisco office is a nationally known expert on solitary confinement.

“I’ve never seen a hearing on prison issues like this before,” was the buzz in the California State Capitol following the second hearing of the Assembly’s Public Safety Committee on solitary confinement cells officially called “security housing units.”

Unity Hands

Prisoners held in isolation in Pelican Bay, Ca., state prison have called for the cessation of all hostilities between racial groups in all California prisons and county jails, starting on Oct. 10, 2012. AFSC and other prisoner advocacy groups are sharing their handwritten statement with the public.

Pelican Bay Prison

Pelican Bay Prison in California.

Photo: Jelson25

Editor's note: On Sept. 30, 2012, Gov. Brown vetoed the media access bill. AFSC’s Laura Magnani responded:

Hunger Strike logo2

On December 28, AFSC Regional Director Laura Magnani and another member of the “mediation team” met with California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Undersecretary Terri McDonald to discuss CDCR progress on changing policies and procedures for gang validation into the SHUs (security housing units).  In that meeting, Undersecretary McDonald stated the following points.

Hunger Striker Logo

This logo was developed by the hunger strikers in Pelican Bay State Penitentiary.

[Updated] On September 26, thousands of California prisoners inside and outside the state resumed their hunger strike to protest the conditions of solitary confinement.   The strike was suspended after three weeks in July to give officials time they said they needed to respond to prisoner demands. 

Pelican Bay Prison

Pelican Bay Prison in California.

Photo: Jelson25

After nearly three weeks, the hunger strike over conditions in the solitary confinement unit at Pelican Bay State Prison has ended. Corrections officials have promised long-term, positive changes and made some immediate concessions on July 21, prompting the inmates to break their fasts.  Mediators for the prisoners say the men extend their deepest thanks to supporters outside.

Prison Overcrowding

Overcrowding in Califonria Prisons.

AFSC welcomes landmark ruling by US Supreme Court that overcrowding in CA prisons results in "cruel and unusual punishment."

The Sacramento Bee ran the first of two-part expose of abuses in California prisons' behavioral modification programs, on Sunday, May 9.