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| California Prison System Blasted As 'Tarnished Institution' |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 01/26/2004 |
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Senators and witnesses say California's prison system, the nation's largest, is a "tarnished institution" from the top down -- punishing employees who try to do right and protecting those who do wrong. They also say it is a step away from a federal takeover. That assessment came from state senators after day one of a two-day hearing in Sacramento. Correctional Secretary Roderick Hickman promised to clean house in his testimony today to two Senate committees. But an associate Folsom State Prison warden tearfully accused Hickman of ignoring problems and appeals. The Folsom Prison Associate Warden Max Lemon sobbed while accusing fellow administrators of perjury to cover up a 2002 riot. Lemon also accuses Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of undermining independent investigations by firing members of the Office of Inspector General to please the powerful prison officers' union. A Schwarzenegger spokesman says the firing was routine, while the union's president denies undue influence. The Corrections Department says the outside investigation will probe Folsom officers' allegations of connections between the acting warden on the day of the riot and one of the gangs involved. The warden's already been fired. A federal court monitor has recommended two former Pelican Bay prison officials be charged for blocking a probe of whether officers committed perjury during trials about inmate abuse. |
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