Roundup of Testimony from California Assembly Hearing on Solitary Confinement

by | September 26, 2011

Today, some inmates in the Security Housing Units (SHUs) at Pelican Bay and Calipatria State Prisons in California will resume a hunger strike demanding reforms ranging from nutritious meals to reducing the use of long-term solitary confinement.

In response to a three-week hunger strike this past summer, the California Assembly’s Public Safety Committee held a hearing on August 23 on the SHUs, their efficacy, effect on inmates, and possible directions for reform.

Below are the main pieces of testimony–as transcripts or as written statements–presented before the Committee, in the order they were presented.

Glenda Rojas (transcript), family member of Pelican Bay SHU inmate: http://www.whatthefolly.com/2011/08/25/transcript-glenda-rojas-testimony-on-the-harmful-impacts-of-solitary-confinement-practices-at-californias-secure-housing-units-shu-prison-facilities/

Earl Fears (transcript), former Corcoran SHU inmate: http://www.whatthefolly.com/2011/08/25/transcript-earl-fears-testimony-on-the-harmful-impacts-of-solitary-confinement-practices-at-california%E2%80%99s-secure-housing-units-shu-prison-facilities/

Reverend William McGarvey, member of the national board of More Light Presbyterians, representative of the Bay Area Religious Campaign Against Torture: https://solitarywatch.org/2011/09/03/the-destruction-of-the-human-spirit-testimony-of-rev-will-mcgarvey-on-solitary-confinement/

Charles Carbone, attorney : http://www.whatthefolly.com/2011/08/30/transcript-charles-carbones-testimony-on-the-harmful-impacts-of-solitary-confinement-practices-at-california%E2%80%99s-secure-housing-units-shu-prison-facilities/

Craig Haney, Professor of psychology: https://solitarywatch.org/2011/09/01/pawns-in-a-failed-experiment-testimony-of-dr-craig-haney-on-solitary-confinement/

Laura Magnani, Interim Regional Director of the American Friends Service Committee-Bay Area: https://solitarywatch.org/2011/09/08/a-form-of-torture-testimony-of-laura-magnani-on-solitary-confinement/

Dorsey Nunn, Executive Director of Legal Services for Prisoners With Children and member of All Of Us Or None: https://solitarywatch.org/2011/09/08/where-punishment-becomes-torture-testimony-of-dorsey-nunn-on-solitary-confinement/

Dr. Terry Kupers, clinical psychiatrist and professor at Wright Institute Graduate School of Psychology : https://solitarywatch.org/2011/08/31/toxic-conditions-testimony-of-dr-terry-kupers-on-solitary-confinement/

Scott Kernan (transcript), Undersecretary of Operations of California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation: http://www.whatthefolly.com/2011/09/12/transcript-cdcr-undersecretary-of-operations-scott-kernan-solitary-confinement-in-california-prisons/

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