Letter: Integration good for state prisons

The segregation policy in California’s prison systems was originally designed to protect its inmates. It was deemed unconstitutional in 2005 but is still common practice. 

The integration process that the state is taking seems to be carefully planned.  Prisons across our state are slowly implementing the new law. This August, the plan was put into action; it took nearly a year to prepare for California’s male inmates to integrate and could take another year to introduce this program to all the state’s prisons.

Many people argue that the ruling made in 2005 was preposterous; they believe it was made without taking into consideration the inmates’ lives. Rival gang members sharing a cell and being in close contact daily is certain to cause more violence. 

Alternatively, racial segregation in prisons can cause more gang activity, thus more violence and death, than would be present if this policy wasn’t in effect. Inmates sent to prison are immediately classified by race, then further classified by gang. If the inmate isn’t a gang member, he is often forced into joining a gang in order to stay alive depending on where he is.  

So it can be said that this policy created to protect inmates not only harms them by allowing gang activity to continue while in prison, but also everyone since most of the inmate population is eventually released to the general public. Though we will not see this law be accepted right away, integration is the first step to solving California’s gang problem.

Ramona Hernandez

Corning