California's Mentally Ill Prison System

The SF Chronicle had an article about an inmate who died today, shot three days ago by one of the guards, supposedly in the course of the prison officials trying to break up a fight.

Killing someone, that'll sure break up a fight. Don't hold your breath waiting for a bona fide investigation as to whether deadly force was required.

The really interesting thing was the last paragraph of the article:


Calnan, 41, was serving time on a third-strike conviction from San Diego County. He was sentenced to 496 years for two counts of receiving stolen property, one count of second-degree burglary, six counts of first-degree burglary, four counts of possession of a firearm by an ex-felon, one count of possession of marijuana for sale, and one county of possession of a controlled substance.

__________________________________

496 (Four Hundred Ninety-Six) years for a jackass needing an attitude adjustment and/or rehabilitation for relatively minor crimes??? The product of a prison system providing third-world medical care, garbage masquerading as food, no meaningful counseling, no meaningful job training for life on the outside. Where was the medical analysis as to whether he had mercury, lead, other medical conditions affecting his ability to function as a productive member of society.

496 years??? For that list of offenses? No rape, no murder, none of the stuff one might be ok with incarcerating someone for the rest of their life.

The California prison system is indeed mentally ill, not just the inmates but the administration going all the way up to HerrGoobernator's office.

TLC