Tuesday, September 28, 2010
CCC RETIRED STAFF MEMBER PASSES AWAY LAST NIGHT
Saturday, September 25, 2010
September 25, 2010
By Sam Stanton
A fight this morning among three inmates at the High Desert State Prison in Susanville left a 40-year-old inmate dead after a prison officer fired a rifle to halt the altercation, authorities said tonight.
The inmate's name was being withheld pending notification of relatives and an investigation into the incident, but the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said he was serving a life term out of San Francisco for first degree murder, attempted murder, rape by force and first degree burglary with a weapon.
The inmate had been at the prison since May 1, 2007, the department said.
The incident began at about 11 a.m. Saturday in the recreational yard at the prison when two inmates attacked a third, the department said.
During the attack, one of the inmates choked another until he was unconscious and "in an effort to prevent significant bodily injury and possible death" an officer fired a rifle round that hit one of the inmates in the upper body, the department said.
He was taken to the prison's treatment and triage area, where officials worked to save him until he was pronounced dead at 11:50 a.m, the department said.
The incident is being investigated by the state Office of the Inspector General Bureau of Independent Review and the prison's investigative services unit. Prison officials also notified the Lassen County District Attorney's Office.
One of the surviving inmates was described as a 25-year-old serving life for first-degree murder out of Contra Costa County. He has been at the Susanville prison since April 8, 2008.
The other is a 35-year-old from Kings County serving a 52-year to life sentence for attempted murder and shooting into an inhabited dwelling. He has been there since March 8, 2005.
Authorities say no prison staff were hurt in the incident at the prison, which houses about 5,000 minimum, medium and maximum-security inmates.
Read more: http://blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archives/2010/09/inmate-fatally.html#storylink=fblike#ixzz10bQk1YXj
Friday, September 24, 2010
Available no more?
Prison officers: shift changes could prevent volunteering Officers recently requested letters of support from the Del Norte County Board of Supervisors and the Crescent City Council to send to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). Paul Wenning, Pelican Bay chapter president of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, said CDCR is proposing a switch from 8-hour shifts to 12-hour shifts. “Currently we work three 8-hour shifts,” Wenning said. “It will save money by eliminating one shift.” However, Wenning said the change will greatly impact more than a hundred officers who volunteer with the city’s fire department and local sports teams. He said some of the officers help out the high school football team. “I believe there’s a total of 10 officers that assist with that program,” Wenning said. Correctional Officer Sean Harper is one of many youth football volunteers. Harper said the new shifts would be from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., effectively erasing time for afterschool activities. “I coach football and baseball,” Harper said. “The kids can’t wait around until 8 p.m. to start practice.” Harper said the new schedules would also rotate their work shifts every couple of weeks, making it impossible to have a set itinerary. He said workers will no longer be allowed to trade shifts either. “That’s how a lot of us accomplish getting days off for practices and games,” Harper said. “We will not be able to volunteer.” Peggy Bengs, spokesperson for CDCR, said the alternative work schedule seeks to deal with more than $1.2 billion in budget cuts during 2009-2010. “It’s a way to create more flexibility,” Bengs said, “and still keep the institution safe.”  “If the department does move forward, we will discuss appropriate options with labor (unions),” Bengs said. According to Bengs, 12-hour shifts have been successfully implemented in police and nursing fields, and throughout prison systems in other states. “Thirteen states use alternative work schedules in their prison systems,” Bengs said. “A number of California county jails are also on 12-hour shifts, including Sacramento County Jail.” The shift changes are proposed for Pelican Bay, High Desert State Prison and Salinas Valley State Prison. Bengs said these are areas where recruiting is difficult. According to Wenning, residents in these areas will suffer because officers are typically very involved in their small, tight-knit communities. “They need to take into consideration the impact it’s going to have on the rural communities,” Wenning said. Sgt. Jesse Puente is a Pelican Bay employee who also coaches youth football. Puente said without prison employees, many of the youth sports programs would cease to exist. Puente said kids would then miss out on an opportunity to learn how to be good, productive citizens. “We’re trying to teach the kids respect and discipline, not only on the field but in the community,” Puente said. CDCR is aware of concerns surrounding the work hour changes, and Bengs said the department is open to discussion.  |
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Administration DOES NOT have your back
Please start thinking about your own safety and do not rely on what this administration thinks is safe for you. Want an example? How about the fact that the retired annuitants were sent on transportations for approximately 8 months without transportation training. Can I prove this? NO they refused to answer the information request that I authored. WHY? because they were guilty and knew it.
Why, I think it was in 2007 or 2008, Did they take all of the new cars that were bought for medical and hide them in a warehouse? Because the Grand Jury was coming for a tour and they did not want to answer them about all of the cars.
How about the fact that they have only answered one(1) of my information requests in three years (3). That was only after they had Conveniently lost the hand written note that I needed to prove them wrong. Yeah believe me they are really far from being the angels that you believe them to be! Watch you and you're partners back because they DO NOT HAVE IT!
I promise you will hear more about this when it is over, possibly "IN THE NEWS"
oops forgot this is not anonymous
R.L. Boulanger
CCPOA CCC chapter Vice President
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Killer's Lassen parole likely to be moved to prison grounds
Loren Herzog, 44, initially convicted of three first-degree murders and implicated in several others, will most likely be paroled to property on the grounds of a state prison in Lassen County, said Ken DeVore, chief of staff for Assemblyman Dan Logue, whose 3rd District includes Lassen County.
"It's a 95 percent done deal," DeVore said.
That announcement mid-way through a Lassen County Board of Supervisors meeting drew a cheer from the emotional crowd of 450 people.
"None of us wants this scum here," said Supervisor Jack Hanson, whose district includes the community of Doyle, population 1,175.[continue reading...]
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Fax # 251-6292
Website with email comment section
http://www.co.lassen.ca.us/gov
Supervisors listen to citizens concerns; Unanimously object to housing serial killer in Lassen County
Sept. 14, 2010 — UPDATE: Supervisors listen to citizens concerns
Unanimously object to housing serial killer in Lassen County
Barbara France
Managing Editor
More than 500 citizens showed up at the Lassen County Board of Supervisors regularly scheduled meeting to make their objections to having Loren Herzog, convicted serial killer, released on parole within the county’s borders. The supervisor’s chambers can hold 10 percent of that number. Therefore to make it fair that all citizens could hear the public comments and updated information on Herzog’s pending Friday, Sept. 17 release, the meeting was adjourned and then reconvened at 10 a.m. at Jensen Hall on the Lassen County Fairgrounds. According to the clerk of the board this is the largest turn out of a board meeting ever.
For nearly two hours Herzog’s parole was discussed and at the close of the public comment section of the meeting, District 2 Supervisor Jim Chapman made a motion that the supervisor authorize acting county counsel, Tracy Witry, to explore a writ of mandamus formally objecting to Loren Herzog residing in Lassen County once paroled. Jack Hanson, District 5 supervisor, seconded the motion and the motion was approved unanimously in a 5-0 vote. Herzog was originally to be released in Hanson’s district in the town of Doyle. Third District Assemblyman Dan Logue was able to negotiate with CDCR to have Herzog housed on state property outside of the California Correctional Center when his parole takes place.
Local officials, state officials who represent Lassen County and citizens have rallied together since word came Friday, Sept. 10 that Herzog, known as one of the “Speed Freak Killers,” was to be paroled this week. More than 2,000 petition signatures asking to keep Herzog out of Lassen County were signed in less than 24 hours. Those signatures will be forwarded to Logue’s office.
Herzog had three murder convictions overturned because of a botched interrogation. Herzog's 78-year sentence was reduced to 14 years. The prison system can no longer hold him because Herzog already has credit for time served from his 1999 arrest and his sentencing was reduced for good behavior.
Monday, September 13, 2010
UPDATE TO LASSEN COUNTY PAROLEE 9/13/10
Sept. 10, 2010 — Requests from victims and witnesses were considered and once convicted killer Loren Herzog will be released on parole in Lassen County rather than San Joaquin County.
According to Luis Patino,public information officer for the California Department of Corrections, by law, a parolee should be released to the county of last legal residence.
However, Patino said, victims, victims’ next-of-kin and witnesses have the right to file for special consideration as to the location of the parole releases of their offenders. All requests are evaluated on a case by case basis.
Patino said, “CDCR received additional valid requests. And an evaluation was made to determine what level of consideration was to be granted within the confines of the law. Based on those requests and the confines of the law, Loren Herzog will not be released in San Joaquin County. Herzog will be released in mid-September in Lassen County.”
Recordnet.com, a news sources serving the Stockton and the San Joaquin County areas, reported “Herzog had been sentenced to 78 years for three murders as conspirator to Wesley Shermantinte, who remains on death row for four murders.”
According to a press release from the California State Department of Corrections it says, Herzog was convicted in Santa Clara County, a change of venue from San Joaquin County, in December 2001.
In 2004, a state appellate court threw out Herzog’s three murder convictions and much of the evidence against him.
That led to a plea bargain and Herzog pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. On Dec. 8, 2004, he began serving a 14-year determinate sentence for voluntary manslaughter, three counts of being an accessory to a felony and one count of transportation of a controlled substance. Credit was applied for time Herzog served in county jail and state prison.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Upcoming Elections
State prison officials considering layoffs
Wardens send ideas for cuts
Posted: 09/01/2010 05:23:00 PM PDT
California prison officials are reviewing recommended staff eliminations sent to them last week by prison wardens.
State Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials in August asked for a 3 percent employee reduction - about 1,100 positions - to save between $80 million and $100 million.
An analysis of the potential cuts is expected to be completed in about 30 days, state prison officials said.
Details on recommended cuts at California Institution for Men and California Institution for Women, both in Chino, as well as California Rehabilitation Center in Norco were not released by prison officials.
State prison officials will have to approve the cuts, following labor negotiations.
"The department is in the early stages of analyzing and evaluating the potential impact to operations as well as consistency between institutions," CDCR spokeswoman Peggy Bengs said.
"No actions will be taken prior to a thorough analysis. Should CDCR move forward with reductions, appropriate measures will occur internally and externally, including labor discussions."
The state request for cuts was outlined in a memo sent to state prison wardens earlier last month by George Giurbino, director of adult institutions for CDCR.
Giurbino asked the wardens to identify custody as well as non-custody positions for potential elimination.
Education and health care positions will not be eliminated.
Union officials have expressed concern about employee safety and staffing levels if the cuts are approved. CDCR officials said the savings are necessary during a challenging economy.
"There are plenty of other places in the department where they could cut people that don't have day to day supervision of inmates and that wouldn't put the staff, the inmates, or the public in jeopardy," said Joe Baumann, chapter president of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association at CRC.
"You would think that someone in the Legislature or the governor's office would frown on cutting safety positions in light of all the recent riots and incidents across the state ... these cuts are just going to exacerbate those problems."
CDCR have not finalized a date for when labor negotiations would begin.
"When you start cutting staff, you start eliminating the ability to do all the functions throughout the day and continue to keep the number of alarm responders at a sufficient level for emergencies," said Fred Stevens, California Correctional Peace Officers Association president at CIM.
"They're asking us to do more with less and that's a difficult thing to do when what you're in charge of is security."
A riot at CIM in August 2009 injured more than 200 inmates and gutted one of the prison's reception centers.
"I understand that this assessment process may create some concern in our facilities and want to assure you no decisions and/or actions are being taken at this time," Giurbino wrote to the wardens.
"However, please understand we are facing an unprecedented fiscal crisis, and resolution will require all of us working together in meeting this challenge."
the seat of Executive Council Vice President. I believe the time is now to give
the VP seat back to the membership. If we make the same mistake as the past two
years then we the BOD, have failed the membership once again. The existing
leadership has proven how incompetent and self-serving they can be, failing to
realize that they work for the membership. Without the right To vote on the EC,
the membership only has us, the BOD, to depend on. We need to prove to them that
we work them by ensuring that Chuck Alexander does not occupy the VP seat on
Jan.1st 2011. Please go to my web site, www.waltertucker.com for a basic
overview of my bio and agenda with more to come in the future.
Thank You............W. Tucker VP PVSP
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
12 Hour Shifts
From: Salinas Valley State Prison BU6 Chapter
Subject: 12 hr shifts
I wanted to give each of you a copy of the 12 hour shift plan written by CDCR. If you take a minute to review the plan you will quickly realize the plan is not designed for pure application of program at SVSP but more as a foot print for any institution. I wanted to share with you the realization that this change in working conditions is intended for all of us. Unfortunately it is coming quickly. It is rumored that CDCR will notice CCPOA within the month.
With the plan for 12 hr shifts fast approaching it is imperative that we collectively decide what we need to do and what direction we give our BU6 members as well as the executive board. We must chose to fight this together or come up with implementation strategies we can all live with. I urge you to question your members as to how strongly they are willing to fight and how much compromise they are willing to endure if this fight rises to another level. Let's face it CDCR has little or no concern how opposed our members are or how negatively this will affect them therefore they are unlikely to back off the issue without political influence. We can't express our concerns one prison at a time and make a difference. It's time to show a more united front. It is time to decide how dedicated we are to stop the 12hr shift plan and how hard we are willing as an organization to fight. Is this the issue were we finally say we have had enough! Is it time for a large picket or are we ready for a strike vote! Please contact me with your opinions and any ideas you may have! Be prepared to discuss this issue at the State Board. This cannot be a local issue.
Thank You on behalf of SVSP CCPOA Chapter.
Brenda Gibbons
SVSP Chapter President
[Click here to view document]
Cell phone smuggling is major concern at state prisons
Cell phones have been smuggled into prisons via cereal boxes, shoes and body cavities, officials say. Sometimes they're broken into pieces and reassembled by prisoners.
"Cell phones have become the contraband of choice, California Corrections Secretary Matthew Cate said last year.
State Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. said this week that gang members in Pelican Bay State Prison use cell phones to relay orders to Nuestra Familia associates on the outside. Some of those associates are in Tulare County.[continue reading...]
