WE'RE MAKING PRISONS MORE DANGEROUS

STATE prison rules are not just about being "tough on crime" or winning a
"drug war." They're not about prison reform or human rights or social
justice. There is a lack of common sense displayed by a broken system that
puts everyone in the country in more danger.

Some of the proposed rule changes for California prisons have already been
implemented in prisons around the country. Soon they'll be in all the prisons.

The way these warehouses are run today is dangerous -- to the prisoners,
the guards, their families, and all of society. Yes, even you. If you are
ever unfortunate enough to run up against an angry, shellshocked,
psychotic, hungry ex-prisoner, let me know how it turns out.

The proposed rule changes in California that concern me most are:

* A proposal for timed five-second hellos and goodbyes for visitors. I
visualize a room overflowing with guards with stopwatches.

* A proposed rule that would forbid the children of prisoners from sitting
on dad or mom's lap. Explain that to a child who wants to be held by their
parent.

* "No contact" visits for death row prisoners. This means the prisoner will
never touch another human being who doesn't despise him for the rest of his
days. All visits would be over closed-circuit television or from behind
glass. Florida has already instigated this dangerous rule, even though
there were no security breaches to make the rule necessary.

So why would I say this rule is dangerous? Because if a prisoner has
nothing to lose, life is more dangerous for the guards around him.

* And one that bothers me a great deal with its senselessness is the
proposed rule that would forbid drug offenders from having family visits
for one year after incarceration. Every study ever done says prisoners do
better with family contact. Why do drug offenders always get the worst of
the deal?

It seems to me that prison rules are now made not because an incident
caused security problems, but to make the guards' jobs easier.

For instance, in Florida if you needed toilet paper, you called out your
need and a guard brought you a roll of two-ply toilet paper (if he was in
the mood). Now, you get one roll of one ply toilet paper per week for each
two-man cell. So the guards can do less work.

These kinds of rules may seem to make the guards' jobs easier on the
surface, but believe me, with all incentives gone, with no rewards in place
for good behavior, the guards are going to find their jobs more dangerous.
The system will produce more angry, damaged people and society will
eventually pay the price.