Gray Davis: No Compassion for Dying Prisoners

Women prisoner advocates today charged that Governor Gray Davis deliberately ignored directives from both the California Department of Corrections and the Board of Prison Terms to release Charisse Shumate, the lead plaintiff of a recently dismissed class action lawsuit challenging medical neglect against women prisoners. Shumate died in the locked ward of Madera Community Hospital on August 4.

"Governor Davis had Charisse Shumate's release papers on his desk since June 12 and deliberately refused to sign them," said Cynthia Chandler, co-director of Justice Now and the attorney who argued her case before the Board of Prison Terms. "Our governor has committed one of the most inhumane acts of his tenure by denying the release of a dying prisoner," Chandler added.

Charisse Shumate, age 46, was dying of complications due to sickle cell anemia, cancer and hepatitis C. According to her supporters, Shumate was well-known and respected throughout the prison by both prisoners and staff. Shumate testified last October about medical neglect and abuse inside the Central California Women's Facility at legislative hearings sponsored by Senator Richard Polanco's Joint Committee on Prison Construction and Operations.

"Governor Davis flagrantly violated the spirit of the compassionate release statute," said Judy Greenspan of California Prison Focus. Greenspan, one of the authors of the compassionate release law which mandates a procedure for early release for dying prisoners, condemned the governor's inaction and called for closer legislative scrutiny of the compassionate release process.

"Charisse's death inside prison was a human tragedy," said Heidi Strupp of Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, one of the law firms that litigated the class action lawsuit, Shumate v. Wilson, challenging poor medical care. "Governor Davis has denied Charisse's family the comfort of being with their loved one during the last days of her life, Strupp added.

According to prison advocates, Shumate was well-known through the California Department of Corrections and experienced some retaliation due to her role as lead plaintiff in the medical care lawsuit. Shumate died on August 4, while incarcerated at the Central California Women's Facility, the prison which was under state investigation last winter after nine women died in a three-month period.