HIV+ Prisoner Advocates Demand Investigation / Call To Come Demonstrate 10-19-02

California Prison Focus, a statewide human rights organization for prisoners, today demanded that Corcoran Warden A.K. Scribner and California Department of Corrections Director Edward Alameida launch an immediate investigation into three recent deaths of prisoners with HIV/AIDS. CPF, along with other prisoners¹ rights and community organizations, will demonstrate in front of Corcoran prison’s front gate, 4001 King Avenue, this Saturday, October 19, 2:30 p.m. to expose continued human rights abuses at Corcoran prison.

Three deaths in two weeks are extremely alarming and many more prisoners with HIV and hepatitis C are deteriorating daily behind the walls of Corcoran prison, said Judy Greenspan of the HIV/hepatitis C in Prison Committee of CPF. If something doesn¹t change drastically for the better, many more seriously ill prisoners will die, Greenspan noted.

Just two weeks ago, CPF released its long awaited Corcoran Report, documenting nearly two years of staff misconduct, brutality, medical neglect and preventable deaths at old Corcoran. According to Corey Weinstein, Board member and CPF founding member, the Report reveals that very little has changed at this prison. The rash of shootings of prisoners in the Security Housing Unit may have stopped but Corcoran remains notorious for its disorganization, medical neglect and institutionalized violence, Weinstein noted. The Corcoran Report makes specific recommendations to improve conditions at the prison.

We have recently learned that a large group of prisoners at Pelican Bay Prison will begin a hunger strike on October 19 to coincide with our demonstration, said Michelle Foy, a CPF organizer. We have also heard that there will be hunger strikes at other prisons throughout the state, Foy said. October 19 is a national day of protest called by the Prison Reform Unity Project and will be commemorated by demonstrations outside several California state prisons.

Other demands of the Corcoran protest include: overturn the three strikes law, end the death penalty, release all eligible lifers now, healthcare is a right for all prisoners, shut down security housing units and no more prison construction. According to CPF organizers, protesters will travel from all over California to demonstrate at Corcoran prison on Saturday. Family members will join the protest after visiting is over at both old Corcoran and the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility.