SPINNERS (CRAZIES) TO GET SPACES OF THEIR OWN

By Bob Walsh

PACOVILLA Corrections blog
August 30, 2014

California’s mentally ill prison inmates (spinners in the prison jargon, at least when I was working) are now going to be housed in separate specialized housing units that will (allegedly) offer them actual treatment instead of isolation according to an agreement filed in U. S. District Court.

Under the agreement the state will create 2,500 beds for the long-term and short-term housing of spinners who must be kept in segregation for disciplinary reasons. The new policy will give them more treatment access and more time out of their cells.

Among other things the spinners will have more in-cell diversion than other segregated inmates, including Televisions and radios.

Judge Kalrton approved the plan less than three hours after it was filed.

Long term care facilities will be planned at three prisons. Short term facilities will be planned at nine prisons. It is estimated that about 30,000 inmates have some significant mental health need. That is likely to go up when they find out they get a free TV and radio if they are crazy.

Damn, that almost makes me want to go back to work so I can work in a unit of untouchable, dangerous crazy privileged inmates. (No, not really.)