For years, and in countless interviews with inmates AND staff, Maria has been voted the best. It doesn’t seem to matter what year, or who the DW was….inmates love it. Let’s innumerate the reasons
Best View–the view of the mountains is unobstructed, and it is surrounded by bucolic farmland.
Best Landscaping—–Through the years the residents have taken extreme pride in their plants, flowers and lawn. No other unit even has a lawn. DW Bill White, 2011–2013, installed an irrigation system in the “north 40” intended to nourish the Park that Bill envisioned for Maria. He bought new trees to surround the park, and in his $5k budget he was going to buy park benches so the inmates could enjoy their green space. After the irrigation system was put in, and trees planted, there was some kind snafu that halted the project before the park was finished. Maria’s unique flower boxes and Queen palms survived the purges that DWOPS put it through, but most of the trees for the park had died by 2021.
Best Freedom of Movement— The residents were never asked to walk in single file, no “controlled movement” nonsense. Basically, the medium custody inmates were treated like minimum… maybe better.
Best Officers—-Except for very few exceptions (officer Mims), the officers were polite, cordial, professional, helpful, and great to be around. When Maria gets ready to open again, there will be a stampede of inmates and staff to go “home”.