(We had the opportunity to interview a lady that recently transferred from California’s CIW prison to Perryville.)

“I was going through severe mental health issues at California Institution for Women, which is a prison in southern California. I was never handcuffed but was taken to a watch cell where I changed into a smock with velcro fasteners. An RN in the mental health care division immediately saw me in the room. No guard is staring at you as they have cameras instead.

I received 3 hot meals a day although that came with a paper spoon and cup. Recreation was twice a day, I was allowed to socialize with others, and I was given my clothes back on the third day. We had access to a library at all times. The maximum stay in watch is 5 days. There was constant counseling available, and a psychologist on site.”

Your March 5th mental health letter went over like a lead balloon with the ladies at Perryville. You are so out of touch. Ryan, you live in your ivory tower insulated by sycophants who treat you like a mushroom. Didn’t that encounter with Erica Stapleton teach you anything?

Some of your front-line staff are NOT PROFESSIONALS! They lie, they cheat, and they cover their ass. They are not the least bit interested in helping a resident with a mental health crisis. I have seen many women beg for help only to be told by staff, “I can’t do anything unless they endanger themselves or others.”

You couldn’t possibly know the extreme stress these women are under 24/7, by their oppressors and by the system. There WILL be more self-harm and dead inmates in Perryville. I overhear women discussing “best ways to hang by the shower head”.

You write:”…. draw a picture to represent your mood or to remind you of your favorite things.” I can hear the ladies of Perryville singing Sound Of Music’s ‘My Favorite Things’. Really????

Speaking of drawing…we used to be able to get coloring books to assuage the anxiety, but Shinn banned them. We used to use acrylic paint to be creative with….but Shinn banned them. Every Unit in Perryville used to have an Art Department…. but they were shut down. When I taught in the Cruz Art Department, (2012-2018) we had coloring time with soft music in the background. The SMI’s loved it! They frequently said it was the only way they felt calm.

If you asked the minimum inmates where they’d rather be, 98% would prefer a two-man cell again. Yes, even if it meant no air conditioning. Perryville is down 2 units….no more Maria or Pedro. All the women in minimum are packed to the gills with no privacy or autonomy.

Stress? You want to know stress? San Carlos “A” bay has had 5 major shakes (average time 5 hours) and four K9 shakes since November 29, 2023. That’s NINE SHAKES IN 3 MONTHS! What happened to one per quarter?

Perryville residents have bad food, bad water, and bad medical care. Let’s talk No-Care Naphcare shall we? Recently, the ACLU asked me to round up people with serious health problems to be interviewed by them on March 14th. I submitted a very long list starting with three terminally ill cancer patients. After talking with half of Carlos I was very depressed…..these people are not getting proper care. The patients blame the staff at medical, but I think their anger should be directed at Naphcare. The staff are hamstrung by the vendor’s proclivity to saving money over lives.

Your staff will insulate you and tell you what you want to hear. Come here and listen to the inmates, don’t be herded around by the DW’s. Keep trying to make our lives better.