For the past several months, the Shasta county Jail has been besieged with high notoriety problems. Many have gained the attention of the press, such as: The escape last summer of Danny Enquist; the erroneous release of the wrong Smith, also touted as an escape in attempt to minimize the blunder; the suicide of Benjamin Williams; the attempted suicide of Robert Hedrick, and numerous other problems that were kept out of the press. 

In January of 2003, following a good deal of bad press surrounding the recent problems, rank and file officers were heard bragging about creating a solution, followed by the press announcement by Lieutenant Compomizzo, the Facility Manager, of The Solution to the Jail's problems. This ill conceived, un-thought-through, solution was simply a knee-jerk reaction manipulated by otherwise impotent vassals, and destined to cause far more problems than it would solve. The solution shows just how out of touch with the current recommendations of the experts in modern penology the creators and approvers of this solution are. 

Previous to the implementation of The Solution, general population inmates were allowed access to their housing unit Day Room, or common area, from 5:30 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. daily. Each general population housing unit, called a "POD," houses a maximum of 32 inmates, and has two floors called "tiers." All 32 inmates were previously allowed simultaneous access to the Day Room where they had access to telephones, showers, cleaning equipment, grooming equipment, television viewing, and human interaction and socialization. 

The Solution, which was implemented on February 8, 2003, now divides Day Room access on a rotating basis between the upper and lower tiers, with only approximately half the inmates allowed Day Room access at any given time. On an alternating basis, one tier would have access in the mornings up until 2:00 p.m., then the other tier would have access beginning at 2:30 p.m. for the rest of the day. Because it alternates, the group that goes back into lock-down conditions at 2:00 p.m. on one day, does not again gain Day Room access until 2:30 p.m. the following day, except for meals. This amounts to over 24 hours of continuous lock-down status and isolation. 

What makes The Solution so utterly brilliant, is that it has no rational connection or reasonable relationship to resolving either of the two problems purportedly being solved: one--their escape problems--which are documented staff and procedural gaffes that had nothing to do with inmate access to the Day Rooms; and, two--their need to curtail the glut of suicide attempts. The Solution only worsens this problem. It is well documented by leading mental health professionals that stress, caused by this type of isolation and lack of human contact associated with lock-down conditions, enhances mental health problems and increases suicide attempts. 

Coupled with The Solution also came increased pettiness from Jail Staff, another stress and tension enhancement technique. Most noticeably, certain officers have a fetish about confiscating books, and they cite the ridiculous statement, "The Fire Marshall only allows two books!" Next, in their fight against inmate literacy, they will be ceremoniously burning these books while chanting, "The Fire Marshall needed them for this training fire!" All of their various execrable actions have increased the stress and tension, further isolated the inmates from social interaction, and resulted in a huge increase in the amount of physical altercations and violence. The Jail limits and confiscates reading material, provides no board games or other time occupying activities such as are available in most other jails and all prisons, increases inmate isolation, stress and tension, and then wonders why they have so many problems. 

In borrowing the concept from "The Plan," it appears the genesis of "The Solution" went as follows: 

In the beginning there was no shape to the continuum. And while the Higher Power was on vacation the underlings created The Solution. And The Solution came with assumptions. And there was a Seals of fate upon the process. And the dog continues being wagged. And darkness was upon the faces of the Inmates. And the Inmates spoke unto their POD Prowlers (Officers) saying, "The Solution is a CROCK OF SHIT, and it stinks." 

And the Prowlers spoke unto their Watch Commander saying, "The Solution is a container of excrement and it is very strong, such that none here may abide by it." 

And the Sergeants went to the Lieutenant saying unto Him, "The Solution is a vessel of fertilizer and none may abide its strength." 

And the Lieutenant went to the Captain and said unto Him, "The Solution contains that which aids plant growth, and is very strong." 

And the Captain went to the Under Sheriff saying unto Him, "The Solution promotes growth and is very powerful." 

And the Under Sheriff went unto the Sheriff and said unto Him, "The Solution will promote growth, and is so powerful that none should be allowed to abide without it." 

And the Sheriff looked upon The Solution, and saw that it was good; and The Solution became policy. . . 

Inmate Tom Watson