An Inside Look at Corcoran State Prison in California

Recently while watching MSNBC I happened to see a segment of the series called Lockup. This particular episode dealt with a California state prison called Corcoran. Built in 1988, Corcoran has a population of approximately 5000 Inmates. This particular prison is a maximum-security prison located in a rural agricultural area.

The most famous resident of Corcoran State prison is the brutal cult murderer Charles Manson. A 10 inch scorpion that Manson fashioned out of a T-shirt and a magic marker for coloring was displayed. Seems that some of Manson's artwork has been smuggled out of the prison and sold on eBay.

50% of the population at Corcoran State prison are there for life with no chance for parole. Others spend long terms in this facility before they have any chance of parole. The documentary also pointed out that 50% of those paroled commit crimes and are sent back. It seems to be a never-ending problem for these men. They showed an inmate waiting for a train, dressed in a T-shirt and jeans and a small cardboard box as his only belongings. He had $200 given to him when he left Corcoran. Many of these men have no family or any support outside of the prison. Left without much hope these guys commit crimes and wind up back in jail.

The interior of the prison is made of concrete block, painted white with heavy blue metal sliding doors for each cell. Each small cell holds two men. Other than work or exercise periods, they remain cooped up in these tiny cells. This arrangement is typical for many prisons.

Corcoran State prison has a 75 bed hospital. The patients come from this prison and others. The rooms are similar to the cells with a heavy metal sliding door. A hospital bed is inside the cell. Medical personnel wear stab-proof vests and Plexiglas facemasks as a precaution when entering these hospital rooms. Many of the patients are there because they were stabbed or beaten by their fellow inmates. They showed one inmate refusing to leave the cell and how they had to use two large canisters of pepper spray to subdue him. Finally, he surrendered and was taken from his room.

Drugs are a huge problem at Corcoran State prison. The value of these drugs increases immensely in this prison. For example, $800 of street bought heroin is worth thousands inside. The drugs are smuggled in by visitors inside of balloons stuffed in their body cavities. One way prison officials are tipped off to who is dealing is by monitoring the amount of cans of food and candy in certain cells. Canned food and candy are used as money in prison. A lot of food means a probable dealer. These dealers on the inside have their phone calls monitored and are watched, but the problem persists.

Gangs are a big problem inside the prison. The gang leaders make money from drugs and alcohol sold inside the prison. New inmates are recruited by the gang leaders. They beat and even kill other inmates for petty reasons related to the business of drugs and alcohol. A cup of homemade alcohol made from fruit and Kool-Aid called "Pruno" can sell for five dollars.

Some gang members fall from favor in the gang system and themselves become victims of gang violence. The only way to escape the gangs is to cooperate with prison officials. After being told to maim, or even kill another prisoner, some inmates become informers. These inmates are transferred to a security section segregated away from the gangs. Some are even transferred to other prisons. Unfortunately, their families are open to attack. Sometimes the family members must move also to avoid violence.

This was just a brief glimpse of the inner happenings of one California Prison. Gang violence, drug dealing and drug related business keeps occurring in these places. Seems like a never ending problem.