In the Jan. 2009 Edition of the S.Q. News, the article “Administrative Segregation: One Giant Leap Backward,” was printed. The article focused on the reported conditions which North Block prisoners encountered.
On Monday, Feb. 22, 09, an interview was conducted with the warden’s administrative assistant, Correctional Lt. R. Luna. The following questions were posed to Luna. He provided the subsequent answers:
Q: What is the policy for approval of the S.Q. News? A: The story is submitted and reviewed for content. Q: What content are you looking for? A: Making sure the facts are correct. The whole reason we have S.Q. News is rehabilitation. It helps Vocational Printing and building job skills. Q: What problems did you observe in the article printed?
A: It was one-sided. I cannot speak to inaccuracies in that it hasn’t been investigated. This was the opinion of four individuals when the unit houses 400. The use of slang, “The Hole” wasn’t accurate: it is Administrative Segregation, and individuals only go there when it’s determined that the inmate may either be a threat to others or is threatened by others. Q: What is the official position concerning the conditions in Ad/Seg? A: We meet the standards of housing an Ad/Seg unit.
Lt. Luna then stated: “Inmates are not there to live the ‘good life.’ Ad/Seg is a management tool meant to be an incentive to program. They have a chance to understand that they have opportunities. When an inmate does have privileges, they should appreciate what they have. What I got from this was these Lifers were accustomed to a more comfortable living standard, and they were then exposed to a situation that took them out of their comfort zone.
“We were privileged to have a warden who gave us back this paper. By no means did the S.Q. News try to glorify or degrade anyone. This is a neutral newspaper with the goal of professional journalism. What they want to do is report what is important, and to give the inmate population information that they are starving for. This information is not just for S.Q., but also for the rest of the institutions and all over the U.S. This is the best prison newspaper in the country.”
A following interview was conducted with Facility Capt. B. Grundy, who supervises the Ad/Seg unit. His statement is as follows: “I take full responsibility for the unit, staff, as well as the inmate population. I realize it is a difficult situation we’re in, trying to find a balance between the population and providing all the security and the required services at the same time. I feel that the S.Q. News is a good thing.
“However, the article in question here, gave the appearance that it was being utilized as a conduit for airing grievances, and there are already plenty of forms in which we can do that (602, verbal, written letters). Everyone can use that forum in full. We do not need to utilize the S.Q. News for a medium to duke it out. My hope is that S.Q. News can continue in the spirit which former Warden Ayers intended.”
