High Desert State Prison in Northern California is a notoriously violent place. It’s a maximum security prison, housing 3,500 dangerous criminals including murderers, rapists and sex offenders. Two months ago, the state inspector general released a report describing severe inmate abuse and misconduct by prison staff. On top of that, five guards have committed suicide in the past seven years. The prison’s isolation is one challenge to addressing the problems there. Few outsiders even have access to it. Madeleine speaks to one journalist who got inside.
KCRW
