February 6, 2009 in City

Prosecutions shift gang violence to prisons

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As multi-agency gang task forces succeed in arresting and prosecuting gang members, the transfer of gangs from the streets to the state’s prisons is leading to more violence behind bars.

Gang-affiliated inmates are responsible for 43 percent of all violent crimes in Washington state prisons, according to a study commissioned by the Washington Legislature and released to the public this week. To address the problem, the Washington Department of Corrections in September opened a new facility at Walla Walla State Penitentiary intended to house high-security inmates, many of whom are gang members.

“Inmates know if they misbehave they are going to be sent to the West Complex (close supervision unit) where it’s a controlled setting, limited access to classes and other activities, and limited socializing,” said Dan Pacholke, deputy director of the state Department of Corrections.

The 792-bed addition, divided into eight 99-man units, was part of a $157 million construction project. A Crips gang member there, who goes by the name Blue, landed in the penitentiary’s new unit because of a reputation for creating problems with other inmates. His new cell assignment is one way prision officials are dealing with the growing violent gang population.

The new facility has cells on two tiers with solid doors, rather than on three tiers with bars on the doors, allowing prison guards to watch the inmates more closely, officials said.

“I think we are making an impact on the violence,” said Stephen Sinclair, superintendent of the Walla Walla State Penitentiary.

The Crips gang is the most-represented in Washington prisons, with 2,385 inmates. Surenos are the next-largest group, with 1,773 inmates. White Supremacists are third, with 1,389 inmates, said Joni Aiyeku, Walla Walla State Penitentiary spokeswoman.

The Legislature’s study was conducted by Spokane Police Detective Douglas Orr, who is a consultant with Pacific Research & Consulting, and also an adjunct Gonzaga University sociology professor. Orr found that the three most populous gangs don’t cause the majority of problems clashing with each other in state prisons. Instead, the Surenos and another Hispanic gang, the Nortenos, cause the most violence, in part because of a “fight on sight” order between the two groups, according to the study.

Last July, officials began separating the rival gang members so they don’t intermingle or even pass each other in a hallway.

The Department of Corrections also is addressing potential conflicts by identifying gang affiliations when deciding where prisoners will serve their sentences, officials said.

After offenders are sentenced they’re sent to the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton for evaluation, officials said. It’s there that authorities try to determine gang affiliations, often by examining prisoners’ tattoos.

New policies regarding violent inmates were in place just six months last year, but there were 200 fewer violent incidents in 2008 than in 2007, Pacholke said.

Inmates experience a lot of pressure from gang-affiliated groups by being in the general prison population, offcials said. If they can manage the relationships within their smaller 99-man units, that’s an improvement.

Blue, the Walla Walla inmate who spoke to the media during a recent tour of the new facility, said “the safety level for us here in prison is how we chose to live our day-to-day lives.”

Blue would rather be back in the general population, the former Seattle resident said. “But as with everything in life, you have to get used to change.”

Two comments on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  westside on February 07 at 2:35 p.m.

  Well, maybe these gangstas’ belong in a Gitmo type atmosphere!! Ya, run by the military, nice and secret…and outa site!!! Special prisons located in remote places just for them!! Love it!!

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  MikeRaccoonEyes on August 03 at 9:51 p.m.

  TEACHING THE VALUES OF PEACE IN INDIAN COUNTRY

  Mike (Ali) Raccoon Eyes Kinney

  As a Cherokee Native American Activist and a former member of the Richmond California Violence Prevention Movement, I have seen close to 515 homicides in the City of Richmond from 2001 to the present.

  The declaration of a ‘war on violence’ by the Richmond city government was not the panacea, instead it failed miserably.

  I have often stated in town hall meetings and on television, the best way to win the ‘war on violence’ in Richmond is to ‘TEACH THE VALUES OF PEACE’.

  In the killing fields of Richmond, most of the victims of homicides are youth or young adults. Teaching the values of peace begins with our youth and young adults. From a Native perspective, winning the war on violence begins in the home with a strong, spiritual belief and value system.

  We believe that Creator made all generations, past, present and those of the future, holy people. This is what our Elders teach us from the time we are born.

  Our families and Elders teach our young people that they must tear away the images and stereotypes that mainstream society has placed upon them as Native peoples.

  Violence and killing is not traditional in Native culture, it is a learned behavior from mainstream society.

  We teach our youths not to attack, punish or beat themselves up for crimes that they have never committed in regards to racism. Our Elders and families teach our young people to have good self-esteem, self-worth and self-value, for as the original holy people this was Creators plan.

  Native people know that it is both family and community responsibility to teach the values of peace to our young people.

  We teach our young people honesty and accountability concerning violence. It begins with accepting responsibility for self and acknowledging any past use of violence.

  Admitting any wrongdoing, communicating openly and truthfully to renounce the use of violence in the future places our youth on the right path. We place a heavy emphasis that all life is sacred.

  The final lesson in teaching the values of peace is quite simple. It is helping young people understand their relationship to others and all things in Creation.

  Be responsible for your role, act with compassion and respect, and remember ALL LIFE IS SACRED. Native culture is prevention!

  Mike (Ali) Raccoon Eyes Kinney