In most parts of Men's Central Jail, there is no natural light, only views of cell bars or scrums of inmates crowded in bunk beds pushed together end to end.
Toilets back up because of the antiquated 50-year-old plumbing system. Many men get out of their cells for only three hours a week. All the while, they have to remain vigilant to avoid attacks from other prisoners and, in some cases, the deputies who guard them.
For people who already are mentally ill, as more than 10% of Men's Central Jail inmates are, the overcrowded, dungeon-like environment can push them closer to the edge of suicide
[For more of this story, written by Cindy Chang, go to http://www.latimes.com/local/c...08-story.html#page=1]
Comments (0)