Pelican Bay Prison

I’m outraged at the landmark decision by District Judge Thelton E. Henderson condemning Pelican Bay Prison as brutal (Jan. 12). I wonder if these “last-resort prisoners” have life as bad (three squares and a warm bed) as their victims? If prison were to revert to a dungeon-type atmosphere we would drop recidivism to zero. I don’t know who to be mad at--the politicians or bleeding-heart liberal judges giving away the store (country).

CHARLES A. WETZEL

Malibu Park

* Peter H. King (“On California,” Jan. 18) is no doubt correct that the atrocities at Pelican Bay Prison documented in the federal judge’s recent ruling will for many people amount to little more than a case of “just deserts” for the prisoners. Such uncivilized thinking sadly reflects our society’s diminished respect for humane values. Sadder still is the absence of any public reaction by the governor or legislators to the court’s finding of widespread abuse of inmates. Their silence is shameful.

I am a lawyer at the Prison Law Office (which provides free legal services to state prisoners), and a member of the team which represents prisoners in the Pelican Bay case.

STEVEN FAMA

San Francisco