The Curious Case of Impending Arbitrary Classification-Based Moves at CCWF

by Alissa Moore, LSPC Re-Entry Coordinator

I’ve been getting an increasing number of calls regarding classification levels and the rumored impending moves to segregate incarcerated people in CCWF based on their classification level. What I’ve heard is that each yard will be assigned a level and that individuals will be moved to the corresponding yard based on their classification score as a level one, two, three or four. To me, this reeks of a similar late 1990s attempt at Valley State Prison gor Women to segregate all close custodies on one yard (Unit Bravo 2) based on their close custody status: Close A’s, Close B’s and C/C’s. I was there, and it was a complete disaster and disservice to staff and incarcerated folks alike. 

I was very young at the time and easily alarmed by any new changes or what could be perceived as increased restrictions. We reacted strongly and kicked it all off with a sitout in which I’m ashamed to admit I participated, in an attempt to protest and possibly slow or stop the moves. It was also yet another huge fail and did our plight no good. Administration sent out memos attempting to appease and inform the population. The assistant warden, warden and facility captain made several visits to the units to answer questions in an effort to calm the population down. These attempts by the admin were also a failure. So, with CDCR being the beast it is, all of us were failing, and none of us were winning. The moves ensued.

As you may know, if you’re designated as a “close” status you are usually serving a longer sentence. In the ‘90s, there really weren’t many options for rehabilitation. In the mid- to late-1990s, with the added pressure and alarming inflow of more women faster with longer sentences for the same, if not similar or lesser crimes, as California slowly started to shift its aim and hunted women of color. The population as a whole was a bit more rowdy and restless, having very few productive outlets with which to rehabilitate ourselves. Overall, there was a sharp increase in altercations between incarcerated folks and incarcerated folks and staff, and more instances of use of force, 114-Ds and longer and longer periods of lockdown hell. At the time I didn’t mind being C/C status because it wasn’t like anyone else on our unit was getting out more than the C/C’s anyway. 

As for these impending moves at CCWF, I can’t say whether or not they will happen, but I am sure that there are several factors at play today that will help the population cope with changes in a much more productive way that is conducive to their rehabilitation journey. Today, there are so many more outlets to process the fear that comes along with the effects these changes will have on the incarcerated. Also, the CCPOA will undoubtedly create a stink about the fact that staff assigned to the level 3 and 4 yards have a much higher probability of dealing with real or perceived violence or risk thereof because they are dealing with a significantly increased concentration of high level offenders. Either way, these CO’s assigned to Level 3 and 4 yards will deal with increased stress that their counterparts assigned to Level 1 and 2 yards will not, and they’ll do so for not a single penny more than the officers who are assigned to the level 1 and 2 yards. Now it’s rarely seen, but the assumed position the CCPOA will take may be the biggest hope the affected populations have in seeking reprieve from these unwarranted and arbitrary senseless moves. Because, let’s get real, what does a classification score mean in the women’s carceral system anyway? Levels 1-4 have been housed side by side in women’s prisons since as far back as this old-timer can remember. I’ve seen level ones that are a hell of a lot scarier than level fours, and level fours who certainly didn’t live up to their classification score or reputation. So if you want my advice, sit tight, wait it out and see how it all plays out before you waste a second fearing the unknown consequences of these senseless moves