"1st charge filed in FBI probe of L.A. sheriff's deputy misconduct"

"The case involves former Deputy Gilbert Michel, who admitted smuggling a cellphone and other contraband into Men's Central Jail for an inmate who promised him $20,000."

By Robert Faturechi and Jack Leonard

Los Angeles Times
January 14, 2012
Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-deputy-cellphone-20120114,0,7696542.story

FLASHBACK: NEVER FORGET


"The Role of the Prison Guards Union in California’s Troubled Prison System"
By Tim Kowal
The League of Ordinary Gentlemen
June 6, 2011
Link: http://ordinary-gentlemen.com/timkowal/2011/06/06/the-role-of-the-prison-guards-union-in-californias-troubled-prison-system/

"The Shocking Ways the Corporate Prison Industry Games the System"

By Rania Khalek
AlterNet
November 29, 2011
Link: http://www.alternet.org/story/153212/the_shocking_ways_the_corporate_prison_industry_games_the_system/

"Miami's Federal Jail Overrun With Strippers Posing As Paralegals, Lawyers Say"
By Michael Miller
Miami New Times
November 29, 2011
Link: http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2011/11/strippers_posing_as_paralegals.php

"Deaf Man Tackled At Gun Point, Caged 25 Days Without Being Charged, Over Noise Complaint"
By michaelsuede
Libertarian News
November 28, 2011
Link: http://www.libertariannews.org/2011/11/28/deaf-man-tackled-at-gun-point-caged-25-days-without-being-charged-over-noise-complaint/

"The Making of a Prison Society"
By William N. Grigg
Pro Libertate
November 28, 2011
Link: http://freedominourtime.blogspot.com/2011/11/making-of-prison-society.html

"Lawmakers target NJ disability pensions"

By Jason Method
TheDailyJournal.com
November 20, 2011
Link: http://www.thedailyjournal.com/article/20111121/NEWS01/311210026

"NJ must stop disability pension scams by public employees"

By Star-Ledger Editorial Board
New Jersey On-Line (NJ.com)
November 21, 2011
Link: http://blog.nj.com/njv_editorial_page/2011/11/nj_must_stop_disability_pensio.html


Commentary:

• This problem exists in many other states, especially California.
• In California, the infamous "Chief's Disease" often arises.

"Sheriff's Department used jail duty to punish deputies"
"Deputies accused of wrongdoing were transferred to the L.A. County jail system to keep them away from the public, records show. Some had successfully fought efforts to have them fired."
By Jack Leonard and Robert Faturechi
Los Angeles Times
November 12, 2011
Link: http://articles.latimes.com/2011/nov/12/local/la-me-jails-deputies-20111113

"Union Corruption Report: October 2011"
By LaborUnionReport.com
Link: http://www.laborunionreport.com/portal/2011/11/union-corruption-report-october-2011/


Link to prior Union Corruption Reports: http://www.laborunionreport.com/portal/category/union-corruption/union-corruption-report/

"Capt. Daniel Cruz, Relieved of Duty Amid Sheriff's Jail Beating Scandal, Was Present During Deputies' Night Club Brawl -- Report"

By Dennis Romero

LA Weekly

November 10, 2011

Link: http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2011/11/lee_baca_sheriff_jail_daniel_cruz.php

"Sheriff's staff raised red flags about jail brutality 2 years ago"

"Reports tell of misconduct and shoddy investigations. One audited more than 100 violent encounters with inmates and found that deputies crafted narratives 'dramatized to justify' force."

By Jack Leonard and Robert Faturechi
Los Angeles Times
October 29, 2011
Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-jail-force-20111030,0,1292189.story

Excerpt (see news article cited directly above):

• Sheriff's officials have disciplined more than 30 jailers in the last two years for beating inmates or covering up the abuse, according to the sheriff's watchdog.

Commentary:

• Persons who commit crimes against law enforcement officers receive enhanced sentences. 
• Accordingly, law enforcement officers who commit crimes should receive enhanced sentences.

"Nurse Making $269,810 Demonstrates California Public Worker Overtime Binge"
By Michael B. Marois
Bloomberg
October 25, 2011
Link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-26/nurse-making-269-810-demonstrates-california-s-overtime-binge.html

Excerpts (see news article cited directly above):

• Jean Keller earned $269,810 last year working as a nurse at a men’s prison on California’s central coast by tripling her regular pay with overtime hours.
• The extra compensation underscores a broader trend in California, where government workers are paid more than in other states for similar duties. Among them: city managers whose pay is higher than the governor’s, prison doctors who make more than counterparts in other states and Los Angeles firefighters who collect twice the national mean.

Commentary:

• California's public employees are the new Gilded Class.

FLASHBACK: NEVER FORGET


"Reforming Public Employee Compensation And Pensions"

By California Center for Public Policy
October 6, 2010
Link: http://californiacenterforpublicpolicy.com/Reforming-Public-Employee-Compensation-Pensions.pdf

Excerpt (see study cited directly above):

• Frequently, California public employees, particularly in public safety, pay less than half or even nothing toward the employee’s portion of retirement programs for the benefits they will receive.

Commentary:

• Remember, taxpayers bear the market risk of these pension funds and must cover any shortages due to declines in market value.
• Thus, as the market tanks, the taxpayers get screwed again.

"Public Safety Compensation Trends, 2000-2010"
CIV FI (civfi.com)
October 14, 2011
Link: http://civfi.com/2011/10/14/public-safety-compensation-trends-2000-2010/

Facts (see news article cited directly above):

• During the decade between 2000 and 2010: 
• household income for private sector workers (after adjusting for inflation) DECREASED by 7.0%, 
• California firefighters’ pay and pension benefits (after adjusting for inflation) INCREASED by 33%, 
• California police officers’ pay and pension benefits (after adjusting for inflation) INCREASED by 28% 
• California corrections officers’ pay and pension benefits (after adjusting for inflation) INCREASED by 19%. 

Commentary:

• Before 9/11, public safety personnel (firefighters, police, and corrections officers) were reasonably compensated for their valuable services. 
• After 9/11, public safety personnel slammed their designer boots on the necks of the taxpayers and demanded obscene salaries, overtime, and pensions. 
• Public safety personnel have shamefully exploited the generosity of the taxpayers and have now become public parasites sucking the taxpayers dry.

"Code of silence among jail guards hinders abuse probes, watchdog says"

"Deputies who report wrongdoing are sometimes subjected to retaliation by colleagues, according to the Office of Independent Review. The findings echo allegations made by civilians."

By Jack Leonard and Robert Faturechi
Los Angeles Times
October 14, 2011
Link: http://articles.latimes.com/2011/oct/14/local/la-me-jails-code-of-silence-20111014

"Sheriff Lee Baca's Troubles Continue: Troy Dugan, 61, Claims Deputies Beat Him Even Though He Wasn't In Jail"
By Chris Vogel
LA Weekly
October 12, 2011
Link: http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2011/10/lee_baca_abuse.php

"Billions Behind Bars"
"Inside America's Prison Industry"
CNBC
Link: http://www.cnbc.com/id/44762286/

"L.A. County jail guards aid drug trading, sources say"
"Inmates pay to get narcotics and other contraband through deputies. Baca says guards' financial hardships are usually involved."
By Robert Faturechi and Jack Leonard, Times Staff Writers
Los Angeles Times
October 2, 2011
Link: http://articles.latimes.com/2011/oct/02/local/la-me-jail-contraband-smuggle-20111002