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According to a report on the Access
Manson website, one of the many such sites dedicated to the subject,
Charles Manson is currently under “disciplinary custody” in the
prison’s Security Housing Unit, known as "The Hole." He
has been housed in the unit since February 2000 after he allegedly
threatened prison staff. Being housed in the Security Housing Unit means
Manson is kept isolated in his cell 23 hours a day, forbidden to interact
with other prisoners and kept handcuffed while being moved within the
prison.
According to a recent letter Manson
sent to the website, he is due to be released from the unit in February
2002.
Manson is no stranger to the harsh
conditions of the Security Housing Unit having spent eight stretches there
for various offenses. The first was in 1989 when he was transferred to
Corcoran from San Quentin State Prison after guards found a bullet in one
of his visitor’s pockets during a routine search.
During that time his period of
detention was extended for “destruction of state property” when he
allegedly tore a telephone receiver from the wall unit and “assaulted”
a prison officer. The period was later extended to five years after
he was accused of plotting to assassinate the President of the United
States.
Following his release in May, 1994
he was transferred to the prison’s Protective Housing Unit (PHU) and was
allowed contact with other inmates and restricted privileges.
Three months later he was returned
to "The Hole" pending an investigation of another alleged plot
to assassinate the President. No charges were laid and he was
released after three weeks.
Manson managed to stay out of
trouble until March 1995 when he was charged with narcotics possession.
Once again his period of detention was extended for allegedly threatening
staff. In June 1995 he returned to the PHU for over a year until he
was given a further two weeks detention for threatening a prison staff
member with a chair.
In March 1997 he was charged with
“conspiracy to distribute narcotics” and transferred to Pelican Bay
State Prison in Crescent City, California, one of the toughest
institutions in the country. During this period the media reported
that Manson was the kingpin of a multi-million dollar drug distribution
empire. After serving 14 months he was transferred back to PHU at
Corcoran.
Also in 1997, Manson’s parole
hearing was videotaped and broadcast by Court TV. It was his
ninth hearing. As before, parole was refused on the grounds that
Manson
"would pose an unreasonable
risk and danger to society and a threat to public safety if released
from prison."
In response, Manson stated:
"I accept this decision.
That's cool. What I'd like for you to do in your own minds personally,
everybody that has a personal mind of their own, could possibly consider
that the longer that you let this conviction stand, and this little
Helter Skelter scheme of the District Attorney to give his particular
reality over into the play, that's going to be the reality that they're
perpetuating. That's not the reality that I'm perpetuating. I'm not
saying that I wasn't involved. I'm saying that I did not break man's law
nor did I break God's law. Consider that in the judgments that you have
for yourselves. Good day. Thank you."
Seven months later he was back in
"The Hole" once again, charged with further “illegal business
dealings” and served another two months.
During the following eight months in
PHU, he was placed on “restricted status” for refusing to conform to
prison regulations and had his visits and phone calls restricted.
As of August, 2002, Manson continues
to shuttle back and forth between "The Hole" and the PHU.
Manson's most recent and tenth
parole hearing was April 24, 2002. He refused to attend it -- allegedly
because he insisted upon not attending the hearing shackled and the prison
would not allow him to attend without handcuffs. No one was surprised when
the board refused to grant him parole. The next hearing will be in 2007.
Charles "Tex" Watson
Is also serving a life
sentence for the Tate/LaBianca murders, and is currently housed in Mule
Creek State Prison in Northern California. During his time in
prison, Watson has converted to Christianity, written several books,
married, fathered four children and trained as a minister of religion. His
wife, Kristin and their family live close to the prison where she operates
a Web site for their ministry called Abounding Love Ministries, Inc.
On October 10, 2001, Watson was
turned down again for parole at his thirteenth parole hearing and was told
not to apply for another four years.
The Associated Press stated,
"Watson made a personal appeal to the two-member panel of the
California Board of Prison Terms, saying he takes full responsibility for
his crimes and is now a different person who would never do such things
again." However, a prison correctional counselor said that
"Watson still poses an unpredictable threat to the community should
he be released."
Debra Tate, the sister of the
brutally murdered Sharon Tate Polanski, tearfully urged the board to deny
Watson's request.
Susan “Sadie” Atkins
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| Susan Atkins,
prison photo |
Is serving her life sentence at
California Institution for Women at Frontera. During her time in
prison Atkins has married twice. She was denied parole at her last hearing
in February 2000. It was the tenth time she had applied.
During the hearing, Atkins told the
parole board,
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