CA: Plush hospitals for state's felons

SFGate.com ^ | 1/12/09 | Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross

[NormsRevenge]

Aerobics and yoga classes, workout rooms and open-air courtyards were just a few of the amenities recommended for California's hospitalized felons in a draft report for the court-appointed receiver tasked with overhauling the state's prison health care system.

The recommendations called on the cash-starved state to spend $8 billion on seven new hospitals - each roughly the size of 10 Wal-Mart stores - to replace a decrepit health care system that a federal judge says is killing an average of one inmate per week. Judge Thelton Henderson said state officials were incapable of fixing the system and handed the job to receiver Clark Kelso.

The draft report, posted recently on the receiver's Web site, said the new hospitals' environment "should be 'holistic' in expression."

"In the place of sterile prison corridors or barren, large-scale 'yards,' both staff and patient should experience landscaped courtyards and places of rest and respite," the draft said.

The report also suggested that the new prison hospitals include:

-- Workout rooms to "promote wellness," featuring exercise machines and space for "therapeutic activities such as aerobics, yoga, (and) group exercise." Plus handball courts.

-- Outdoor courtyards "where patients will be encouraged to participate in recreational therapy programs such as horticulture."

-- Gymnasiums with a basketball court and a music room, a crafts room, game room and therapy kitchen.

-- Outdoor running tracks.

[TexasCajun]

...to replace a decrepit health care system that a federal judge says is killing an average of one inmate per week

But isn't that a good thing? ...saving CA millions?

[Navy Patriot]

The California plan is to make exhaling felonious CO2 pollutant dumping, thus qualifying all Californians for free room and board and free full medical, dental and vision care.

[incredulous joe]

I’d bet dollars to donuts that they treat illegals and criminals better than they treat returning Iraqi war veterans.

What a disgrace!

[goldstategop]

99% of us don't get Club Med medical care. Why should criminals be treated better than folks who pay the taxes for them?

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[a02001]

Why? Because you don't have the scumbag lawyers and judges looking out for them.

Too bad we can't outsource these prison dirt-bags to China and let them service their medical needs.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

We could afford to do this if we sent all the illegals home.