Letter from inmates at Nevada State Prison to Flora Dungan, February 5, 1968

February 5, 1968 Miss Flora ^ungan Nevada Legislature State Capitol Building Carson City, Nevada Dear Miss Dungan: I am enclosing a letter we sent to Governor uaxalt for assistance in our problem. It is our understanding that you will be heading the Legislative Body that will be investigating various situations here at the Nevada State Prison. We certainly welcome you this investigation not only to our problem but others that exist. Many of us have families and they are not getting the necessary funds to exist in general living. We are most concerned about our loved ones and eontinusously worry about the conditions they must endure while we are here. Please, we do not wish to be put in the middle of a political battle be?tween the two parties. But we do need assistance in obtaining the necess?ary treatment ordered by Regulations before we can pass the psychiatric panel. On one hand they say we must have treatment before being released (unless we top out our sentence) and on the other hand we are not given any treatment. Yes, we know that the State is having financial troubles but what will become of our families, who are suffering now, due to our absence. We are piaying for our crime but so are our families. This is not right. We believe California has reached the correct solution to our mental rehabilitation. Incarceration is not the answer. We wish to invite you to visit this group of inmates and discuss this problem of ours. We truly need help. le do need your assistance as we realize our problem. Please help us. Incidently some of us our veterans, honorably discharged, and could poss?ibly be paroled to the veterans hospital. Could you assist us in this endeaver. Thank you very much for your time and hope that you can visit us. We remain, Yours very sincerely, Signatures(see other copy- Gov. Laxalts letter) P.O. Box 607 Carson City, Nevada January 31, 1968 Governor Paul Laxalt Executive Offices Capitol Building Carson City, Nevada Dear Governor Laxalt: We are writing this letter in behalf of most of the irimhtes charged with a sex-offense(non-violent) at the Medium Security Prison. This is not a gripe letter but we wish to make you aware 4?-thal reEabiNj-itation system in regards to this type of offense. lie realize our problem and want to h ing guilty to the charge we were to Attorneys that we would be given us have spent from 1$ to AO month only 15 to 30 minutes of psychiatri Brown. As you are aware Dr. Brown is have the time to give us >ft^-?ece>sary gulations. He is aware/^fthis shdr\pomi of the terrific load h^/is now carry s. At the ti'toe of plead-t, the DA's Office and our ialric treatment. Most of e been given in most cases in this time by Dr. Raymond t time psychiatrist and does not tment indicated in the State Re?nd is unable to help us because Under the present regulations we must/ be given psychiatric treatment before we can be paroled. Ap ^e were not receiving the necessary treatment we must serve our full senteno&A In otherwprds we have gained nothing to help us meet our resgonslfrHity^\uKc_iti aftH^-~when we are released. As sex offenders we have b^mr^ihrown into a'hemeeexml society, which certainly is not con-dusive ^?/proper treatp^nt in any sense of the word. Incarceration isn't the ans^ le beli given e ize our we want is selves. ;e that the Cal/iPornia System is the correct approach. They are nsive psychiatric treatment in a hospital not in prison. We real-prptCLem and^Me asking for help. We are like drowning men and all throw us a line for assistance so that we can help our-fie realize that as Governor you have inherited many ills in government and that you are also limited in funds to administor the various Departments in our State? but again what is the price of morals to society. We have been asked, "What have you done for yourselves", we have joined the counselling groups, various organizations such as the Toastmaster%^lub, Jayoees, etc. We do not have the funds for private treatment. Although we have contacted some private psychiatrists and we were told it was to expen?sive, etc. Some of us are veterans and could possibly be accepted by the Veterans Hospital if this would be acceptable to our Parole and Probation Department. All we ask is aid to our problem. We are asking your assistance at this time to help us ?n a true rehabilitation program. Yours very Sincerely,