My brother, Rodney Barno, is an inmate at the Corcoran State Prison’s Substance Abuse Treatment Facility. Two months ago, rumors began circulating that other inmates had a hit on him, so, in order to protect him, they put him in administrative segregation, also known as “the hole.” Since then, we have received letter after letter from him describing horrific conditions and treatment by guards who are supposed to protect him.

He says he was stripped of all his personal belongings (food, clothing, hygiene necessities) and forced to sleep on a bare mattress. He has told us that he fears for his life, and I am worried sick that something will happen to him if we don’t put an end to this treatment now.

My brother made mistakes in his life, and he is paying the price in prison. But he is now in the custody of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and it is their duty to treat him like a human being, not an animal. I am imploring Kamala Harris, Attorney General of California, to investigate my brother’s treatment at the Corcoran State Prison. He should pay for his crimes, but not with his life.

Rodney’s now gone on a hunger strike, which leaves us even more worried. We received a letter from him expressing concern regarding the correctional officers abusing him physically and threatening to put another inmate in his cell to kill him. Most recently, he called to tell us that it is getting much worse with physical abuse. He was afraid to explain how bad it has gotten because the calls are recorded and he feared even more guard retaliation.

He gets one phone call a week on Saturdays, and they barely let him talk to our parents for 10 minutes if he's lucky. We have called the prison directly to express our concern, and no one has bothered to even call us back. I feel like we are out of options. It has gotten so bad that my father has been in the hospital several times due to stress/depression resulting from these issues, and my mother hasn't stopped crying.

Please help us get our message out and get our loved one some relief. Anything will help. Tell Attorney General Kamala Harris to investigate the treatment of my brother. Sign this petition and make sure justice is done, even for those behind bars.

Thank you.