Story Outline

Prison Abuse Investigated From a news story by CNN San Francisco Reporter Don Knapp July 29, 1998

I. Prison abuse was suspected at Corcoran Prison

A. Guards put rival prison gangs into a common exercise yard.
B. Guards shot at the prisoners to stop the fight, and Preston Tate was killed.
C. Between 1989 and 1995 50 inmates were shot, 7 killed.
D. Some people believe this treatment is torture and inhuman treatment.

II. Prison abuse was investigated at Corcoran prison

A. Two state investigations did not find abuse.
B. The FBI investigated for 4 years.
C. Some guards said excessive force had been used.
D. The guard who told the FBI received death threats and was transferred.
E. A federal Grand Jury indicted 8 guards on civil rights violations.

III. Prison guards go on trial

A. The California Department of Corrections promised to spend one million dollars to protect the guards.
B. The trial began in April, 2000.
C. On June 9, 2000, the guards were found not guilty.

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