Lawyers for California corrections officials are balking at the release of a secret report prepared by the prison system’s top psychiatrist that accuses the state of providing misleading and inaccurate information to a federal judge and attorneys for more than 30,000 inmates, the Sacramento Bee reports. The state argues that releasing a redacted version of the report compiled by Dr. Michael Golding “poses a significant risk of irreparable harm” to relations inside the workplace, could compromise an investigation into his allegations and “would be unfair to the individuals mentioned in the report.” Lawyers for inmates say the state’s stance is a reversal from its earlier position, when corrections lawyers were willing to allow a redacted version of the report to be filed in court – and made public.
At issue is a report compiled in recent months that the inmates’ attorneys say illustrates how the state misled them and the court with inaccurate information about what progress is being made in improving access to psychiatric care in the prisons. The report remains sealed while U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mueller considers whether portions can be made public and when. Golding accuses prison employees of engaging in wrongful behavior, state lawyers say, adding that the 160-page report and 60 exhibits “consist almost exclusively of unverified statements taken out of context that Dr. Golding uses to support his personal opinions.” The inmates’ attorneys see it differently, saying the allegations are “very serious” and noting that “public policy favors access and disclosure of information in judicial proceedings.” Golding is to testify about the report before Mueller in a hearing set for next Monday.