Estate of Ford v. Ramirez
2002 Daily Journal D.A.R. 9704
Jeffrey Ford was an inmate at the psychiatric unit of the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, California. His cellmate was James Diesso. These two men had been cellmates on previous occasions without incident, but Diesso had previously stabbed another inmate. In addition, Diesso was considered to be a "Category J" prisoner - sufficiently mentally ill to not be housed with the general population, but generally medication compliant. Diesso had been previously characterized as extremely violent and dangerous as far back as 1995 and had been involved in a number of attacks on guards and inmates between 1993 and 1997. These and other incidents led to a correctional officer adding an "S" sub-classification to Diesso's records on June 6, 1998, indicating he should not be double celled with any other inmates.
