Inmate Protest Is Waning, Coalinga Hospital Officials Say

Coalinga State Hospital officials said Thursday that a patient boycott of activities in protest of conditions at the mental health facility was waning, as some patient concerns were addressed.

“We are returning to normalcy,” hospital spokesman Tom Hunt said. The mental facility houses patients considered “sexually violent predators,” who are involuntarily committed at the end of their prison terms.

Patients said they began their nonviolent “strike” late last week, with as many as three-quarters of patients participating. Some held handmade signs in the hallways, and many refused to attend educational classes, therapy groups or vocational programs.

Hunt said participation was lower than patients’ described -- putting it at about 50% of those who normally participate in structured activities. Patients said key concerns were bright dorm lights that are on all night; limited privacy in bathrooms and a reduction in the number of telephone lines available to patients. Hunt said staff members were working to address the lighting problem and were making other changes.