For almost thirty years, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has been under court-ordered supervision of mental health services provided to over 30,000 inmates. According to a secret whistleblower report compiled by Dr. Michael Golding, the state prison system’s chief psychiatrist, the state was providing inaccurate and misleading data to the federal court and to lawyers representing the inmates. Dr. Golding, who is represented by Wendy Musell, alleges that he has been subject to retaliation since delivering a 161-page secret report to an official overseeing medical care inside the prisons. United States District Court Judge Kimberly Mueller conducted an evidentiary hearing regarding the report and found that Dr. Golding was “credible” and “his observations and conclusions overall are well-founded. . . .” According to Ms. Musell, Dr. Goldring felt that the importance of the issues compelled him to come forward, “despite the risk for his own career.”
