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me ew ee we eee we we ee ee “Our Most Serious’ | Problem--’ The bloody prison war between the Mexican Mafia and Nuestra Familia ‘is one of our most seri- ous problems,” says Raymond Procunier, director of the Depurtment of Corrections. With more than 50 inmates dead and over "500 injured in behind - the- bars violence inthe past five years, Procunier defends the indefinite lock-up of gang leaders as the only preventive measure left to - prison officials. “We cannot tolerate the level of violence we had last year.” he said, referring to the deaths of 35 inmates and the injuty of more than 200 in 1972. “We have toughened security and the fatal vi Hence is down this year.” { Invariably, such measures as 24 ‘hour solita feonfinement for gang leaders with longer terms or ‘fewet paroles hag led to charges of repression by prison reform groups. “The act of locking somebody up is certainly repressive,” admits a spokesman for Procunier. “But that doesn't take inte consideration the fact ‘hat these mien are convicted criminals and they have to be locked up for the protection, of the in- matee-whn don't participate in gang activitiaad+——, (Maunt CHaping in Space Below} i — ee 162 el ~—— Pinus. ote pa te, pains oO | newapaper, ity and a'ate.) Date: Ba27u 73 eaitionQ Star Final Author: | yaitor: Randolph A.Hearst | settes i t Character: or Classtificaticnr Submitting O:lice: SF i Being Investigated