A series of recent articles highlights the violence and serious problems that have plagued USP Atwater and illustrates why many federal defense attorneys (including me) have long advised their clients not to request judicial recommendations for the AtwaterPenitentiary (the adjacent camp is ok). See Merced Sun-Star's Officer Death Shines Light On Faulty System and the Los Banos Enterprise's Rally Held For Prison Safety Improvements. Although a recent column in the Merced Sun-Star, No Shortcuts At Atwater Penitentiary indicates improvements have dramatically improved safety conditions, I remain skeptical.