Inside Pelican Bay State Prison

A tour at Pelican Bay begins with a briefing about the dangers of prison life and a show-and-tell that includes examples of the prisoner-made weapons.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Prison officials hold an X-ray negative of a weapon that a prisoner was trying to conceal inside his body at Pelican Bay.   (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Pelican Bay State Prison inmate Jeremy Beasley, 39, a member of the Nazi Low-Riders and then elevated to the Aryan Brotherhood, shows his tattoos. At Pelican Bay since 1998, Beasley went to prison on a life sentence for murder and has since tried to kill another inmate and assaulted a guard. He agreed to debrief in order to be released from the security housing unit -- known as the SHU.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Pelican Bay State Prison inmate Javier Zubiate, a lieutenant of Nuestra Familia, is a convicted killer serving time in the SHU. Zubiate agreed to debrief to provide evidence on other gang members in order to be released from the SHU. Zubiate was also told he would receive medical treatment for an eye condition.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Another view of Zubiate.   (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Zubiate is led back to his pod by a guard.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Javier Zubiate is accompanied by a guard.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

The concrete recreation area offers a place for controlled and monitored exercise.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Inmate Javier Zubiate stands in the concrete recreation area.   (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

A guard watches inmate Javier Zubiate in the SHU.   (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Inmates in Unit B at Pelican Bay State Prison exercise and talk in the yard.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Pelican Bay inmates move from one spot in the yard to another during an exercise period.   (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Warden Greg Lewis, center, walks around Pelican Bay State Prison.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

A sign warns inmates, staff and visitors that this portion of fencing at Pelican Bay State Prison is electrified.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Razor wire and guard towers encircle Pelican Bay State Prison.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)