In sunny California, the already harsh rules for detaining law-breakers are being taken very seriously indeed, as is evidenced in the state's spending over $1,000 (U.S.) a day to guard a brain-dead prisoner. And, in case death can't hold him, he was also shackled.

Daniel Provencio, imprisoned for violating parole, was sent to hospital in early January after prison guards shot him in the head with a "non-lethal" foam projectile. He's been there ever since, hooked to a ventilator while his family hopes for a miracle. Corrections Department rules dictate that inmates taken for medical care must be shackled and guarded, although they unchained Provencio's legs on Friday.

In addition to the wise precautions taken with Provencio, the state has spent about $140K guarding a heavily sedated inmate and a paraplegic with a lung infection.

Though some in the hierarchy agree the policy results in squanderous - if not out-and-out stupid - spending, the hospitals and guards' union would have to agree to waive their contracts before the state could make changes. With last year's guard budget alone reaching $29-million (U.S.), neither seem eager to bow out.

» Scott Saxon