October 2008
Manson has been released from SHU and is back in the PHU, his regular housing unit.

April 4, 2008
It's been reported that Charlie entered the prison hospital about March 25, 2008 for breathing problems. He is doing well and feeling better. He has not yet been released from SHU. MansonDirect is told the prison has not yet conducted the hearing all inmates are entitled to receive when they are placed into SHU.

December 20, 2007
Charles Manson has been placed into the Secure Housing Unit ('The Hole'). As always, MansonDirect.com will report the details once we have seen the actual information first hand. While in SHU inmates can not receive packages or special purchases, so none should be sent at this time. SHU inmates are able to access a very limited amount of credit on their books, if they have any, for canteen purchases. Anyone wishing to add funds to Charlie's prison account can check the CDC website for details on how to do that. Postage stamps can not be sent to inmates in PHU or SHU, although envelopes with USPS embossed postage are permitted.

February 10, 2007
Charles Manson speaks out about his upcoming parole hearing. Listen to Manson's message (MP3 file) to you about this important upcoming event.

August 23, 2006
Added a page about Charlie's efforts to get back his property. See page HERE.

Update May 5, 2006
MansonDirect has spoken with Manson. So that verifies that he's out of SHU and back into his regular housing unit. Charlie sounded strong and in good spirits.

Update May 4, 2006
MansonDirect has received information that Charlie has been released from SHU ('the hole') and is back in PHU, two weeks ahead of the anticipated release date. The information is not yet verified however.

Update April 14, 2006
A close friend of Charlie reports to MansonDirect that he has received several letters from Charlie within the past couple of weeks. Manson seems to be in good spirits even though he is still in SHU ('The Hole').

Update January 18, 2006
MansonDirect has received indications that Charlie is close to release from SHU. This is not confirmed by Manson himself however. Recent cards and letters including those received here have dealt with various topics, but Charlie hasn't speculated on his return to PHU at this point.

UPDATE August 25, 2005
MansonDirect has learned the facts behind the most recent placement of Charlie into the SHU ('the hole'). According to the written incident report, form CDC 115, on June 20, 2005 Manson was leaving his cell on his way to the shower. A guard delivering mail told Manson to stop and remain in the dayroom, so the guard could enter Manson's cell to search it for contraband. According to the guard's allegations, Manson said "The hell you are" and at that point stopped on the stairs, which the guard was about to walk up to reach Manson's cell. Supposedly, Manson took a swing at the guard. The guard set off his personal alarm to summon help, and tried to grab Manson's arm in order to place it behind his back so he could put hand cuffs on Manson. As the guard held Manson's arm, Charlie "lost his balance" according to the guard, and fell against the wall striking his head. At this point Manson was on the concrete floor and two other guards arrived on the scene, and together all three guards "held Manson down" and handcuffed his hands behind his back. Manson was experiencing pain in his head and his chest area at that point, so he was taken to the hospital for observation. No specific treatment was required at the hospital. Manson was released the same day, and was then placed directly into the SHU.

UPDATE July 26, 2005
Charlie has been returned to the SHU. He had been back in PHU since about April 6, 2005. We don't know the exact date he went back into the "hole", but it has been verified.

UPDATE April 6, 2005
A good friend of Manson's reports to us that he spoke to Charlie on the phone. Charlie had been in SHU ("the hole") since December 2003, a period of about 16 months. He is now back in PHU, his regular unit. The friend tells us that Charlie sounded good, and seemed to be in good spirits.

UPDATE March 28, 2005
A good friend of Manson's has informed us that he has heard from Charlie by mail. Charlie is in good spirits, and says he may be released from the SHU within the next week or two.

UPDATE December 6, 2004
MansonDirect has heard from a friend of Manson's who reports he received a lengthy letter from Manson. Manson says he had stopped writing due to on going mail problems. Manson is still in SHU. This is the only verified communication from Manson we have heard of in the past few months. Charlie is hanging in there.

UPDATE August 30, 2004
The most common question MansonDirect.com gets is What's new with Charlie. But often, there is not any real news to give. As of this date, Manson is still apparently having problems getting and receiving mail. Few people (only 1 we know of) have received any letters from him over the last couple of months. As far as we know, he is still in SHU ("the hole").

UPDATE July 17, 2004
The close friend of Manson has been kind enough to send MansonDirect.com a copy of the letter referenced in the May 20, 2004 updater. In it Manson says (paraphrased)"...My mail is not getting out. I've been writing and they've been taking the letters." He also says (paraphrased) "...A world full of people each trying to win or out do or beat someone, be better- they use death as a proving ground war fear and al that. I'm not in that mind set." he says (paraphrased) "...I'm honor, my only concern is ATWA honor.

UPDATE May 20, 2004
A friend of Manson has shared with us the news that they received a lengthly letter from Manson. Few people have heard from Charlie since he's been in the hole. Manson says there have been problems with the mail there, both in receiving letters people have written and in getting his letters out. On some occassions Manson has been given mail consisting of the empty envelopes, with the contents missing.

UPDATE March 22, 2004
We have now received word that Manson is likely to remain in SHU until September 2004 due to the reason mentioned in the December 12, 2003 update below.

UPDATE February 12, 2004
Oddly, no news has been received from Manson for over a month. We assume he is still in the hole, and we're working to discover his status.

UPDATE December 14, 2003
Written communication from Manson does now comfirm that he is in fact back in the hole.

UPDATE December 12, 2003
We have now received information that Manson was placed in the hole because guards found him to be in possession of homemade tools he was going to use to make another harp. They claimed the tools could be weapons. We still have not seen the paperwork, so we will keep you updated as the information comes in.

UPDATE December 8, 2003
MansonDirect has received information that Manson has been removed from PHU section and placed back into SHU ("the hole"). We have no details at this time, and have not yet verified this as fact.
Manson recently received a quarterly package of food items, candy and tobacco from a close friend, and was in good spirits recently.

UPDATE November 25, 2003
At this time there are no updates, but we receive comments from site visitors who say they are interested in knowing not only when something happens, but also want to know when things are the same with Charlie. In our last conversation with Charlie in November, he seemed in good spirits.

UPDATE September 8, 2003
It is reported to MansonDirect that Charlie has received 30 days lose of day room privileges for swearing at a guard. It is not necessary for an inmate to "start" trouble, but by merely responding to rough or abusive treatment from staff with a few choice comments, they are punished in these petty ways.

UPDATE September 8, 2003
After several weeks delay, Manson finally received his last package. (details on the packages). The package was sent to him within the time limit, but was refused by the prison, allegedly for an improperly written address. Their claim was that Manson's CDC number, B33920, was not correctly included in the address. But the package form was written by Manson himself and mailed out to the package sender as required. After the package was refused and returned, it was sent back and reached the prison bearing a postmark of the very last day of packages, July 31. Finally, the package was distributed to Manson by prison officials after three trips across the country! Sadly, this is all too typical of the treatment afforded Manson, just as it has been happening for all these years.

UPDATE August 23, 2003
The period of "restricted privileges" ended for Manson and he has been able to place phone calls for the last week or so. He did not receive his last special package due to allegations that the package was not correctly address. We are investigating.

UPDATE July 21, 2003
Manson continues on restriction (loss of privileges) until about July 25. MansonDirect has obtained a copy of the memo issued to inmates detailing new rules that end all outside packages and ordering on behalf of inmates. See HERE for details.

UPDATE July 7, 2003
Packages To End? This update applies to Manson and all inmates at CSP-Corcoran. We have learned that the long-threatened rules change that would ban packages from home has apparently been enacted within the last two days. Under this new rule, inmates would no longer be permitted to receive a quarterly package and would not be permitted to receive ANY items sent by family or friends through authorized vendors. More to follow on this important change.

UPDATE May 4, 2003
Within the last week, Manson was sentenced to 90 days loss of privileges, having been found guilty of the charges which prompted the investigation in February. He remains in PHU.

UPDATE April 23, 2003
Manson has been released from SHU and is back in the PHU housing unit. He is in good spirits.

UPDATE March 28, 2003
Manson remains in SHU ('the hole'). CDC claims they are conducting an "investigation" into allegations that Manson conducted a business enterprise by sending out items for sale to collectors. The claim is false. These kinds of claims are sometimes made by other inmates who wish to start trouble, and target Manson because he is a well known person. In this case another inmate (known to Manson Direct and also known to Corcoran officials) did steal some items from Manson and send them out through attorney mail. The inmate then instructed his attorney to try to sell the items, and the attorney did make such attempts. CDC has taken action against the inmate. But as the lies pour forth, Manson is ultimately the one who suffers by being placed in the hole. Such is the Corcoran Way. See: Does Manson Make Money From Prison

UPDATE February 28, 2003
Manson has been placed back into the SHU ('the hole'). Details are not yet known, but will be posted here as soon as available.

UPDATE February 19, 2003
Recently, Manson's guitar was damaged, and as a result he no longer has it available to play. Manson was unhappy about the turn of events, but has taken it in stride.

In other news, within the last few days Manson's cell was "tossed" and all of his incoming and outgoing postal mail was confiscated. CDC can do that whenever they like by claiming they are conducting an "investigation". But they are not required to tell the inmate what they are investigating. All incoming mail and all outgoing mail is opened, searched and carefully reviewed by CDC staff, so it is hard to imagine what there was in Manson's mail that warrented an "investigation" since all his incoming mail was already read by staff, and all his outgoing mail is read by staff. If any news of this event reaches Manson Direct we will place it on this page. But often times, the facts behind these so-called "investigations" are never revealed by CDC (even to the inmate). See the How You Can Help page for more information.

UPDATE December 20, 2002
Manson has finally been given his guitar. He has been denied a guitar for over three years. This guitar was sent to Manson by his friend "Tip Top", through an approved prison vendor, and following approved prison procedures. Manson has no money with which to buy a guitar himself, and he has only now been approved to received one. Manson Direct was pleased to assist Tip Top in the purchase of the guitar. This weekend, December 21 and 22, Manson has been sitting outside in the PHU yard, giving guitar lessons to a fellow inmate.

UPDATE December 3, 2002
Manson Direct has reviewed a copy of another "CDC 115" form regarding an event that occured back on October 4, 2002. On that dater the prison ordered Manson to under go a urinalysis test. The reason for the test is unknown, as drugs are not an issue in the very restrictive PHU environment. Manson asked "Why are you messing with me?" and declined to pee in a cup. The prison did not offer him any reason as to why he was being asked to take the test. Since Manson declined to take the test, he was written up but the 115 form was not finally processed until November 13, more than a month after the event. The original "charge" was "Refusing to submit to a urinalysis" but the prison later changed the "charge" to "Refusal To Obey Orders" a charge considered "Serious".

UPDATE October 31, 2002
Manson Direct reviews the "Rules Violation" report referenced in the October 26, 2002 update below. Click Here for the facts.

UPDATE October 26, 2002
Manson has been placed on "cell confinement" status for 90 days. This status does not cause an inmate to be placed in "the hole" (SHU) but it does result in a lose of all 'privileges' for the term of the sentence. It is believed this action was a result of a 'rules violation' about October 1, 2002. Manson Direct is in the process of obtaining copies of the 115 inmate violation report form and will report the details as soon as possible. Correction 11/4/02: Manson received 10 days cell confinement and 90 days loss of privileges.

UPDATE October 15, 2002
Manson Direct spoke with Manson by telephone Monday October 14, 2002 and was pleased to learn that after the events of Saturday October 12, Manson was not placed back in the hole (SHU). Manson was "written up" (115 form). During his removal from the visit area Saturday, Manson was pushed to the ground by guards. However, he said he was not hurt in the incident. Read the eyewitness account here.

UPDATE October 12, 2002
On Saturday October 12, 2002 Manson granted an interview to a local California newspaper, his first media interview in about 11 years. During the course of the interview Manson became upset and a minor altercation occurred involving angry shouting. The exact cause of the trouble is not yet known. The newspaper reporter and a guest visiting Manson were hustled out of the PHU visiting room and whisked out of the prison area and into the parking lot, accompanied by guards. Manson was escorted out of the visiting area and back into PHU section. It is not known yet whether he was placed back in the the hole (SHU). We will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

UPDATE September 2, 2002
One of the best types of update- reporting that all remains well with Manson. He continues to receive occasional visits, and has been allowed out of doors into the PHU yard to sit in the sunshine. The prison still has not given him back one of his guitars, but two weeks ago he borrowed one from another inmate and gave an impromptu outdoor concert of music and singing to a handful of other inmates. Too bad no recordings are permitted inside those prison walls!

UPDATE June 29, 2002
On Saturday June 29 Manson received a visitor, his first in over 2 years as far as we know.

UPDATE June 25, 2002
Manson has been released from "The Hole" and is back in the PHU section. Manson was held in solitary for 3 weeks "pending investigation" of an alleged threat against his safety.

UPDATE June 4, 2002
After barely three weeks, Manson has again been placed into the punitive SHU section, aka "The Hole".

Manson has apparently been accused of a minor rules infraction and was immediately placed into SHU even before any hearing on the matter took place. Revision 6/10/02: Supposedly Manson was placed in the hole as "protective custody" due to an alleged threat against his safety.

UPDATE May 13, 2002
Manson is finally back in the Protective Housing Unit (PHU) at Corcoran.

He was in the "hole" (SHU) for over two years- an extreme condition especially considering that 21 days is the normal maximum time.

Manson is doing well and feeling well.

UPDATE April 30, 2002
Charles Manson is still being held in disciplinary custody in the California State Prison (CSP)-Corcoran's Security Housing Unit (SHU) for allegedly threatening staff. He has been under the extreme lockdown conditions of SHU since mid-February, 2000.

Manson had a potential release date from SHU of February 2002, but in fact he was not released. If released he would have been returned to the prison's PHU.

UPDATE April 24, 2002
Manson declined to attend his parole hearing April 24. It was his 10th hearing to date. Prison sources are quoted as saying he refused to attend if handcuffed, and they would not allow him to attend the hearing unshackled. The parole board declined him parole and assigned him an excessive 5 year wait until his next hearing. news story In a letter dated 4/25/2002 Manson said "I've been lied about so much and lied to so long I've begun to wonder what difference it may make to myself and everyone..."