Does Charles keep in contact with any of the former Manson family?

Answer 1

Not really. If he can't control them he has no use for them. And prison officials try to discourage friendships between co-conspirators. Manson has many restrictions, most for his own safety. He is kept in solitary confinement, again for his own safety and really hasn't had anything new to talk about since his transfere from San Quentin. He rants and rambles on, making intelligent conversation all but impossible.

Within months of sentencing the three women (Krenwinkle, Van Houten, Atkins) were shocked to realize that Manson was such a liar. From their cells word got back to them that Manson had denied he ordered the murders, and claimed they acted on their own. The waste of young lives (victims and killers) still seems so tragic even after almost half a century.