Da: "coalit"
Oggetto: [listacoalit] living condition ississippi DR - Parchman
Data: luned́ 4 febbraio 2002 12.41
I'll try to gather contact information relating to the local media in
Mississippi. Every suggestion and help is most welcome !Thank you for
circulating this document as much as possible and for acting on it urgently.
Sandrine
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From Mississippi DR - Parchman
To : Prisoners' Rights Organizations, News, Media, Family & Friends :
Death Row Prisoners in the State of Mississippi are being subjected to cruel
and unusual punishment due to our living conditions, unfair prison policies
and procedures. We need the help of outside organizations and individuals to
help encourage prison officials to improve the living conditions and change
some of their unfair, sometimes harsh, policies and procedures that we are
being subjected to.
Approximately 30 death row prisoners are planning to go on hunger strike in
order to bring attention to our living conditions and the overall treatment
we are being subjected to. We hope that prison officials will be encouraged
to address these issues and hopefully make positive changes. Without outside
support from you, any efforts that we make will fall on deaf ears. The
prison officials here couldn't care less if we ALL starved to death, as long
as groups and individuals on the outside don't get involved.
We need you to help US draw attention to our situation by contacting the
prison officials, Mississippi politicians, etcS with your concerns about the
problems we encounter (a list of issues we want to address will follow
below). You can write letters, send e-mails, faxes, make phone calls,
anything that will put pressure on prison officials to correct those
problems here at M.D.O.C.
We feel that the people we are asking to support US should know a few things
about our efforts to bring about changes here. A hunger strike is a
non-violent, extreme measure to have to resort to. It takes a lot out of the
person who participates, both physically and mentally. Not everyone has the
physical or mental ability to go on hunger strike and stay on it for 30 or
40 days in order to, as we believe, achieve our goal. There are several
death row prisoners who simply don't have what it takes to start a hunger
strike and go without eating for the period of time that it takes to get the
results we are seeking. That does not mean that we ALL are not united in
this effort.
59 of the 63 death row prisoners here (4 are not mentally able) will
participate in this effort in one way or another. Those who cannot
participate in the actual hunger strike are supporting those who can by
having their family members, friends, etcS write letters, make phone calls,
send e-mails, etcS to draw attention to our situation. Hopefully, this will
encourage prison officials to make positive changes. Some will participate
by taking part in any negotiations with prison officials that might take
place. Everyone here is tired of the living conditions, unfair policies and
procedures that we are being subjected to.
The hunger strike will be a non-violent protest. We will be united in this
effort. We need your help if we are to achieve our goal. The following is a
list of issues that we want to have addressed and a list of prison officials
and politicians you can contact on our behalf.
1. LIVING CONDITIONS
A/ 9 of the cells on the tier #3 leaks when it rains, many more cells under
those leaks also. This forces the men in those cells to sleep on the floor
to keep dry. In some cases, that doesn't work.
B/ The toilet in every cell on DR were not installed properly. When a man in
one cell flushes his toilet, his urine and/or feces overflow in the toilet
next to his. This is unsanitary and needs to be fixed at whatever cost.
C/ The building that we are housed in is constantly over-run with rodants,
spiders, insects, etcS To eliminate this problem, officials here need to
make sure that maintenance sprays the building more often than they
currently do. During the summer months, mosquitoes infest the building. This
is becoming a particular health threat now that the "West Nile Virus" has
been detected in North and Central Mississippi. Officials need to spray as
often as possible during warm weather months to rid the building of this
problem.
D/The tiers and showers on Death Row are not properly cleaned. Officers do
not properly supervise the prisoners who are assigned to keeping the tiers
and showers clean. We do not receive proper cleaning materials to clean our
cells out with. Instead of putting fresh water and cleaning material in the
bucket every few cells, 26 men have to use the same mop and mop water. After
a few cells have been mopped out with this water, and mopped, it's a waste
of time for anyone else to try and clean their cells with it. If done this
way, it shouldn't be done at all.
E/ The intercom system in the building where we are housed has been broken
for years. In order to summon an officer for assistance, we have to bang on
our doors. In doing this, we are subjected to being written up and losing
our privileges. Officials need to have the intercom system fixed so that we
can call for help without being written up for doing so.
2. MEDICAL/DENTAL/PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT
At the present time, we fill out a "sick call" form. It takes 3 to 4 weeks
before we get to see a doctor. Many times, we receive NO response at all to
our requests. Especially when it comes to dental and eye treatment.
Officials here need to take the necessary steps to ensure we received proper
medical/dental and psychiatric care within a reasonable time period.
3. FOOTWEAR
Recently, our shoes were taken from us on the basis that we might run away
(escape), or kill someone by kicking them. However, prisoners in other parts
of the prison are allowed to keep their shoes and they have greater
opportunities of escaping than US who are locked down 24 hours per day
(sometimes 23 hr/day). Now we all have to wear open-toed shower-shoes. We
have to wear these shower-shoes to the yard, to the family/attorney visits,
when going to sick call or whenever. This is regardless of weather
conditions (rain, snow, freezing weather or whatever conditions). Officials
need to return our shoes as it is a health risk to us being bare-footed in
ever changing weather.
4. ACCESS TO MDOC EDUCATIONAL STUDIES/PROGRAMS
Currently, we are not provided with any type of educational materials and
don't have access to any educational programs that are offered to other
prisoners under MDOC's control. We want to have access to these
programs/study materials so that we can attempt to educate and better
ourselves.
5. VISITATION WITH FAMILY & ATTORNEY
A/ Currently our visitation days are during the week (every first and third
Tuesday). In order for our family/children/friends etcS to visit us, our
visitors have to take time off from work/school. For many, this is not
possible. Under the current visitation policy, many of the men on death row
here only get 1 or 2 visits per year. We are only allowed a one hour visit
every two weeks. Another problem with our visits are that some of our family
members and/or friends have to drive hundreds of miles to see us, then they
are limited to a one hour visit (sometimes even 45 minutes). This goes
against the prison policy. Under current rules and procedures, death row
prisoners are supposed to get 2/5 hour visits per month. We want officials
to change our visiting days to Sunday (when there will be enough time for us
to visit and it wouldn't be a hassle for them) and, give us the 5 hour
visits that we are entitled to.
B/ Up until recently, we were able to have all day contact visits with our
attorneys an any week-day. This has been changed so that we are no longer
able to have contact visits with our attorneys and they can only visit us on
Mondays and Fridays (by appointments). Officials are limiting the amount of
legal papers our attorneys can give us during these visits. Depending on how
many of us received attorney visits on the same day, they are allowing us as
little as one hour of legal visit. If this is allowed to continue, it will
severely hamper our ability to pursue our appeals. We want prison officials
to allow us to resume our legal visits the way they were for decades before
this new policy was enacted.
6. POLICY OF CONFISCATING ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
On 12/18/00, prison officials enacted a new policy that allows them to
confiscate DR prisoners' TV's, Radios and fans if any type of contraband is
found in their cells. If these appliances are confiscated, you can never
earn the privilege of getting them back. Since this policy is being
enforced, 7 DR prisoners have had their appliances confiscated. It's
understandable for a prisoner to lose his appliances if he is caught hiding
things that are contrary to prison rules and procedures. Even then, he
should be able to (after a certain period of time without committing any
rule violations) earn the privilege of getting his appliances back. Most of
the men who have had their appliances taken away, have lost them for VERY
minor infractions of the rules. Such as being caught with tobacco products
or wearing a earring, etcS This new policy allows prison officials to
confiscate our appliances before we have been afforded the opportunity to
appear before a disciplinary committee. Then, once we go before the
disciplinary commission, we are subjected to double jeopardy by being
punished twice for the same offense.
This new policy is unfair and must be changed. We want the death row
population who has had their appliances confiscated to have their appliances
returned to them. Or at least be given the opportunity to earn the privilege
of having it returned to them.
7. ISOLATION
Two death row prisoners have been housed in "isolation" for over a year now.
This despite the fact that NO disciplinary committee ever said they should
received such a harsh and unjust punishment. These cells are enclosed with
plexi-glass doors with poor ventilation, are dimly lit, and one pours water
every time it rains. This amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. We want
these men to be placed in regular cells immediately. In the future, no death
row prisoners should be placed in one of those "isolation" cells unless a
disciplinary committee deems it a proper punishment. Even then, the prisoner
should not remain in this type of confinement for an underdetermined period
of time.
8. STAMPS
Currently, we are only allowed to purchase 34 cts stamps from the canteen
and we are limited to purchasing 2 books (10 stamps each book) per week.
Many of us write to pen-pals overseas which cost 80 cts in postage for each
letter. We can't purchase any other denomination of stamps. So we are forced
to spend an extra 22 cts for every letter we mail overseas. Up until
recently (April 2000), we are able to receive any denomination of stamps
through the mail. We want officials to either allow us getting stamps in the
mail or to start allowing us to purchase different denominations of stamps
from the canteen.
9. CLASSIFICATION
A/ As it stands, we are currently "classified" under the "County Prison
Status". No "A", "B", "C" or "D" custody status, however, we (death row) are
housed under the Rules, Policy and Procedures as those of the "D" custody
Status without the possibility of our custody status ever changing.
This creates a problem. Whereas a State prisoner who was sentenced to serve
a certain amount of time in MDOC, death row prisoners were sent to MDOC to
await the final results of their appeals in the Courts.
B/ Whereas a State prisoner who violates the Rules, Policies and Procedures
of MDOC is sent to Unit 32 for disciplinary punishment, Death Row prisoners
are constantly housed in Unit 32-C building.
C/ Whereas a State prisoner placed in "D" custody will earn the opportunity
to redeem himself after serving his disciplinary time and then be given the
chance to move up the Custody "Class" ladder to receive certain
opportunities of bettering himself and enjoy certain freedoms in other
units. Death row prisoners are subjected to the same punishment but MUST
remain locked under every new policy, rule and procedure change that was
created to punish prisoners of a "D" custody status without any hope of
redeeming or reaching a custody status that will allow us to break free of
always being punished.
We want to be classified under the "A" or "B" class status or remain
classified as "County Prisoner" with the opportunity of those "2" classes.
We want to be punished under the "D" custody status if we violate the Rules,
Policies and Procedures of MDOC and then be given the opportunity to redeem
ourselves, thus given the chance to reach our original "class" status.
10. ACCESS TO BETTER CANTEEN
Currently we are allowed to purchase canteen items that are not adequate and
very limited. There are many items being sold to prisoners in other areas of
this prison that death row prisoners are not allowed to purchase. We want to
be able to purchase any/all items that are stocked in the main canteen that
can't legitimately be considered a security risk if it were allowed for
death row. Items in plastic and clear plastic containers.
MDOC Officials and Mississippi Politicians to contact :
1. Governor Ronnie MUSGROVE
PO Box 239
Jackson
MS 39205 Fax 601-359 37 41
2. Mike MOORE
Attorney General
PO Box 220
Jackson
MS 39205 Phone 601-359 36 80
3. Robert L. JOHNSON
Commissioner
723 North President Street
Jackson
MS 39202 Tel 601 359 56 00/Fax 601 359 56 24
4. Christopher EPPS
Deputy Commissioner
723 North President Street
Jackson
MS 39202 Tel 601 359 56 00/Fax 601 359 56 24
5. Emmitt L. SPARKMAN
Superintendent
PO Box 1057
Parchman
MS 38738 Tel 662-745 66 11
6. Gene CROCKER
Warden
PO Box 1057
Parchman
MS 38738 Tel 662-745 66 11
7. James J. STREETER
Deputy Warden
PO Box 1057
Parchman
MS 38738 Tel 662-745 66 11
At the following address :
PO Box 1018
Jackson
MS 39215-1018
The people below can be reached :
Louwill DAVIS - Auditor, Joint Legal Commissioner on Performance Evaluation
and Expenditure Review
Rob SMITH - Chairman, Senate Correction Committee
Willie SIMMONS - Vice Chairman, Senate Correction Committee
Bennett MALONE - House Penitentiary Chairman
Robert HUGGINS - Legal Representative for Corrections