Despite solitary confinement having long been recognized as being torture by neuroscientists, former U.S. President Obama, Justices of our Supreme Court the U.N., etc., the State of Wisconsin, "God's Country," continues to house people in Solitary Confinement, calling it "Restrictive Housing" (RH) so they can claim "We don't house people in 'Solitary Confinement.'"
PRISON FORUM
This is main blog of FFUP, Forum for Understanding Prisons, a non profit that has been working with prisoners for over 18 years. Look in the page tabs directly below and at the side to find links to the subjects you need.
Pages
- Best Prison Release Paths in these COVID days
- Books, Writings and Art by Prisoners
- two NEW FFUP REPORTS on WI PRISONS : "solitary torture" & "Staffing Crowding and Death"
- www.secondchancewi.org: prisoners tell their stories- old law; truth in sentencing; solitary confinement
- SEPTEMBER 2021 NEW PAROLE DRIVE
Thursday, May 20, 2021
Almost Murdered in Wisconsin's Secure Program Facility (WSPF).
Monday, May 10, 2021
Repost from ABOLISHmke

Despite many cultural differences, Wisconsin’s prison system has a similar negative impact on people in both under-resourced rural communities and Milwaukee’s northside. Those who have been cut out of the jobs economy, who’ve been marginalized and neglected by political elites, business owners, and corporations, are more likely to struggle with addiction, despair, and violence. We know what comes next – they end up going to prison.
In prison, negligence, abuse, and confinement cause great and lasting harm. People then return with that trauma to the same struggling communities they were taken from. The addedhe stigma of a criminal record further removes them from economic opportunities. They become more likely to resort to crimes of survival, or of addiction and emotional distress. In this way, prison drives up crime. It contributes to a cycle of harmful behavior, of people hurting their neighbors.
Union Supply Monopoly
Repost from ABOLISHmke
Prisoners are isolated to ordering solely from union supply as a contracted vendor... I'm under the impression it violates the consumers protection act where we are to have price competitiveness and is at contrast with the reasons the doc initially cited as their reasons to start the four original vendors contracts in 2007 or so, which included wider selection and “price competitiveness”. Please advise … and stop this unjust overtaxing of loved ones and prisoners hard earnings especially where union charges way more than others, takes three times the wait to deliver and puts families on hold hours to place orders. Also, where prisoners earn 5¢ per hour and doc takes 50% of hat 5¢ for restitution even hough courts imposed 25% and hen turn around and take another 10% for release accounts. Who is criminal in his situation?!!
—Jose Soto #307830, prisoner at Waupun Correctional Institution
The Wisconsin DOC is working towards only allowing one vendor to provide essentials to their captives: Union Supply. There’s a whole host of issues that come along with this, not least of which being that monopolies are historically price-gougers and unreliable, because there is no competition, so they can proceed however they want and do whatever maximizes profits, disregarding the needs and rights of the people they’re doing business with.
Thursday, April 22, 2021
FFUP LAUNCHES SPRING FUNDRAISER
FFUP launches fundraiser
for three new programs:
1)DESTress Project
2)A SAFE PLACE TO LAND:
3) PRISONER'S LEGAL RIGHTS AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE FUND (PLRSJF)
Intro: FFUP started soon after the Boscobel
Supermax opened around 2000 with its 500 solitary cells. We started with a penpal
project. Since then the prison population has grown from 7 000 prisoners to 22000
and solitary is used to deal with all ensuing problems from overcrowding and
understaffing, to lack programs and no treatment for the mentally ill . With
the pandemic, all got even more toxic, and suicide attempts soared, even within
the now locked down general population.
Prisoners
have little control over what happens to them in this system. It is a caldron of
frustration and Rage. However, we all have control over how we react to the
world around us and FFUP has two programs that try to give prisoners ways to
positively direct their lives; our DEStress project, and legal Project.
Our third program “ A Place to Land,” addresses the final failure of the
system- prisoner being released after years of trauma and little training or
treatment. FFUP is dealing with an increasing number of prisoners dumped to
homelessness or to a short-term placement that offers no support.
1)DESTRESS PROJECT: A volunteer puts together a monthly newsletter filled with games and stories, exercises, news articles etc., aimed at those who have trouble dealing with the stress of solitary confinement and/or the pandemic. We also offer craft and art supplies and books as part of our effort to encourage prisoners to “ground” their frustrations and anger thereby transforming that energy to positive actions. Because those in the deepest solitary units are allowed almost no tools for “distressing”, we have also crafted a pilot program proposal where prisoners and staff sign a contract allowing gradual increase in privileges and supplies in exchange for respectful, healthy behavior. We are in the negotiating process with DOC powers to get this enacted.
2)A SAFE PLACE TO LAND: funding for rental pace for donated trailer
An EXPO member has donated the use of a trailer for a safe refuge for newly release prisoners who are indigent and would otherwise be homeless. We need funding for space rental and a few months of maintenance. We believe this project will soon be self- sustaining , as we could ask for affordable rent once these guys get a job. We will also ask an ex-prisoner to be a live-in supervisor, seeing that order is maintained, and it continues to be a healthy environment. He will be paid in free rent. We will be paying for food an supplies while this project gets going. We hope this can grow and we can realize the many dreams we have explored over the years- finally for a self-sustaining community for training and nurturing people traumatized by our justice department.
Background:
Because
all funds go to maintaining the population, there is little treatment of the
mentally ill and few programs. FFUP is dealing with many released prisoners who
are released straight from years in solitary and have no support. They are
often forced to stay in the berg where they committed their crime- whether
there is safe placement for them or not. The best scenario for a prisoner who
is indigent is the placement in what is call a TLP( temporary living placement),
where they get a roof over their head for 90days and a curfew. Period. For some
people that is plenty, for they hightail it over to the county health and human
services department and get food stamps and then a manual labor job which are
plentiful. This is not usually possible for many prisoners who are released from
solitary. They need a safe place to land for a few months.
FFUP
is dealing with two men this winter were released to homelessness and another who
would have been homeless but for help with rental finds and person who was
given a TLP but had no food or transportation and again, needed some time to
orient being in society again. Because this was during stimulus fund time, FFUP
was able to aid these four prisoners but now we need your help
.
3) PRISONER'S LEGAL RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
FUND (PLRSJF)
This is an
outgrowth of our legal Project, where we help prisoners learn the law. We connect
them with a prisoner litigator guide, supply guidebooks, stamps, copies, case
as we can. We find that prisoners that do learn their rights and use the law to
address wrongs they see, have fewer mental and emotional problems, and are able
to treat all with respect . They get retaliated against but can deal
effectively with that. Prisoners help prisoners in this system, and we try to
encourage that with this program.
With PLRSJF,
we will go from individual cases, where winnings seldom garner any changes in
the system to multiple cases efforts and cases that DO effect change if won.
This will take funds for filing fees and copies, postage etc and we are working
on getting a lawyer consultant-
Already
with the inception of this fund, litigators and FFUP are beginning to think
larger and are gathering cases of similar nature and organizing our legal project.
We can umbrella most of the issues we will be addressing under one heading-“ACCOUNTABILITY”.
As it is now, there is none- the DOC monitors, investigates itself on all
levels from the inmate complaint system to the PREA fiasco. By showing patterns
with multiple cases and featuring well done examples of systemic problems, we
can, we hope, point the DOC back to its original mission- “To rehabilitate
offenders and keep the public safe.”
FFUP General
newsletter 4 21 “BRIDGE OF VOICES” : https://ffupcases.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/march-newsletter-final-pdf.pdf
DESTress
Newsletter April 21: https://ffupcases.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/first-de-stress-newsl.docx
11 20 Introduction
to prisoners for requesting crafts/ arts with First DESTress newsletter:
https://ffupcases.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/april-destress-2021.pdf
FFUP main blog,
(one of about 30): http://www.prisonforum.org/
Introduction
to PLRSJF for prisoners: https://ffupcases.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/fund-details-for-gofundme.pdf
Proposal for pilot project to get more DEStress tools int0 solitary prisoners: https://ffupcases.files.wordpress.com/2021/04/proposal-for-wci-rhu-pilot.pdf
Coming:
photos of crafts, cards and art by prisoners using our DESTRess project.
note:Pictures above are from: https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2017/04/17/cruel-and-unusual-the-hell-of-solitary-confinement/
To donate to FFUP:
Online: http://www.gofundme.com/prisonforum
By check of money order: make check out to FFUP,
send to FFUP c/o 29631 Wild Rose Drive; Blue River, WI 53518
please feel free to specify which of the programs above you want to support if you have a preference
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Actions against Secretary Carr and DOC funding
COMING SOON: COVID LAWSUIT FILED!!
PRISONER LEGAL RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE FUND
DESTRESS PROJECT- GIVING PRISONERS TOOLS TO MAINTAIN HEALTH DURING LOCKDOWNS AND PENDEMIC HORRORS
this post:
Some friends of FFUP dropped bodybags in DOC Secretary Carr's driveway.
Then they put out a statement on the DOC budget calling for drastic reduction and defunding of the Wisconsin prison system.
Video of the action is online here: https://youtu.be/H2nskgjQpns
The budget document is online here: ABOLISHmke.noblogs.org
FFUP was not involved in this action, the people doing it are friends, but are not acting as members of FFUP. They tell us future actions in a similar vein will be posted to ABOLISHmke.noblogs.org
Friday, November 20, 2020
COVID COMPASSION CAMPAIGN INTRODUCTION and part one
scroll down here for bulk of letters
Volunteers and/or staff and funds needed
INTRO
In this time
of global panic, sickness and strife. it is easy to forget the most vulnerable
among us while we lick our own wounds. The term ”essential workers” hides a gruesome fact as it is the
poor, usually minorities, that cannot afford the luxury of staying home- must
go to work serving us in order to survive . They are the one’s dying along with
the other groups hardest hit - those who cannot protect themselves, live in
enclosed spaces-like nursing homes and prisons, where the virus is brought in by
staff. For many of our prisoners, the
term “persons in our care” has become a cruel joke :they say“What care?” ,and
reports to FFUP and other organizations contradict almost completely the one we
hear from the WI Department of Corrections(WIDOC). We have truly entered the world of the “survival
of the fittest” where the virus wolves circle the herd picking off the weak.
Since the
beginning of the pandemic activists and concern citizens have been calling for
the universal use of masks, testing and that the prisoner be given adequate sanitizer
and only now, when the virus is everywhere, are the national guard sent in to verify
the hundreds of positive cases in each prison. And still prevention and
treatment are a joke in most prisons, each fiefdom creating its own rules which
mostly make little sense and are intended only to placate an uninterested
public.
We need your
help with our new “DEStress project , with answering phones , with web work and
with funding. Overarching all our efforts is preparation for court action to
get the prison population down to levels where the pandemic can be effectively
handled. There have been two failed WI court attempts which we learn from and a
successful in California, where the court has order the halving the population of
the notorious prison SAN QUENTIN.
Here are
some introductory links:
1)
Court Decisions:
a)San Quentin court decision demanding release of half the population. b)Decisions
on the two failed WI attempts
2)Report by Volunteer Ben Turk in March 2020:
3)News Reports covering our “Covid Compassion
Campaign”- our early effort by activists and families of prisoners to secure
the release of those most vulnerable to the virus and later reports on widening
spread of the disease.
4) links to applications for pardons
made by prisoners in early months of the campaign. The Governor responded by
removing the waiver application from the Pardon. We got a note saying there was
no pardon/clemency for prisoners.
5) Statute giving full pardon powers to the
Governor and links to pardons given by Governors in the past
6) Report on National attempts to
deal with the virus in our prisons
For this
writer, how we treat these “persons in our care” is of utmost important for
they actually are ”persons in our care” and have NO WAY TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. Like
one of the presidential candidates is at this time touting about the election, helping
these “persons in our care” survive the pandemic and getting those most
vulnerable out of there and back to their families is a struggle for the “soul
of the nation.”
HELP NEEDED:
1) Phone help : FFUP founder keeps
funded the LC Connections phone line to prisons funded and there are on average
10-15 calls a day- mostly needed is someone to talk to, these guys are
terrified and they need to know someone cares. You would take down any brief messages(like
the need for stamped envelopes) and perhaps take a few notes as you deem necessary,
but the biggest need is just to listen and empathize- a chat line. FFUP would pay
for phone upkeep and you can charge by hour for wages-to be negotiated
2) DEStress Project:
A)FUNDING NEED for craft supplies, book to read, coloring books and games.
B) Internet help -All items must be purchased from approved vendors. FFUP
would pay for items, you could get hour wage or do as volunteer for doing the
actual purchasing.
Anxiety and terror is sky high in our gulags. After hearing from prisoners
of suicide attempts even in general population we started this project and
basically ask prisoners what tools they need to help them cope- we have bought some
tvs and radios for the most fragile but that is rare-mostly it is puzzle books
and coloring books and craft supplies books to read- beads and crocheting ,
drawing and painting are popular. The prison ironically provides less and less
the more needy the prisoner. Those most mentally ill get to be in the darkest
dungeon and only get a crayon to write with. Punishment is the only reaction
given to any behavior that is the slightest bit disruptive or disrespectful . A
big success has been getting permission send in book with packing slip instead of
paper receipt- this was a 15 year attempt.
Essay MAD DOG by WI longest
serving solitary prisoner ( 20 years and counting) written in early years of WI
supermax.
Our first and second DEStresS NEWSLETTER . This
is put together and mailing is funded by a volunteer.
3) LEGAL PROJECT- Here we are looking
for folks with interest in the law- toweb help organize this very successful beginning
attempt to help prisoners learn the law- Here is application the prisoner fill out if they want to work a “prisoner
litigator guide” and FFUP supplies guide books, stamped envelopes ,copies case
look ups as needed- help needed here in all aspects. a)applications civil and
criminal
4) Penpals- a perennial need . We
provide forwarding service for those who do not want to give their real
addresses. Need help reorganizing penpal blogs as well as letter writers.
Corresponding with these prisoners is easily the most rewarding part of this work
for you get to know people on a very deep level and love grows.
5) Money money money. Always needed – we
have paypal site, a gofundme account where paypal pays the fee. And you can always
donate straight to FFUP.
6) MOST NEEDED someone to do social media for us and basic internet- Anywhere you look on FFUP web, here is much help needed.( about 30 untended blogs for starters) We do have an enthusiastic possible leader of this project in a 20 year old soon to be released from prison- hope he will oversee anew effort.
Fi Invite all to post /share their letters and emails Finally, we thank prisoners for sharing their concerns for us and Jim Beadle for downloading many corrlinks complain, Gerard Rose for sharing his corrlinks correspondence and invite any one to send their emails and letters from prisoners and their families to us.
NOW TO PRISONERS’ REPORTS
Below we try
to organize reports from prisoners in a readable format. They are heartrending
for the terror is palpable. And they know exactly what is happening and that
they can do nothing about it.
click here for reports in full organized by prison with WIDOC photos and profiles
See below for a snapshot of what prisoners are saying about their conditions:
1) This is one of the best description of how and why the virus spread so completely throughout the system. From the beginning we have been asking that prisoners be given adequate soap and disinfectant and that the staff is bringing in the covid. Since the virus is airborne prevention is all that could work. Ross takes us through the steps that happened in his medium custody prison.
Ross Adee 644709; Stanley Correctional Institution
I’m writing about my concerns about the situation here at Stanley correctional institution. WE now have a covid outbreak within the institution Three out of the five housing units are now locked down because of it. To start off, we had been tested in the spring and found to be covid free Shortly after, they implemented the use of masks, no visits, and limited movement, among other things. Then they started bringing in inmates that tested positive from minimums to house here. The reason behind this was the minimum security prisons were unable to quarantine sick inmates.
As time went on, the staff has continued acting carelessly, regularly removing masks to eat and drink. They interact with us without masks outside of the buildings. They claim to be tested daily by having their temps taken. I can’t see this being very effective when many stop at McDonalds or gas stations right before showing up for their shift. I know this because they eat what they had purchased right in front of us So who knows who they have come in contact with.
In the last couple weeks, the things
have completely come off the rails. A kitchen staffer tested positive for covid
only after being around inmates. We have had one guard repeatedly escorting
groups of rookies in and out of all the housing units and people’s cells. A
couple days ago, a white shirt was going from infected housing units to covid
free units. He even went into random cells just to have a “look see.” This all trouble
me since they clearly have no regards to spreading covid. They are not
concerned with our well being or prevention of this horrible virus.
I don’t believe the DOC or this prison
have any protocols for what’s taking place. Ow. The have so many people ( inmates)
sick that now they are asking for volunteers to do various prisoner jobs They need
everyone from plumbers to cooks in the kitchen.
They have no place to quarantine sick
inmate. Instead, they are being held on their housing units with the healthy
ones. These buildings have 1 central ventilation system so everyone is
breathing the same air.
This place is short staffed and are
requiring guards to work double shifts, often bouncing them around from unit to
unit. This is further increasing the risks to us.
There is no social distancing at all. As I
write this, I have 7guys around me. To make things worse, its been decided to
take away our hot breakfasts. We also have had a few of the better meals taken
away. Gone are eggs, oatmeal, chefs salads and turkey wraps. They are replacing
them with more carbs and starches.
This has become unreal to me. My family
and friends are concerned about my wellbeing. I’m non- violent offender with 14
months left. I have no institutional program needs. I am low risk with a
minimum custody level. I’m cleared to go to a minimum but won’t get moved because
of all this. I’m not even from this state. I live in Illinois where I have a
home in the country, family, work, etc. I’d
be safer there.
I am the first to say we all need to be
accountable for our crimes. This is starting to get out of control. I feel like
enough is enough, let me go home and quit putting me and others at risk. What
in the hell is wrong with the powers that be? Do they make money on housing
people? Do the not take into consideration the stress this adds to our families
and friends? I understand that everyone Is going through this but do they ever stop
to think if 400 inmates need urgent care at a hospital. What will they do? Overwhelm
an already stressed hospital in the local area? Or just let guys suffer here?
Things appear to get worse as time goes on. Would they rather let inmates die
before releasing them?
I’m
sick of this mess. People need t hear us and really think about this situation.
We are not all bad people. Hundreds maybe even thousands in Wisconsin prisoners
are just like me. Made a mistake, first time in prion and just trying t get
back home to family to rebuild. How can I get this word out to the public? Are
there any TV or paper that care about us> Are there any lawyers or judges to
write? I know FFUP care but I want to do whatever I can because this isn’t
right. I’m not here to get sick and possibly die or have long lasting health effect
from covid. In my strong opinion, Tony Evers, the DOC and courts have really dropped
the ball on this issue. It makes me mad. Feel free to use this in your
newsletter or forum.
Sincerely, Ross
2) Panic at not being able to breathe.
Matthew Stechauner 378235 OSCI
10 17 20
Peg,
Hello to you Peg. I tested positive for Covid-19 today 10-17-20. 75
guys on my unit tested positive for Covid-19. I been calling a lot of medical
emergency and I can not breath, chest pain, loss of taste, smell, headaches. I
feel like I am going to die. The HSU staff, medical staff are not treating my
Covid-19 symptoms. I told my mom to call you. They moved me off my unti to a
unit R where they put people with Covid-19 and they do not check on us much or
medical staff do not check on us. I am scare for my life Peg. Our prison has
the biggest Covid-19 out break do to these prison officials leaving us in
unsafe conditions like leaving sick guys on units with guys who aint sick. We
get know outside, rec, indoor rec, library. I got a court deadline and can not
use library is crazy, Peg file a lawsuit and pay filing fee for me. I will file
a lawsuit myself unless we do a class action. Peg contact lawyer Dawn Sabel at phone (920) 922-6814
address lawyer Dawn Sabel 76 S Macy Street Suite 2 Fond du Lac, Wi 54935. She
does prisoners lawsuit cases, she assisted me before. I I am sending you
a copy of letter lawyer Sabel sent me. I can not breath Peg. Call Warden, news,
people in power, they putting my pulse was 124 and blood pressure was 160/74
and they will not take me to the hospital, Peg. Write me back right away, call
my mom at (414) 892-0522
Love,
3)Quick note below sums up alot.
Chance Wallow, #458649, WCI
on Covid and Kitchen Work at Waupun Correctional.( WCI)
Also, on the phone you asked me to tell you about some of this Covid
19 stuff going on. Well, there are multiple inmates that have it in this
institution. Just in this cell hall we have about 40. They are so short of
people in the kitchen that they got a whole bunch of us volunteering. We
started with about 21 people, now we are down to 12 people and we’re working
430am to 630pm. The southwest cell hall is the only cell hall that they are
letting work. It’s very crazy and unethical the way they treat us here. I guess
the positive thing about us working in the kitchen is we get to shower twice
and we get to eat good and be out of our cell.
The thing that is getting to me and I’m not understanding is how so
many inmates are catching Covid and they ain’t going nowhere.
( he works from 4:30am to6:30 pm, gets between19 and 35 cent an hour and most of it is taken for restitution- he ends up broke /but is grateful for the food and showers and out of cell time)
4)Here is another Kitchen worker, this time at OSCI ( Oshkosh prison), which expresses well the rage many of the more politically courageous feel. Ditto for this writer.
5)Two essays by anonymous OSCI prisoner, expressing some of the rage and frustration that is widespread.
“Slavery Is Still Legal in the Prison System”
I have heard the cries for social justice and equality out in society.
I have seen the riots and protests fighting for equality. Yet here I sit in a
Wisconsin Prison cell being paid 35 cents an hour. Most people make between 19
and 25 cents. That is sweatshop and slavery wages at the very least. How is it
any different than it was 200 years ago? The prison staff are the slave owners
feeding us meals that honestly would barely keep children alive, they give us a
2 inch mattress to lay on, and if we work, they pay us illegal sweatshop wages.
How is that any different than the slavery and human rights violations of 200
years ago?
Now, because of prison overcrowding, 2 men in a room smaller than most
of your bathrooms at home, the covid-19 has hit us and roughly 35% of the
Oshkosh prison population have gotten Covid-19 so far...and people are starting
to die because of it.
Add to that the fact that the prison staff have been using about 300
of these prisoners as Frontline Workers, risking their lives in the
process...Paying them 19—35 cents an hour to face death. Slaves required to
risk our lives working 16 hour days in most cases, which wears down the body,
and makes you more likely to get sick. We are not given proper surgical gloves
to keep us safe. We cannot wash our own personal laundry, leaving us with
clothing that is covered in dirt and bacteria, and that is now falling apart
because of this. They stopped letting us clean and disinfect our rooms, again,
putting our lives at risk. And staff members are not allowed to only work one
unit to stop the spread of covid from unit to unit. They work one 8 hour shift
on a unit with 100 infected prisoners...A Hot Spot...then, they come to
our unit to work here, without changing clothes and showering the bacteria off
their bodies. There are many times a day when 8-10 officers are up on the deck
where they sit, crammed into an 7x12 foot area...many times up there without
masks on.
I came down the stairs on 3rd shift about a month ago, to see 2
officers up there (all night) without masks on, and when I got down the stairs,
the one who was not our regular, who had already worked in another unit,
proceeds to wipe his bare hand all the way from mid forearm down to his fingertips
across his snotty nose. He then immediately went to typing on the computer and
using the mouse...spreading the bacteria.
They have started making prisoners disinfect the phones in between
each call...But, the workers doing this are wearing No Gloves...they
grab the phone barehanded, then they wipe off the receiver with a rag in
another bare hand, and then they place protective cellophane (shrink wrap) on
the receiver with their bare hand. They wipe off the keyboard and hang the
phone back up, declaring it properly disinfected. Those workers are spreading
the disease, not getting rid of it.
So, to all of you fighting against social injustices, I ask you...why
does slavery exist and yet you do nothing to stop it? These prisoners have
families who love them...So why does no one do anything to protect us?
OSCI, Covid 19 Punishment
So, the reward for working as slaves on the frontline is that if we get a common cold, the flu, or Covid019, we are sent to segregation to be held for 14 days without a tv, radio, or tablet for email. Seg is the place where they send people to be punished, and now that is where they put prisoners who get sick from risking their lives as frontline workers for the prison system. So, our reward is to be thrown aside, into the trash if we get sick helping our own slavemasters operate the prison. If we don’t die from covid-19, then our reward is to return back into slavery on the frontlines risking our lives for pennies.
One more reward? They punish you further by trying to throw away your property when you go to seg. They incorporate this into part of the punishment anytime someone gets sent to seg. Most of the time they throw away legally purchased property, claiming it was stolen and gotten illegally. When you get back from seg, you have to file a complaint, providing receipts for all that they threw away, and then they refund you a prorated amount of value for each item based on when you bought it...and you lose hundreds of dollars in the process as they commit crimes against you and you can do nothing to stop it… nothing to fight it.
Last fall I was sent to seg for simply starting a religious fast based on my Christian beliefs. The ticket they gave me for contraband had almost $500 in personal property listed. They were trying to throw it all away. They forced me to eat, violating my right to practice my religion, and only that saved my property. When the seg officer realized that I had broken no rules and would be returned to my unit after only eating 3 straight meals, he put all my things back in the boxes and said he would leave it up to my unit to deal with the contraband.
When I got back to my unit, I grabbed all of my receipts to prove I owned all of it, and they had to amend the ticket and return all my belongings in except for my TV, which had a crack in its screen, so they forced me to throw it away giving me 7 days punishment for it being cracked. I simply kept it waiting for my new TV service, at least I could hear my TV shows.
That ticket, which is public record, proves that they rob prisoners of their property as part of the segregation punishment...trying to use this bit of illegal cruelty to teach you to fear breaking the rules. Now...This is part of their punishment for just getting sick.
I am personally hiding my symptoms because just like most prisoners are doing, I am trying to avoid the punishment process that they claim is to protect us.
Please Help Us!!
But
protect my identity, as they always retaliate!
6) PRISONERS in general are fully aware that half measures are for public show only
a) Jermaine Hampton 406289 WCI 10 28 2020
Hi Mrs Swan:
Okay so there’s about 394 inmates at Waupun Correctional which have
tested positive for the coronavirus 6 of which are hospitalized due to the
security of Covid-19. The institution is still not taken this seriously they
still are denying inmates the proper use of disinfectants. They expect us not
to properly sanitize our living areas. They spray our towels twice in expect us
to clean our rooms with it yet since the last outbreak we have not been allowed
to clean our rooms at all cuz the institution is on lockdown and we are only
allowed to shower once a week there’s no way the virus is going to leave this
institution they are not cleaning the common areas used by staff or the inmates
they are taken infected inmates from one unit in the institution and placing
them in another part which only makes the other inmates in that unit sick from
the virus yet the staff are not listening to our demands and our health is
being ignored completely. I am in constant fear that I might die I have several
health issues and I have already tested positive and I was not treated at all,
no vaccine no medication. I was moved to the north cell hall in expected to
stay in my cell and I was not even allowed to shower and I am still
experiencing systems now. And I was not treated they took my vitals and told me
to drink plenty of water, my kidneys hurt, I had a headache for the last week
and I get tylenol for other injuries so I take them but they don't work, my
back hurt my throat hurt I feel dizzy. And I am really afraid I will die
because they are not doing anything to help us.
I wrote up that inmate grievance complaint like you told me to do in I mailed it to you I will mail you a copy of the decision and the appeal. Keep in touch. Also, did you check on that book yet?
Your Friend,
Jermaine
PS I pray all is well with you and your family and friends, god bless
you Peg you are my blessings. Thank you for all that you do I got that paper in
envelopes too thank you very much you have to send me the complaint and
acknowledgement paper back ok, for the inmate grievance complaint make you a
copy.
b) Tuesday 10 27 20 Faheem WCI
Ms Peg, how are you doing? I trust and hope you are in great health
and good spirits up arrival of this letter.
Ones writing to let you know what’s going on with me and my situation.
I was tested positive for Covid-19 virus on 10/20/20 and it felt as if I was
going to do. I had bad headaches, eyes burning, couldn’t breath, taste and
smell gone, I still don’t have any smell or taste. My body still aches and is
fatigued. You know I had filed for that compassionate release back in June and
I feel this should compel them to get us out of prison, because I fear if I get
this virus a second time I will die! They are not equipped or competent enough
to deal with this virus. I just seen Waupun on Fox 6 News and they acknowledge
that it’s overcrowded and Fessahaye says it’s against the law to have prisoners
in double cells especially with this Covid-19 virus and prisoners are getting
it by being forced to be in a cell with another prisoner.
I am PRC’d out of this prison and been locked up for two plus years,
yet they saying I will be here for a year before I’m moved this is Krazy!
Well, Peg ones will close this and get it out to you in hopes you can give us incited on what move I should make next because I shall be release for I am old-law and they need bed space.
Peace and Love
Faheem
7)and a few of the death reports
a)Michael Garcia-Soto 431861 NLCI 10 21 20/
Hey its a sad day here? Curtis Schmidt died
today I heard from inmates I'm sure due to covid-19 with his health problems. I
was pretty good friends with Curtis and its very sad but I'm also very mad for
a lot of reasons. Curtis told me after they denied him from getting out early
that he would probably die in here from covid-19.
That makes me very mad for a lot of reasons and a ton of inmates on this unit
pissed off and think someone should be charged for negligence on how covid-19
was handled down on our unit. That lead to the death of Curtis Schmidt.
Positive covid-19 inmates were always kept on the unit in quarantine around not
positive inmates. Putting Curtis in danger and other inmates. They kept moving
inmates around on the unit spreading the virus and pissing off inmates at the
same time. Curtis only had a few months left in here. Well the DOC and Governor
Tony Evers just gave him a life sentence of death thanks to not granting him
his early release. Its very sad! That someone had to die from this covid-19
that was supposed to go home to his family with only a few months to go.
I'm also pissed at all the lies and disrespect around here. A few inmates found
out that the Oshkosh correctional inst. Lied to the public and having there
people print off the false lies and having them sent in to the prison from
websites. Like k-building's covid-19 inmates were NEVER all moved off the unit
in isolation to protect non-covid-19 inmates. So here's an example I tested
positive for covid-19 my cellie tested negative but be didn't get those test
results back for 72 hours or 3 days so my cellie then got moved after those
three days of being in with me who's positive to another negative inmates cell
that was negative too. Now tell me that is the best way of spreading a covid-19
virus. We told the staff that and they still moved him that this was part of
the game plan. Now can you see why I'm mad and the negligence here. That probably
played a part in Curtis Schmidt's death or getting covid-19. They lied to the
news my mom saw on TV on channel 2 news said they were giving inmates 5 free
phone calls due to covid-19 pandemic that was a lie reported by the news. Who
told them that? I can barely make a call or 2 if I'm lucky a week. The phones
stay not being used. Oh don't get me started on phones either so we used to do
time slots for the phones so we can call our families at a reasonable time.
Meaning my mom works 3rd shift she sleeps in the after noon so I try to call
her in the mornings so she can sleep the rest of the day for her to get up for
work. According to the staff the unit manager took away these time slots which
worked good for the inmates and the families on the streets and told the staff
to just go down the teir knocking on doors telling inmates they can now use the
phone. Not taking any consideration for that inmate's family members who can
only answer the phone at a certain time because they have lives of their own
and work too. Why stop time slot sign up when it was working? I know why
because it pisses inmates off! K-building is turning into a hornets nest a lot
of inmates are very on edge. Some been snapping but I've heard and seen why
they getting mad. A lot come to me for advice. I tell them to stay calm but not
sure how long that will last. They don't like being disrespected. Staff would
just tell them " your acting entitled". Using group terms against
inmates not hearing them out.
The game plan so far I've seen down here is.
1) no cleaning supplies given out to clean cells
2) two showers a week if you not a worker
3) 2 phone calls a week no time slots make call when staff gets you
4) no doing personal laundry so piles up in your dirty cell get caught doing in
in shower or sink you get a conduct report
5)working inmates 7 days a week ( some inmates think they will get more pay for
doing this as they think it was promised to them but true be that is another
"lie" and when they find out on payday will be super pissed off)
6) no looking at property catalogs right now so inmates can't buy personal
property from in here cause they don't know the prices let contractors know JL
Marcus and Union Supply they won't let catalogs come in mail to inmates if sent
in.
I'm sure there's a lot more but you get the idea of what is going on here at
Oshkosh correctional inst. A lot of inmates are getting super mad about this
and its only going to get worse before better. Staff blame the unit manager for
these things say we can't do nothing about it. It's up to the unit manager.
Staff is getting mad too you don't think I hear what they say about each other.
No communication here! Thats problem #1! I think everyone should be clean,
showers, cleaning cells, doing laundry, and doing their best to stay clean to
stop the spread not have weeks of dirty laundry in cells, moved around to
spread the virus (if your going to move them move them to a covid-19 quarantine
unit) the CDC says to stay clean . but I do understand there's no extra room in
the DOC prison system because they never let anyone out early. It's
overpopulated and covid-19 will take lives and bring down that prison
population which I think is the real game plan because our prison system is
broken and nobody wants to fix it nobody cares.
Everyone's running around crazy here trying to come up with a plan but there
never was one it was too late and it spread like wildfire when it got in here.
But you know what Governor Tony Evers did he blasted the DOC staff here all
over Fox news station saying the only reason covid-19 spread through Oshkosh
correctional inst was because of the staff. Shows how much he cares. He don't
care about inmates or staff that work for him. Thats so disrespectful on so
many levels. Everyone needs to be respectful to each other and come up with a
plan because from what I'm seeing here inmates and staff are not on the same
page and aren't getting along. Even staff ain't getting along with staff.
I hope everything gets better here and hope the truth comes out about what's
really going on here don't believe the fake news media or what you read online
that things are under control here because they are "not" it's a huge
mess. I pray that everyone is OK in here and if you have a loved one in here
you better call to see if they OK if you haven't heard from them in awhile. I
pray that things get better and things get worked out here before more people
die. Pray for inmate Curtis Schmidt's family there loss is sad and didn't need
to happen.
Thanks for reading my concerns here. I have the freedom of speech. Adam
b)Dave Olson reports of a death of his friend after writing me twice about his sickness with no response.for me Did I get the letter? Maybe, I get between 15 and 20 letters a day and do only my best- My greatest wish is to see an organization structure and effective enough that I canbe only intake worker and can respond better to these "persons in our care."
I have called mark;s family and ffup will help getting Mark's body/ashes home if that is possible
rescan letter better and post.
c)And BJ
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/nathan-delano-ej-diedall.pdf
EVERYBODY HAS IS OR WILL GET IT: WISCONSIN PRISONS
Letters late Fall- sampling
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Derrick Smith |
November 11 Derrick Smith writes to FFUP, asking us to contact sisters- he has covid , " the headaches, tired dizziness and worse of all the difficulty breathing. I sometimes struggle so bad I just want to stop went up the DOC chain- no return calls, noone answers, FFUP writes Court where Derrick is litigating his PREA case and trying to prove his innocence asking them to intervene and send him to the hospital. AS it is there is not treatment- the covid positive prisoners get tylenol and are left in their cells. Tylenol does not touch the pain.
Derrick's letter and request to HSU for treatment :https://ffupcases.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/derrick-smith-covid-plea-11-12-20.pdf
CALLING OUT THE LIE-no hand sanitizers and lots of transfers
11 18 20: Daryl Strenke 434084 Redgranite Correctional Inst ( RGCI)
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
PRISONERS' COVID REPORTS by prison
Note: we could use help typing hand written reports- especially those from folks in seg who only get pencils or crayons to use . Slowly we will get prisoner's posts here in a form enjoyable to read. any help appreciated- email me: pgswan3aol.com
KMCI
Kenneth Gray 315302 RCI (1982 31) out 12 20 25
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Kenneth Gray |
1015 20 May you be well and so healthy. As for me, I'm at ground zero of Wisconsin's third outbreak site -- Racine Correctional Institution.
I'm on Milwaukee Unit, where out of
167 inmates 131 have tested 'positive' for COVID-19. Out of the 5 times I've
been tested all of my results returned Negative!
As it stands, we are on a 23½ hour lockdown. One
cell at a time, only when they know someone is watching. Otherwise, the
positives are mixed w/the negatives. We only have time to get a shower and make
a phone call (20 minutes). You'll have to decide, which one of you or your
cellmate will clean. Captains and Lieutenants are delivering our 'bag meals'
through the traps.
Inevitable, it seems before I
contract this deadly virus, when I'm 4years past my mandatory release (19.July,
2016) now I worry about my health in this sardine can; when I should have been
home. Please stay in peace.
Joseph Cook 436664 KMCI (1985, 35) out 5 7 27
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Joseph Cook |
ANXIETY HIGH AS COVID CASES GO FROM 10 to 500 in few weeks
( a few parts below, whole article here: https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/kmci-joseph-cook.docx )
101220 Our
MATC classes are interfered with. Until all unnecessary movement was suspended
we visited our loved ones through Zoom.
Stress levels are increased, anxiety is up and frustration is palpable. We are
a microcosm of society with 1,100 people incarcerated here at KMCI Covid has
shut most operations down. According to an article published by Diana
Dombrowski from the Sheboygan Press out of the 1,100 men incarcerated here 2
out of 3 of us has tested positive for Covid. With only ten cases in early
September one would think preventive measures would have been taken. Which
wasn't the case. By late September, the number of Covid cases spiked from 10 to
over 500 in just a few short weeks. Surprising? If society at as a whole aren't
capable of properly preventing and containing the outbreak of Covid, should we
expect more from prisons? Prisons are arguably the worst institutions in
America, and KMCI response to this pandemic has been one of the worse
responses.
"Their preventive measures and containment measures were inadequate."
Al Carter who tested positive for Covid told me. "In the beginning when
face masked were mandated by the Governor these officers mocked the idea of wearing
a face mask. And most of the supervisors and unit supervisors did too. They
didn't start wearing mask until it was too late. They didn't take prevention
seriously." He goes on to say that KMCI also did a poor job in containing
the virus."They allowed positives to remain cellies with negatives. Then
we are all touching the same toilets, sinks, door handles, spray bottles.
Positives should have continued to be quarantined on isolated units designed
just for positive cases."
Mr. Hamilton who tested positive remarked that after he tested positive he
didn't receive medical attention until 6 days after he was told he was
positive. And once he did see the nurses he was told to gurgle salt for his
soar throat, and was given the option of either Ibuprofens or Tylenol to deal
with his headaches. With over 500 positive cases it's impossible for the
medical staff here to treat everybody properly. The numbers, the ratio of
positive cases and medical staff won't allow each individual to receive proper
care.
In addition to inadequate medical care, Our mental health care isn't being
attended to. Prison within themselves are highly stressful and depressing
places, with Covid the stress and depression have only increased. ... No psychologist, or mental health doctors are
available on the uints which only puts an extra burden on officers who are
forced to be many things in one; even though, they don't have the
qualifications. Some officers juggle this role gracefully others resentfully,
begrudgingly, negatively.
Supervisors deal with problems concerning us inmates by sending us to the hole,
or dishing out some form of punishment. Actually solving problems? We don't
view supervisors as problem solvers. So our questions, our frustrations, our
concerns aren't directed toward them like they would be if trust existed. And
the opportunity to reassure and calm that real leaders are capable of during
chaotic times are missed by the lieutenants, captains, unit supervisors and the
administration staff as a whole.
Unlike society who will go back to their normal lives, after Covid prisons will
remain a hot bed for systemic racism. Systemic racism and not Covid is the
illness that plagues KMCI and the WI DOC as a whole. The symptoms to this
disease are the officers lack of basic dignity and respect for us incarcerated.
Another symptom is an officers ability to write a conduct report based on a
perceived, and not an actual threat to
the prison's security operations.
Whole article here: https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/kmci-joseph-cook.docx
From: ROGER EDWARDS (162540)(162540) ( 1971,49) out 3 3 49
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Roger Edwards |
9/17/2020:lady-L you want this, you remember my latest letter to you regarding the way this institutions is handling the covid 19, I was very upset because they was refusing to retest me because my first test came back negative but my roommate came back positive and two days after I took the test I got very sick, and my roommate was in the room with me for 2 days after we took the test waiting on the results now once the results was in he was immediately quarantine, alone with 6 other inmates just from this unit and I remained in
general population, once I got very sick they then quarantine me
in (general population) refusing to retest me, then one week later take me off
quarantine because I'm complaining of being retested even though I'm still
showing symptoms. now check this out lady-L more and more people started
complaining about being retested so they retested this unit of 59 inmates, we
started with (6) inmates testing positive, it is now 39 just on this one unit
and they decided to quarantine the whole unit and their is one other unit worst
then this one.
these people are not protecting us from this deadly disease, which
they are obliged to do so this is a clear violation of our eighth amendment and
I want to challenge this but I'm going to need help, this prison is nothing
like waupun, portage, or boscobel where guys is studying law,. lady-L did you
have any luck with your contacts? have you heard of a group called, all of us
or none? if so do you have any information on them?
OSCI COVID protocols:
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/osci-a-covic-protocol.pdf
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/osci-a-covid-protocal-two.pdf
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Adam Ebert |
OSCI Adam Ebert 543837 OSCI (1986 34
Saturday, October 3, 2020 1:39 AM
I just tested positive for covid-19! Hey just got my test results back they they said I tested positive for covid-19. Not sure if they going to take me off the unit or what this whole unit is infected. I was working in the servery with a bunch of people who also tested positive for covid-19. So now the staff should be serving all of our meals to us. But I'm sure they won't do that.Everyone's going to be sick here soon and test positive. Because they take this very serious. I was very clean and look I got positive covid-19. This is crazy! I'm not happy about this at all! They will probably move me around super sick covid-19 people. Then things will get worse. I knew this was going to happen.So if no one hears from me in awhile if anything happens to me you know why because things have been getting out of control with covid-19 here. Everyone thinks of it as a joke intill it spreads. I'm not happy at all and more could have been done but now its too late they will have to retest this whole unit again because its spreading like a wild fire now. I'm not happy at all. They wanted me to be quiet about it here. Why should I not speak out. Why shouldn't people know what's going on here. How its spreading all over the prison system. I guess when the ambulances come they won't need Tony Evers to make bed space because the virus will do it for him. Shows how good of a governor he is and that he don't care. Well I need to settle down I'm pretty mad so I'm going to wrap this up and get it to you before the decide to take me out of the unit even though the whole unit is infected with covid-19. Love to all Adam God bless everyone pray for your loved ones
11 20 23 TIS
I ended up writing Governor Evers to let him know what’s been going on in his Wisconsin prison systems. Not sure if that will help anything at all. I ‘m in contact with inmates all over Wisconsin and some from other states so I hear a lot that goes on in different prison system all over the Wisconsin I believe in change and forgiveness . And the only way we will ever get that in a broken overpopulated Wisconsin prison system is if we all come together and try to get them to bring prison reform to Wisconsin.( Has written many news outlets about the spread of the virus in the prisons. Poem in included in link- needs typing
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/osci-adam-ebert-poem-and-covid.pdf
AN EARLY REPORT ( July 2020)George Manders 602006 OSCI ( 1943, 77) out 9 8 2025 TIS
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george manders |
718 20(early in the cycle) All staff and inmates are suppose to wear masks to stop the spread of the virus. That would make sense if they didn’t give us useless masks. They have inmates making them out of cloth. They are either mad way too big where it don’t seal your mouth and nose or they are made too small where the mask barely covers your mouth They tested all inmates and we all tested negative so the only way we could catch the virus is if the COS and staff bring it in. that’s the scary part because the guards run around the unit with no mask on or covering their chin or forehead without covering their mouth or nose. I am so scared of my health.(asks us to contact warden and Madison, which we did repeatedly)
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/osci-george-manders-7-20-20.pdf
OSCI Matthew Stechauner 378235 1984, 36 out 11 14 31 TIS
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Matthew Stechnauer |
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/osci-mstechauner-10-20-20.pdf
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/osci-m-stechauner-covid-scared.pdf
OSCI Howard Grady 58316 1954, 66 out 12 13 33 TIS
Howard Grady
058316, OSCI( sum) It was a shame how covid-19 ran thur the prison so fast and
one inmate has die. Don’t know how long we will be lockdown. We all have to be
retested soon. I was negative for covid. But I also had health problems as well
. I did tell staff about it at 3 am one night. I had a fever and cold chills at
my age 66 years. L was afraid I pray to God not to let me die in prison. My results
came back negative, my cellie he tested positive . They moved me into a cell
where the inmate was negative. I use to warn the old cellie about keeping his
hands in mouth daily while we watch tv. He stated he had a CD conditions. He was
tested positive so they moved him.
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Howard Grady |
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David L Greenwood |
OSCI David L Greenwood 363177 OSCI 1983, 37 out 10 30 2026 TIS
The prison
makes it difficult for prisoners to file complaints on conditions:
(sum) I
never thought I’d get the virus! My family has been distraught and outright
furious with the DOC! They’ve been contacting Madison , news media outlets to
expose what’s going on here. They had over 60 positive case of Covid in this dorm
and have us quarantined on one side of this dorm. They’ve been putting new
cases in with us that have been quarantined for 14 days as I speak. They just
retested the negative inmates on the other side again to see if the are infected.
A lot of us are still having symptoms of covid after 14 days and the unit
manager, Kathy Sabel , told us that we cannot get reinfected per HSU staff buts
its been confirmed that you can!
I’m in the process
of exhausting my administrative remedies because I wasn’t sent here to catch an
infectious deadly disease! The ICRS has been giving me trouble as I attempt to
file my complaints on the conditions of confinement on the dormitory. They are
mailing me file individual complaints on each horrendous condition. This is wrong
and conditions of confinement issues falls under the totality of circumstances
approach clearly! They are trying to limit my complaint voice, and discourage
me from pursuing this. We/re only allowed one complaint per week but when it comes
to health and safety we are exempt form this restriction. These conditions put me i=at a risk for reinfection clearly.
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/osci-david-lee-greenwood-10-19-20.pdf
OSCI Ralph Nickel 322916 1976, 43 out2 22 36 OL
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ralph nickel |
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/osci-ralph-nickel-10-9-20.pdf
OSCI Nicholas Camargo 51951533 1985,34 out 4 29 24 TIS
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nicholasCamargo |
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/oscinicholas-comargo-6-8-20.pdf
OSCI Wesley Hair 589874 1979, 41 out12 4 21
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Wesley Hair |
TIS
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/osci-wesley-hair-10-20-20.pdf
Ken Huss 172441 OSCI 1967, 53 out8 10 21 OL
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Ken Huss |
I’m on unit K/E at Oshkosh . I’m not sure what its like on the other units but us inmates on unit K are getting tired of the inhumane treatment we are getting . They wont let us clean our room , or do personal laundry , if we get caught doing our personal laundry in the sinks they write us up. You try living in a n 8 by12 room with another person and have dirty laundry sitting there for a month with no air flow. Any help you can give us would be much appreciated.
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/osci-ken-huss-no-laundry-10-23-20.pdf
OSCI Reuben May 108111 1959, 63 out 3 22 25 OL
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Rueben May |
OSCI Patrick Moran 150807 1962, 57 out8 24 30 OL
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Patrick Moran |
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/osci-patrick-moran-10-2120-guards.pdf
TCI
From: KRISCILLA MCHENRY (634522)
Subject: Lockdown 9/24/2020 As of yesterday we
're once again locked down but only monarch and the dorm's so no movement off the unit this is overrated we just got off lockdown I believe they are taking advantage of covid-19 and abusing their power enough is enough 14 day lockdown again and they say they won't confirm or deni the covid-19 I'm tired of this
Date: 9/26/2020 4:01:32 AM Subject: Corona virus (TCI)
Since the pandemic of cornavirus has been issued
back in January the TCI prison is using the cornavirus as an excuse to lockdown
the prison which they are taking advantage of the issue claiming they can't
confirm or deni the case so we're being punished as a means to not wanting to
deal with inmates. It's not like we get to do a whole lot in prison anyway so
next week we'll still be on lock down the system is certainly aware of the
issue but refuse to do anything about it. If the c/ o aren't wearing their
mask but enforcing the rules why should we suffer . They are the
ones bringing the virus in some of us inmates have major health issues and they
don't seem to give a crape . Governor Evers isn't holding up to letting
prisoners out of prison but want to get elected president first of
all he can let people out if he really wanted to and take truth and sentencing
off the table.
From: FELICIA BOON (684342)TCI Subject: Frustrated
Hello I know a couple of you have asked about updates on current conditions. I am
sad to say it's a very unorganized situation. Officers are supposedly trained before getting this job as well as some sort of ongoing training. That thought is questionable due to some officers and other prison staff conduct. We are constantly told to be patient and stop pressing the button asking questions but we are locked in a cell and have no way of communicating unless we press the button in order to ask questions. I needed ice and water and a officer told me I could get it then another officer told me to wait. So an hour later I asked again and was told OK someone will be down soon. Two hours later I asked again and was told we are in the middle of something. Finally a officer was doing a round and allows me to get ice and water after 4 hours. I was also told I could use the phone after another lady was done. As soon as I picked the phone up to call home a different officer told me to hang the phone up and lock in the cell. I explained to the officer I was given permission by the previous officer and she said no lock in. So it appears there is no need for consistency in this institution and no need for professionalism.
When I asked to speak to a sergeant during the last couple of days they say OK he will be down but the sergeant never comes. At least tonight a sergeant came but he did not honor the previous officer orders that I could use the phone. What I appreciated was he came to address the concern and he maintained integrity. Some officers here are not displaying integrity, honesty, concern, compassion or even adhering to their job duties. Sometimes when the button is pressed the officer will come on the speaker and cut it back off without even seeing what was needed. Also the other day the same officer waited 10 plus minutes before answering the speaker and that is not good when people could be having a medical emergency. At this point some staff is using the lock down as punishment. Its easy for them to ask women with no training as well as all types of mental health issues and separation anxiety to be patient but they have training as well as get to go home to their families and can't show the patients they looking for. Its backwards!!!
I also had video court today and was 30 minutes late for it due to a lack of preparation and concern. We wait for months for court dates but they don't care here. I started asking them to prepare for this over a week ago but I was still somehow not able to do it. I finally was able to call in because they refused to allow me to go into another part of the building to use the other zoom computer set up once seeing they didn't know how to use the one that was in front of us.
In most cases Covid is coming in institutions through the staff but we get locked in and deprived of talking on the phone to our loved ones and cut off from all human contact due to them spreading the virus to us. We have to keep masks on at all times out of the cell but some staff don't follow that same policy and its a double standard. How about the staff has to stay on grounds and spend the nights here and get a 15 minute call when done with their shift in order to control the spread. We are all facing challenges but we in a way it seems like we are forgotten about and pictured as unaffected. We are at times treated like our need to check on our families is a gift they will grant to us if they feel like it instead of it being our right or need. Many staff members will not even try to see our perspectives and they take a power trip role and abuse their positions by talking to people like they are titles instead of humans. What they don't realize is this could be them.
We were told we were being tested for covid again soon now we were told today we are not be tested but just staying on lock down to prevent the chance of spread of covid. There is tremendous amounts of misinformation and no way to tell what is happening from day to day. It is super frustrating and unrealistic to be expected to be OK mentally and emotionally. Covid has shown so many flaws in so many different systems but people want to turn a blind eye to what is clear.
JCI Jose Soto- Guzman 535929 (1975, 44) out 8 10 22 TIS
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JoseSoto- Guzman |
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Ron Schilling |
KMCI
KMCI Ron Schilling 32219 life sentence OL
KMCI Daniel R Fuerst 141339 1938 82 out 11 17 29 OL
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Daniel Fuerst |
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/kmci-daniel-fuerst-10-26-30.pdf
GBCI
GBCI Milan Stewart 643607 1988, 22 out 6 29 23 covid positive TIS
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Milan Stewart |
GBCI Jason Kurtz 495483 1976 5 7 31 TIS
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Jason Kurtz |
Jason Kurtz 495483 GBCI
HI Peg, Here’s a report of things I’m
witnessing here.
1)
Covid patients are being housed in seg w/out
their property and treated like a punitive status, and no rec for 14 days,
2)
inmates( me
included) they can’t rear cuff, HSU won’t see -( including covid patients) or
permit rec for. They won’t front cuff ANYONE.
3)
Inmates stipulating they’re suicidal, are rarely
tended.
4)
State Books are hard to get. I NEVER got a bible
I asked for.
5)
Peg, there’s people in seg here, that Definitely
belong in Mendota on Winnebago, They don’t last in GP and they have NO
resources in their seg cells. They just bounce around from cell to cell in seg
. some yell at themselves day and night.
6)
They also force double celling. THAT leads to
most issues.
7)
They gave me ANOTHER ticket and 60 days more seg
time for refusing to double cell again.
8)
Staff forces issues the DOC doesn’t even enforce.
9)
The security Director, Captains, Sgts and RHU
manager, Don’t respond to written inquiries. Many staff don’t respond back.
10)
Staff AREN’T protecting seg inmates, they DID,
though, 10 years ago.
11)
They’re overusing seg ( more turnover now, means
pettier infractions go to seg instead of GP reprimands in cell)
12)
Its gotten A LOT more harsh here. 10-12 yrs ago
her, staff went to great lengths to keep inmates from seg. NOW seg is a common
rotating door, because there’s a lot of seg cells and somebody has to fill
them, It’s overcrowded.
13)
All segs,
should be haIved, otherwise the state sees them as cells that fill
overcrowding. Prisons here would NEVER leave seg cells empty. But many years
ago, it was common. So to prevent frivolous d-sep, segs should be halved.
14)
Staff here write too many tickets.
15)
Inmates in seg here, don’t have enuf activities
to stimulate their minds or the resources to obtain things that stimulate the
mind.
16)
I’m in seg cuz I gave a Bookmark to staff that
read “Jesus in me loves you” I actually think I’ve sent you a few of these too.
50 + days in seg so far. I read, write and have 2 radio stations to listen to
and 1-2calls a week.NO rec and little canteen. I am told they won’t single cell
me, Peg. I’m a model inmate and NOW my chances of early release are in
jeopardy. Peg, they’re creating problems with inmates. I’ve observed VERY many
unfair practices here. It NEEDS all new oversight/NEW views. 41/2yrs
ago there were little complaints, now it’s a circus. Fights are up, it’s wild.
Stagg break rules but are super strict with us.
17)
Staff allow inmates to harass others, which
never happened before. Staff can’t seem to control inmates like before/yrs ago.
18)
I’ve notices a change with the newest warden,
for the worst.
19)
I’ve been observing staff less and less friendly
and inmates more disrespectful than ever, toward them.
20)
It’s a lot louder that it ever was before,
especially at night , when staff allow excessive noise. It leads to more excessive
unruly inmates, even outside of their cells. Controlling them while they’re in
their cells, is equally important as outside of their cells, And staff really haven’t been controlling
their in- cell noise levels.
I hope this helps, Jason Kurtz
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Willie Simpson |
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/gbciwillie-simpson-8-25-20.pdf
CCI Phil Keller 395959 1971, 48 out7 30 21 OL ?
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/gbci-phil-keller-8-23-20.pdf
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Phil Keller |
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Matthew McAfee |
GBCI Matthew McAfee 444947 1988,32 out10 26 63 TIS
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/gbcimatthew-mcaffee-covid-and-sol.pdf
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terrance Kirsey |
GBCI Terrance Kirksey 688172 1992, 27 Out 12 21 23 TIS
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/gbci-terrance-kirksey-affidavit.pdf
GBCI Luis Granados 288849 199129 out 4 25 25 TIS
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Luis Granados |
I am writing to share with you the problem we are having in segregation with mentally ill inmates not receiving adequate mental health treatment: 1)lack of PSU staff (psychologist, psychiatrists ) 2)no treatment programs for those who self harm 3) the PSU staff have not been following policies and procedures regarding psychological conduct reports for their actions, and they continue to house mentally ill inmates in segregation , even though they understand these inmates don’t adjust well in seg. So far I’ve wrote complaints and exhausted my administrative remedies but this problem is so much bigger that me peggy. Its sad,, its immoral and its torture that’s being justified.my nest move is a civil suit cause I’m labeled mentally ill but I’m doing more better as of today.
GBCI Harry Fumich 120028 1966, 53 out1 21 9999 OL
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Harry Fumich |
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/gbciharry-fumich-covid-9-24-20.pdf
FLCI
FLCI Adam Fields 385005 1984, 36 out4 27 24/
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Adam fields |
I am writing to you to let you know what kind of tricks the DOC is up to right now. I figured It would be safer to write this. During this pandemic we at Fox Lake had been covid- free among us inmates . On Oct 9th it was noticed by us that the DOC covid-19 dashboard showed that we had 2 inmates with covid-19 . To this day FLCI staff have not notified us that Covid-19 is in the institution. In fact, most staff lie to us and saying that its’ not here. However, one sergeant here at FLCI ( wishes to remain anonymous) told me that not only was covid-19 here but that the DOC put it here. He said that the DOC transferred to inmates to FLCO when they tested positive . Both inmates went straight into our seg unit for medical isolation. Now I am, told that the number of positive inmates is up to 10 here at Fox Lake. To me this is a very scary situation. Since the DOC is trying to hide this. For me personally, it’s extremely scary. Since my asthma makes me high risk for covid- 19 . Also I live in a high isk environment, while being high risk. So now that the virus is in the institution , if it gets in my unit, I’ll get it. I wanted to write this to you because I know you will get this information out for us.https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/flci-adam-d-fields-101220.pdf
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Phil Keller |
CCI Phil Keller 395959 1971, 48 out7 30 21 OL ?
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/cciphil-keller-1
027-20.pdf
CCI Damien Green 384585 1984 36 ,out8 21 25 TIS
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damien green |
Due to this covid-19 we on lock-down with no phones, no sowers, no movement nothing because they say that someone an officer got covid-19 and some inmates got it. We been on lockdown for over a week. We have not had a shower in a long time and this have not come from Mr Kevin Carr. I need you to please get me the address for 27 news in Madison and please let me know who is Kevin A Carr boss?
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/cci-damien-green-covid-lockdown.pdf
RCI Armano Cornelius 544098 1987,33 out352021
TIS https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/rci-armono-cornelius.pdf
Tony Franklin 267634, WCI WCI 1980, 40 outdate 5 29 25
tests positive and reports on death of Kenneth Hall: (sum)
Now I was calling you to let you know that I got coronavirus. The National Guard came into the prisons and test everybody and it’s about a good over 300 inmates that test positive. In my cell hall alone there is maybe half of the positive cases so its over here the worst. My test results came back on Friday October 23, 2020. At first I was feeling horrible and the nurse only took my vitals one time and that’s the day my test results came back, my vital signs was checked 1 other time about 10 days before then because my cellie was feeling sick and they had moved him out of the cell with me and put him in the north cell hall on isolation but they left me in my same cell in the north cell hall but put me on isolation During the whole time on isolation the nurse never came to check on me like they supposed to…
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Tony Franklin |
WCI Chance Wallow458649 1987 , 33 out 6 20 21 TIS
on Covid and Kitchen Work at Waupun Correctional.
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chance Wallow |
Also, on the phone you asked me to tell you about some of this Covid
19 stuff going on. Well, there are multiple inmates that have it in this
institution. Just in this cell hall we have about 40. They are so short of
people in the kitchen that they got a whole bunch of us volunteering. We
started with about 21 people, now we are down to 12 people and we’re working
430am to 630pm. The southwest cell hall is the only cell hall that they are
letting work. It’s very crazy and unethical the way they treat us here. I guess
the positive thing about us working in the kitchen is we get to shower twice
and we get to eat good and be out of our cell.
The thing that is getting to me and I’m not understanding is how so
many inmates are catching Covid and they ain’t going nowhere.
ttps://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/wcichance-wallow-kitchen-work-1.pdfhttps://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/wci-chance-wallow-8-24-20.pdf
Arthur Foster 213296 WCI 10 13 20
Sitting here in Northwest cell hall on quarantine. Not told
anything by staff. Sounds like new outbreak of covid-19. Have you herd
anything? If yes, how many new cases do we have? Stay safe out there
Nathan Delano 322632 1978, 41 out 1 25 24 TIS
Nathan Delano
They call him
EJ. I am working on getting more definite information. On Thursday October July
30th he had a medical emergency in the shower around 7:30- 8:30pm. He
told staff and HSU that he was not feeling well. As the story goes he may have
had a blood clot in his foot that traveled to his heart. During the 6am count
staff failed to wake him for standing count. Around 7am breakfast was being
passed by the tier tenders and he failed to wake up. At that time they notified
staff. After HSU, the white shirt the ambulance and all that stuff they carried
him past our cells in a black tarp with handles. After seeing the ambulance
people not moving fast it was clear what was happening. As they were waiting fr
the coroner we could clearly hear them joking and laughing. Bogus, Even though
we are doing time we are still human beings and even if we don’t have loved
ones , Jesus loves us.I look at my issues and see they are really small
potatoes compared to what really is going on in this place. I complain about my
diabetes and diet and that I cannot afford a pair of shoes but I am still
breathing and fighting to stay that way. Okay, his real name is Eric Johnson,
better known to those around him as E.J. I appreciate your caring enough to look
into this as I know his family will.
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Jermaine Hampton |
WCI Jermaine A Hampton 406289 , 1982, 38 out11 18 21 TIS
(part)there’s about 394 inmates at Waupun Correctional which have tested positive for the coronavirus 6 of which are hospitalized due to the security of Covid-19. The institution is still not taken this seriously they still are denying inmates the proper use of disinfectants. They expect us not to properly sanitize our living areas. They spray our towels twice in expect us to clean our rooms with it yet since the last outbreak we have not been allowed to clean our rooms at all cuz the institution is on lockdown and we are only allowed to shower once a week there’s no way the virus is going to leave this institution they are not cleaning the common areas used by staff or the inmates they are taken infected inmates from one unit in the institution and placing them in another part which only makes the other inmates in that unit sick from the virus yet the staff are not listening to our demands and our health is being ignored completely. I am in constant fear that I might die.
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/wci-jermaine-a-hampton-10-28-20covid.pdf
WCI Tracy Anderson 275721; 1970,40 8 25 29 OL
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Tracy anderson |
Ones writing to let you know what’s going on with me and my situation.
I was tested positive for Covid-19 virus on 10/20/20 and it felt as if I was
going to do. I had bad headaches, eyes burning, couldn’t breath, taste and
smell gone, I still don’t have any smell or taste. My body still aches and is
fatigued. You know I had filed for that compassionate release back in June and
I feel this should compel them to get us out of prison, because I fear if I get
this virus a second time I will die! They are not equipped or competent enough
to deal with this virus. I just seen Waupun on Fox 6 News and they acknowledge
that it’s overcrowded and Fessahaye says it’s against the law to have prisoners
in double cells especially with this Covid-19 virus and prisoners are getting
it by being forced to be in a cell with another prisoner.
I am PRC’d out of this prison and been locked up for two plus years, yet they saying I will be here for a year before I’m moved this is Krazy!Well, Peg ones will close this and get it out to you in hopes you can give us incite on what move I should make next because I shall be release for I am old-law and they need bed space.
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/wcitracy-anderson-10-28-20covid.pdf
CCI
Jack Holling 375949 Stanley CI
11/2/2020 Is it lawful for the prison to give all cold bag lunches for all meals of the day? I am just asking because since all the units at Stanley are currently on quarantine and unit 4 is the only one that's not. This is worrying me for the fact its already hard not being able to see my family. I have not seen them in over a year now and 4 months ago I lost my father. My mother is now all alone and now having to worry about not getting home in time to see her and my kids before its to late. This is cruel and unusual punishment. People who do not have a life sentence and that are serving there first time in prison should be placed on house arrest and probation during these hard times. Since the prisons can't handle taking care of us properly during these hard times and the fact that how are any of us suppose to get back on are feet if we have no family to go home to and no one to lean on to get back on are feet. What are we suppose to do? This is constantly on my mind and I don't want to loose any one else. I love my whole family with no equivocations and to loose any of them due to being in here over just an allegation puts me over the top. These courts are all about money and people should stand up for them selves. When is it going to be enough? This is so hard being away from are family and now even harder because of this virus in prison and out there loosing family. Nothing can be worse then being stuck in here eating the same food every day and not seeing any loved ones while everyone is dying and for us to have to loose time without being there to help and see are family before they are gone. Please let us know what can be done? This is a very sad time the whole world is going thru and for us not being able to see any one at all while loosing family. Thank you for your time, pease be with you.
SCI Ross A Adee 644709 1974 46 out3 29 22 TIS
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/osci-ken-huss-no-laundry-10-23-20.pdf
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Ross A Adee |
CCI Nate Lindell 303724 1975, 45, Life OL
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Nate Lindell |
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/cci-nate-lindell-10-26-20complaint.pdf
RGCI
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Ben Sanders |
RGCI Ben Sanders 56262 1946,74 Life OL
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/ben Sanders-1026-20-rgci-doing-well.pdf
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/rgci-dominic-marak-covid.pdf
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dominic marak |
REECC
STEPHANIE COUILLARD (336703) 1968,52
Robert E. Ellsworth Center 10 4 20 |
REECC LOCKDOWN Covid-19 is now officially at our center. I have asthma and high blood pressure, and am very worried. I have served over 75% of my sentence
yet can't get the Governor's office to even acknowledge me with a courtesy
response to my petition for clemency. So now the virus is here....and he has
the NERVE to say I am safer here than at home with my loved ones?! FOOL! I
would be far better off at home where it's clean and healthy food is
accessible.. ! I'm a class "G" non- violent offender,and that doesn't
matter either. Evers has a scripted excuse for ALL OF US TO STAY LOCKED UP.....MEN,WOMEN,VIOLENT,
NONVIOLENT, OLD, YOUNG, HEALTHY, SICK...HE'S A BIG FAT FRAUD! I hope he
realizes he has lost his base do to his weak leadership and non action to stand
up to the Republicans. He has zero excuse for not using his executive powers,
and shows how cowardly he really is.I can't wait to get home and expose his
pathetic attempt at fooling the Wisconsin voters by finger pointing rather than
ACTING IN A CRISIS! #FOLLOWOTHERSTATESLEAD..# WISCONSIN DOESNOTHINGASUSUAL..#
PRISONSTATE
10/5/2020 2:19:33 PM REECC LOCKDOWN
I am on the wing (B), that is currently on lockdown for
Covid 19 monitoring. To date, none of us have been tested, and staff is allowed
to come and go,often working double shifts throughout the building. I find that
interesting, considering staff is probably how COVID found its way here in the
first place. We are confined to our rooms and had no opportunity to contact
loved ones before the confinement. We have no access to library books, day
space,phones,fresh air, or even catalogues to order supplies as we sit,watching
other units enjoying the sunshine outside. This is my 3RD LOCKDOWN SINCE JUNE.
This is happening repeatedly every 4-6 weeks now,and no matter what we do,we
women here are at the mercy of incoming/outgoing staff every day. By now,the
DOC Should have released many of the low risk, short term ladies here. The
current accommodations cannot afford us day space use due to overpopulation in
the buildings spaces. Most of us will,when finally released,will have become so
traumatized or embittered by the Wisconsin prison system,that we may be worse
off than before our incarceration. There is no REHABILITATION here as all
programs have ceased,along with work release opportunities. Just sitting on
dead time,going stir crazy like caged animals on a daily basis,with no ability
to communicate with our support systems(I.e..family ) as each day rolls into
the next. Wasted lives seems to be the new status quo as we trudge into our 8th
month with zero help from our "leaders". PROUD OF CALIFORNIA..... THEY
SEEM TO " GET IT" as they flex their power towards new
policies/visions for our citizens BESIDES LOCKING EVERYONE UP.
Mia L. White #541187
Robert E. Ellsworth correctional center
21425 A. Spring Street
Union Grove ,WI. 53182-
Right now at this moment the Robert E. Ellsworth
correctional center has a inmate that has tested positive for COVID 19 better
known as the corona virus. A inmate going home on Tuesday was tested as part of
her release planning and the test results came back positive. She and the women
that lived in the room with her have been placed on quarantine. Though they are
on quarantine there is still a lot of people's health at risk because the
center is so small and everyone in the center comes into contact with each other
daily. Rather in meals, in passing in the hall way or outside with each other
where no one where's masks we've all come into contact with these lady's. One
of which is suppose to be a student where I go daily for computer legal work.
Our staff rotate from here to metro in Milwaukee
on the regular d still comeback here to work. How backwards is this system ?
That is clearly putting the lives of those in the center at a much higher risk.
This is illegal, I know it is something that can be done other then to put our
lives at risk.
Death Reports
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/death-osci-david-lee-greenwood-10-19-20.pdf
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/death-gbci-phil-keller-8-23-20.pdf
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/michael-garcia-soto-reports-death-10-21-20.docx
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/wci-t-franklin-death-and-pos102620.pdf
1) from July report
LaLavar spent 5 days in hospital then beck to WCI
to quarantine in horrible conditions- no care no change of bedding or clothes
or showers or hygiene in”Dirty, Filthy” cell and the forces to shower with gen
pop as were other covid victims.
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/lavar-johnson-covid-victim-wci-report.docx
2)
Nicholas( litigator, helps many) in OSCI
described decimating of legal efforts by librarian in OSCI and he is banned
form library. HE asks many questions and has requests- will start on them and
do what I can Open records especially and he needs books as library and
typewriter are banned.
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/nicholas-morehouse-litigators-un)
der-siege.pdf
3)
Bill Ledford (CCI litigator) recounts
retaliation against him in corrlinks – I put this last to first- now is going
to WSPF- where he got such poor care he lost his foot. Again, many many people
depend on his help as does FFUP- will see what I can do about helping him keep
in contact with those he is helping. Nate Lindell alerted me to this also-
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/bill-ledford-retaliation-report.docx
4)
Fine intro by Ron Schroeder on ACLU prison
report and report itself. Prisons and Jails failing.
https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/aclu-covid-report.pdf
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