LATEST OFFERINGS ON THIS BLOG
1)Bill proposal for making basic changes with the way we do Corrections
4) Exhibits to our lawsuit above
Lawsuits we are at present trying to help fund
general update September 2018
FUNDS NEEDED AS FFUP MISSION EVOLVES
1)Bill proposal for making basic changes with the way we do Corrections
3) This is lawsuit against overuse and abuse of solitary confinement, filed in June by FFUP on behalf of 8 prisoners stuck in solitary torture.
latest newsletters:
Lawsuits we are at present trying to help fund
general update September 2018
FUNDS NEEDED AS FFUP MISSION EVOLVES
 |
| source unknown- from years ago/more relavant than ever |
These are times of high energy and much learning. FFUP
started as a little organization supporting prisoners with the stated mission
to help them “survive their incarceration ordeal with psyches intact . 19
years later, we still support prisoners and their families but we find that individual
advocacy no longer has much effect and we must .of also grapple other
organizations to help make systemic changes to a system drowning in corruption.
SO the movement matures. From a bunch of individual organizations each playing in
its own sandbox, we are beginning to see that working together, forging a plan
encompassing a division of labor is not only possible, it is essential.
FFUP's piece in this coalition puzzle is our connection
with prisoners. We are not good at public education but can give accurate and complete
information on what is happening within the prisons and help make important
connections between prisoners and the outside world. We are planted as a bridge
between the organizations that do the education piece best and the prisoner and
their families, who so desperately want to be heard. Here is a link to our latest newsletter, "Bridge of Voices",which goes to prisoners in paper form and is well liked.
FUNDS NEEDED FOR
LAWSUITS.
This is new for FFUP and is part of this new maturity. Trust is
high between FFUP and prisoners and we have made solid connections with fine
prisoner litigators. All along we have been making copies for lawsuits and
supplying stamps and guidebooks etc, and one of the tools we use to help
prisoners survive solitary , is to encourage them to learn the law. This has
all gone well but now we are in a position to help pay the filing
fees and other fees necessary to take the most promising lawsuits through to
the end. Unlike most individual lawsuits which win money for plaintiff but change little, theses are lawsuits that aim to change the system, The courts, with the help of the DOC( department of Corrections) have been incrementally closing its doors to
prisoner litigation efforts and with help, FFUP can go a long way in helping prisoners navigate those obstacles. Funds are needed for this effort.We also have filed a suit against abuse and overuse of solitary on behalf of 8 prisoners. This is an experiment in Joinders and we hope it can be a template for future actions.( link to suit here) Another important effort is the crafting of proposed legislation to reduce prison population that all our WI organizations together can promote. An overview of “movement” idea coming here .
WHERE YOUR help is needed now :Right now FFUP has an opportunity to fund two important lawsuits by fine litigators with long term ties to FFUP. Both are working on the overuse of solitary problem. Both have good cases, do win cases and it is an honor that they agree to work with FFUP. One needs filing fees paid and funding help with documents, discovery etc- probably about $1000 in all , with $250 needed ASAP. In the case we want to help fund, the plaintiff is a long term, much abused solitary confinement victim . Details of the case are here and this case will have implications for all those in solitary if won.
 |
| Animal in a Cage, by DaRen Morris |
The other litigator
requesting funds has just won a case allowing him to depose the DOC ( rarely allowed an inmate- this is where
under oath, the plaintiff takes testimony) but is required to pay the fees for the deposition which will be
between 200 and 250 $ This case goes back to the abuse during the hunger strike
back in 2016 ( link to WW Articles). This prisoner litigator has served the
longest time in solitary of any prisoner now in WI and he is still advocating for prisoner rights. I consider this man a visionary and will hare are links to some of his writing here: Uhuru, rights advocate, longest serving solitary prisoner, writings here
Finally, our traditional needs still exist and grow as prison conditions deteriorate. The need for funds is great for the stamp
program ( indigent inmates get a pack(5) of embossed envelopes and pad of paper per
month and they provide an account statement every three months to verify
indigency) )and requests for tvs and radios by those stuck in seg are these
days urgent ( here is a request by a 23 year old)- many are not making it. desperate pleas, legitimate usually come in daily to FFUP and we do what we can. We also try to help those trying to raise funds for schooling_This man is also offering to crochet thank you gifts for donors.
We hope you can see your way to donating. All funds are used
well and we have no paid staff. Feel free to let us know if you want your donations to go toward specific project and
also comments and questions are welcome.
For questions, contact peg Swan 608-536-3993 or email me at
pgswan3@aol,com
gofundme site: https://www.gofundme.com/prisonforum or at our main web: www.prisonforum.org.
update