FFUP CASES : PREA ( PRISON RAPE ELIMINATION ACT)

 PREA

Derrick Smith344250 WCI/ 1963, 59, B/ out 2050

   Derrick is an old friend. Was in fact released many years ago and was picked up by cops at the outdoor with a new charge- a revenge bogus charge but he has not beat it. He is a constant target for PREA violations and throughout the years did a lot of research and advocacy to find out just how broken the PREA system is and how fraught with danger is sticking up for yourself- Have written him about this shout out letter, asking victims to unite- whether he want his name on this this. He is a brave soul - I sned him Sudoku puzzles and ind vacation tools- there is little system progress possible without numbers- For him the w orst is “date rape-” where you re drugged and raped in your sleep I=in case he was in lock ed segregation and so know it was a guard but neither him no I could get a timely rape kit test done or any real investigation- happened many times- got himself to WRC abi where ever he is he is a target for gay guys, I guess and can get no protection.

MY ACTIONS -trying to USDOJ involved - PREA is part of Plea for investigation sent mid march,. I write him and send him destress stuff> This letter Is his response to my writing him about the DOJ submission.

 NOTE OTHER PREA VICTIMS AND VICTIMS OF GANG THREATS AND EXTORTION ARE IN usdoj REPORT-mostly, I bcome friends with them and we support each other, building strength.

 

Theron Harris 283940 OSCI/ 1975, 47 W/ out 11 25 23/

 

Got 3 20 23 -This letter is about new toilet policy at OSCI- prisoners in double WET CELLS ( they have toilet in cell) have to both be in cell when day room closed- not allowed a courtesy curtain when they use the bathroom and both are in cell , not allowed one to go out of cell or to block window while toilet is being used- very big deal a PREA violation he says- would like groups take on this. .

Background on Theron:Theron has been a frequent self -harmer- using anything at hand- perhaps partly thru Advocacy/discussion with psych staff, he did get some treatment and was connected to the OARS program which helps with release; was still revoked and is now looking at a 112523 release. Note the discussion was: 1)Theron needs treatment/2)answer he cannot get treatment until he stops self harming3) he needs tools to stop self harming etc etc - he got the tools. Finally , got support for release and was still revoked.recently relapsed and was in obs for self harming but had been free of that behavior for many months before and is learning other ways to vent.

 

ALSO AT OSCI 2022- Huge window in bathroom on one of the units from which staff perr at prisoners- prisoner put up a barrier and protested and exhausted remedies and FFUP wrote powers- nothing came of it.

 

PREA COMPLAINTS from initial USDOJ report

 2)Jeff Poff’s (390966 WSPF) testicals were hard during a strip search- he ends up with a hernia because of it and constant pain. I called the warden about it and was assured and investigation would ensue but there has been none and Jeff has since written about a chain of corruption within WSPF- this is unfortunate as in my experience WSPF has the best environment for prisoners, with the guards will trained and in one prisoner’s words- they are “decent”. It is important that this possible corruption be investigated and the perpetrators held accountable.  Two letters original and one typed: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G485DRAG9_UCgu-CDvqthghtrvEm-VTA/originview?usp=share_linkd

 

3) Matthew Stechauner (378235, NLCI)was  slapped hard on his butt by another prisoner and had an explosive reaction, attacking the guy who slapped him. He filed a PREA complaint wheaich went unaddressed for weeks as Matthew’s anxety rose- He was transferred to NLCI against his will and here the situation has escalated, with no therapy and very little understanding of what Matt is going through.He sits in Segregation now for a “bogus conduct report”.

The background to Matthew Stechauner’s case is that he was sexually abused as a child and has a long history of mental illness. HE has done very well by learning the law and helping people with their legal work.He has servere PTSD and this work helping others and studying the law has helped him overcome his emotional hurdles. The sexual assault back several months ago has been too much for him . He  badly needs therapy and a new start.

This is one email, there have been many letters and emails:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/17xFjNZ1GF2d08LusjIi3GQFhU3flGcli/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=110165518202991476262&rtpof=true&sd=true

 

 4) Daniel Peace 508684 NLCI- believes he is the object or retaliation because he  complained about a “date rape”  similar to the one described in #1 above. What is currently happening is harrassment and threats, accusations that HE is stalking and harrassing people and is gay. It started when he was exchanging letters with a close friend. They were sharing song lyrics and grew quite close. Derrick seems to  not know the turning point but his friend went to the CO and reported Derrick as harrassing him, Now this “friend” is spreading rumors about Derrick being gay and stalking others and he has received threats of  physical harm. Derrick insists he is not gay and never appraoaches others  on that level and his freindship with his accusor was not in the least sexual.

     Daniel is particularly concerned because only one side of the story is told- his final letter to the firend , not the ongoing exchange or any of the friend’s letters The CO make no effort to clarify or protect Derrick and he is always “looking over his shoulder” as prisoners have been sent to Harm him.

Daniel needs at minimum a change of prisons.

Situation in Daniel’s words: typed and original: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14S6YFr1oN1wLvBI6fuLk5MjO-ALQhP5k/view?usp=share_link

                                         

5) Cory Akstulewicz(311424 OSCI)- Cory is Trans and has the chosen name ”Angela”. She is currently plagued by what she calls “false PREAS” which have cost her her jobs and peace of mind and landed her in TLP. There have been no charges but the harrassment continues.

Link to Angie (Cory) Akstulewicz’s  typed and Original letter ( part of a series of letters): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KkgYu-NvxlWxTrI27TH2nLXaE0TOTIBz/view?usp=share_link

 6) Damien Green 384855 GBCI- here writes in crayon, his only tool of a guard that is harassing him, in this incident lewdly watching him insert his catheter.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1phwoC-_EH9UZxbYPGy3d_FzokJs_QfBA/view?usp=share_link 

 

 

 

 

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM_ no treatment or training and then release with no support

RELEASE HELP- CONSIDER RENTING A ROOM FOR THREE MONTHS TO ONE OF THESE PEOPLE

  RELEASE HELP REQUESTS-

 

 Many to gather/ these two ar feature below for other issues

CARRIE METZ  350814 TCI bd 1983, 39 native American/ out 4 16 26- needs release place and supports at release

ANDREW GREEN- 514104 NLCI /bd 1989,33 W/ OUTDATE 6 23 23/needs WRC before release and safe place at release

ACTIONS TO TAKE: put request for family volunteers in latest update/  write short profiles for each person and post, go to charities etc to get fundin for room project and reach out to find people who will rent. 

So who ARE we incarcerating? let's look at some truths being hidden behind the politics

 

this is 2020 post but more  relevant than ever 

Some of the categories of prisoners that help us                   understand the different needs

   

1) About 2000 prisoners are older prisoners, many in their 60's and 70's and up, who were convicted before 2000 , ,when "Truth in Sentencing"( TIS) came about and many have been eligible for release for decades. These people have in the main long been ready to be constrictive citizens but are kept in prison thru series  contradictory parole and program rules. They  make the prisoner industry enormous amounts of money through taxpayers funs and are a main incentive to keep the prison population up and the public in fear. 

           A)All these prisoners are over the age of 40 and statistics show that crime reduces dramatically after 30 and goes to nothing after that. Crime is a youth problem  ( chart:)

          B) In the main, Old Law ( OL ) prisoners were by statute eligible for release after serving 1/4 of their sentences, so most have been eligible for decades. IF their behavior was good they would be released, if not they would serve the entire term. So I judge would say, for example"" I want you to serve 10 years so I am giving you 40,.Tragically , all this was misconstrued and cobbled when "truth in sentencing" came in and these guys, long eligible,  are trapped still. 

 Introduction to old law prisoners=Some cases:

 a) those convicted as juveniles ( under 18)

http://www.prisonforum.org/2013/04/second-chance-for-juveniles.html

DarRen Morris- see blog and pintings

 b ) those non citizens who were slated by the court to be deported but because we had no treaty with their countries , are still entombed here

coming: Sonniel Gidarisingh

Lene Cespedes-Torres ( See blog)

Juan Navarro

 c) the very old, and those very sick

no compassionate release for old law prisoners

    d) those who still have strength and health and are ready to serve-in fact most old law prisoners want nothing more than to give back to society. and they have so much to give as many if not most have focus and the ability to concentrate and are no overstimulated like w are out are> They KNOW the drk side of America and where it needs to change .

2)Many of those convicted after 2000 are Younger prisoners,  under what is called "truth in sentencing"  and they are released at a certain date no matter what. With the prisons severely overcrowded and staff so short there are few programs, most prisoners are released without treatment or training. For many of the mentally ill, this means releasing straight after months, if nnot years in solitary. Most do not make it..           some cases: 

3) Those revoked/reincarcerated for rule violations: Over half the admissions each year are for NONFELONIES- NO NEW CRIMES. for rule violations and although there are guidelines for parole officers to use, in many cases a zero success rate is lauded- and prisoner are brought back to jail with little or no due process. coming

4) and most astounding of all are the hundreds and hundreds of prisoners incarcerated because we have  few to no  mental institutions or affordable mental health therapy for the poor. "NOT GUILTY DUE TO MENTAL DEFECT OR MENTAL ILLNESS" is what the court dictates and yet these peole end up in prisons and ofter in solitary confinement because they cannot handle it in general population. and the prison does not know what to do with them. 

    a.coming :the statute allows this

    b.DOC profile of many mentally ill prisoners entombed in out deepest most torturous gulags

    c Stories and letters from some of these prisoners

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8006122048074210759/4008530508390474592?hl=en

 

WOMEN 's prison issues and individual cases

 Women’s Prison TCI- conditions and diabetes health care mess

Carrie Metz 350814 TCI bd 1983, 39 native American/ out 4 16 26, scared of release, Current problem is the practice of forcing diabetic prisoners to walk quarter mile to HSU to get diabetic supplies - they are not allowed to wear coats or anything but thermals and about 15 prisoners have none- she has wrapped other warm things around here and been sent back without insulin. SHe aslso has a child who just got covid second time- and is afraid she will lose him- has lost one child- wants supplies for him.

MY ACTIONS-sent her letter to a gal with church connections( no) and to a few others and bought Carrie one pair of cheap thermals from Marcus but she needs two warm setss. Glad it is getting warm but this is long term problem==heard from some prisoners that they are trying this with some men’s prisons. Need to investigate- would like to have someon in group write Carrie and establish connection as I am too infrequent- she has corrlinks- we three could work together on this- both stopping the practice and getting the warm clothes.Will send her info to my MJS contact- she expects this,

she also needs the room project

 

Contact info for other women prisoners

Marcella Trimble - had surgery for Carpal tunnel and stitches were left in for inordinate time- with damage to hand- suing

Is head of our TCI/men’s prison penpal program

Wrtes of conditions in the women’s mental health treatment facility WWRC- which was a healing place and seems to hve gone sour:

 

WHY ARE WE HOLDING These People????

 cases by  alphabetical order

Michael Evans

Michael Evans 344627 GBCI 

BD1980.age 42/Black/

out date given by DOC: 7 -1 35

ISSUES: no mental help treatment and  long eligible and ready for release/held past sentence recommended, He is another of our old law prisoners- eligible after serving 1/4 of thier sentenes but still sitting- For what?

Michael was 18 when he was involved in a fight with rival gang members- they had just beaten him up and a fight ensued and a bullet ricocheted and hit and killed a man. Michael was so upset upon hearing for the death he turned himself in., He is mentally ill and has trouble controlling anger and intake evaluation recommended treatment in .prison.

And he is still incarcerated - much too long sand  he has recieved no mental health treatment in GBCI 

Below is his story of hunger striking and self harm in a effort to get treatment, H eis a good writer and  we willbe doing what we can to help 

Link to original story:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FLQkxrT1TmBuHX2RmVumRGbr4fY71L0o/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=110165518202991476262&rtpof=true&sd=true

 

Link to sentenicng memorandum and other relevant docs:   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1stdkVS2vqp0PAfyTI0UmQxs4ALYgcIPk/view?usp=share_link

 

Michael  Evans 344627  GBCI 

 February 20,2023

                                                            EFFORT

One sad thing about this world is that the acts that take the most out of you are usually the ones that other people will never know about. by Ann Tyler, “ My  Story”

 

On November 11^th, 1993  I answer the guilty plea to one count of first degree- Reckless homicide,  PTAC, while armed and one count of first degree Reckless endangering safety, PTAC, while armed and sentenced to 14 years to 54 years  on January 19th 1999, sentencing recommendation from:Dr Suzanne Lisowski, who perform psychological evaluation,based upon ALL of the above listed information, read the following: sentencing memorandum enclosed.

 

    I'm on a hunger strike, due to the lack of mental health treatment ,which started today February 20th 2023. since my return from WRC( October 2020), I was assigned to PSU clinical staff Dr Martha  Breen- Smith, who have a bullying personality, need for dominance, humiliation,intimidation ,Power and balance, un -empathetic, with smugness and arrogance characterize Behavior; I have wrote PSU boss,  Dr Hamilton many times regarding Dr Breen- Smith's Behavior, since my return, I have not received adequate medical care for my mental health treatment; in 2021 (Of ?) I started on hunger strikes, due to lack of treatment from PSU, going from 215 lb  to 169 lb at times, I have lost so much weight that at 200 plus pounds now, I look like I weigh about 180 lb, my muscular mass is bone.

 

 This lasted through 2021 to 2022; in April of 2022,  I lost a childhood girlfriend die, I lost it, after trying to get help from Doctor Breen- Smith with my mental health diagnoses, which are antisocial personality disorder,  unspecified depressive disorder,  nightmare disorder, impulsive- control and conduct disorder.

 

 PSU undermined all my diagnoses, I went to the hole May 29th 2022, everything went downhill from there, before that, I passed out in the cell Hall from hunger strike after 4 days without food or water, on June 20th 22, I was released from the hole, I went back on the same day on suicide watch, released, on 6-23-22 with NO Treatment Plan, on 6 24 22 I went back to the hole for trying to assault staff with a, phone, I received 120, during my hole time I received no treatment for my mental health issues, PSU staff only would see me at the door stating” they not have the official hearing room”, Dr Breen- Smith  only pulled me out once  for a “one-on-one”, I was on hunger strike, went on and off auicide watch; on 8/11/20, I wrote the deputy warden Michelle R Hacse regarding my intention to commit suicide upon release from the whole( rhu), PSU staff sent to my door, I was not pulled out of my cell, PSU staff stayed at my door for about 5 minutes; I told PSU staff ”I can't commit suicide in the hole!” On 8th 1822 I was released from the hole to GP; less than 24 hours later, after morning meds I went to the highest tier in the cell hall( H tier), I climbed over H-Tier, waiting for the cameras to come to jump, before video camera could arrive, the unit Sergeant run up on me, grab my shirt and tried to pull me back over the tier. I started to assault the sergeant, other staff arrived, LG M e g i a relieved the sergeant of his duty, after failed talking to come down, I was ambushed by (7) staff, I was fighting for release.

 

                                      APATHY

A society of sheep must in time beget a government of  wolves. 

 

,,,My right wrist was cuffed to the top railing by Lt. Me g i a, after a few minutes I gave up and came over the railing, I was placed on suicide watch from F r i m o n, during the whole time, I received no mental health treatment, I was taking off of suicide watch placed on TLU for assaulting staff, received a 120, I started going on hunger strikes, suicidal watch. I was placed in the treatment center on October 17,2022, during my stay, I was not given any treatment one on one )went back to the hole three times, 1121/22, I wrote the warden(Dylan Radtke) with my intention to self harm on 11 25,2022,on  11:22/22, with my mental diagnoses- I self -harmed, after being taken to HSU for treatment ,I was placed on suicidal watch again, released with no treatment plan, so I wrote my own treatment plan for PSU which still has not been considered.

 

 I spoke to Dr helmets( boss of PSU) on to 2:31 2022, I spoon- fed me on a treatment plan that will work only if I'm out of the hole, I agreed to work with him! not Dr Breen; I was released from the hole on 1 4-23; since I've been in GP, I've not received any treatment, no one-on-one. Dr Breen tried to send me a pass twice, after I wrote an ICE and CCE and notify the warden and my intention to sue PSU staff for deliberate indifference to my mental health needs, I refused and put a DOC 1803: inmate request for separation, for PSU staff Dr Breen- Smith and follow it with an inmate complaint examiner’s office regarding my assigned clinician; intimidation, threatened, harassment, causing me to suffer serious emotional distress.

 

 Nothing have been done about my mental health, I have received a response today from Dr Hamilton, again, it's always next week or two or three weeks to be seen by PSU doctor Hamilton is a supervisor of PSU.

 

I have a lot distress and anxious in general pop; if I commit suicide, please!!!! make sure these people get held responsible: Warden Dylan Kay Radke, Deputy Warden  Michelle R H a e s e, Dr Martha J Breen- Smith, Dr Todd L Hamilton, PSU-. M.S Hillary J Berg, Security Director John a kind.

 

 The art project I wanted to work on is a model kit AMT 1967 Chevy Impala SS it's my dream car and I ever make it out of prison alive the model 981 is $25.99 color royal and 3463 and 284 Sparkle glitter glue - maybe this project will give me hope

                                 

 Hope

 take Hope from the heart of man and you make him a beast of prey.

Enclosed document

1) DOC 3035B- Psychological Service request

1) DAI 2023- 49223,From  John A Kind,Security director

1) DAI  2023- 49239,  from Michelle R Ha e s e, Deputy Warden

1) four pages of sentencing memorandum- January 15th 1999/  missing2 pages(4&5) 

 

 Thank you for caring, God bless, Michael L Evans

___________________________________________________________

Below is  section from Michael Evan’ s  Sentencing memorandum. Michael was 18 at the time of the incident- He had recently been beat up by the young men. No one knows who actually sort the ricocheting bullet and Michael was so  upset  upon learning of the death that he turned himself him

Further the memo states emphatically that the sentence should be on the short end of the 2p to 25 years and that he be given treatment. Here it has been since 11 11 98- 24 years and his MR release date is 07/31/2035.And it has been all dead time- no treatment.

 

 

 

REDUCE PRISON POPULATION_ the final obscenity

Scroll down start for release requests- this one Maynard Wiza and Brittany Lange

https://ffupcases.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/1release-help-requests-scroll-down-starrt.docx

 

Maynard Wiza Parole documents, brother’s letter etc

https://ffupcases.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/2maynard-wiza-release-needs-812-22_.pdf

 

 Brittany Lange help request

https://ffupcases.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/3brittanty-lange-release-request-8822.pdf

https://fromthethinktank.blogspot.com/  TRUTH IN SENTENCING -   

PILOT PROJECT : A SAFE PLACE TO LAND and GRANT Application

 

link to pamphlet: https://ffupcases.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/1apilot-grant-folderall.pdf

HELP US LAUNCH OUR PILOT PROJECT=

Consider renting a room for three months to a newly released prisoner

1) A coalition of activist organizations are working on a grant to pay for the rental of

rooms and will pay the going rate plus expenses. We expect three month rental  intervals.

2) We will give each person interested in  renting to an ex-prisoner a list of prisoners requesting this help and their introductory letters and encourage them to pick someone and then to begin corresponding before release to make plans and find out if they can work well together.

3) We will back this project up with close attention and will need all your feedback as

we work out quirks. 

4) Once this pilot project is well started, we will be going for a grant that expands all

rehabilitative project we are doing within the prisons system and make sure we can give

prisoners the tools they need to begin healing on day one. We will also be working with

all activist groups in such a way that we enhance each other's efforts and make all

good things available throughout the system.

 

more coming:

 grant application

contact info if you are interested in helping

employment opportunity possibilities for exprisoners

OPEN LETTER TO NEW WI PAROLE CHAIRMAN CHRISTOPHER BLYTHE

prison assembly line- from an old pamphlet

,,                                                             sadly still relevant

As I was finishing  this letter a news report came on radio that the Republican candidate for governor was going after Govern Evers for paroling ANYONE . The baffling lies and misconstructions in this maneu           ver and my outrage led me to decide to submit this as open letter.   Forum for Understanding Prisons ( FFUP, a 501c3 Non profit)

        

OPEN LETTER TO THE NEW WISCONSIN PAROLE CHAIRMAN

 To:Wi Parole Chairman Christopher Blythe/3099 E. Washington St. /

September 20, 2022

Hello,

I  have been part of a non-profit that works with prisoners and their families for over twenty years and have written lots of parole letters to the parole chairmen serving during that time. Each letter becomes more difficult. You are new and I write with renewed interest because I know nothing abut you and maybe you come to the job without entrenched political ideas.
       I work with many of  the prisoners in the adult system and the word spreads by mouth so I do see the whole picture and I ask you to look at this picture through my eyes for a minute as you consider the parole of  Rufus West.

      I met Rufus soon after I started this work, The Wisconsin Supermax had just opened and he was in what was called “behavior Management” . He was always in trouble, unable to follow the rules and in deep traima over the death of another prisoner. He has since learned the law and become a leader to many. He has healed himself through his activism as so many of us do- and tirelessly works for justice wherever he is. I admire him tremedously especially since he is retaliated against at every turn by the system and I believe his activism, as with many other Old Law prisoner litigators, is why he is still in Maximum. FFUP also has endured retailaition so I do know what I am talking about.

     Rufus is long past the time he was eligible for parole,( which was set at a quarter of the sentence if behavior was good)and is now past his PMR( the time ,by law he was supposed to be release barring extrraordinary circustances) . He is one of thousands kept arbitarily in that they are given reasons over which they have no control.

Here is where I ask you to look broader . I am dealing with many young prsioners, TIS prisoners, who are by law released at their court mandated release date no matter their readiness. Many of these, I am finding, are in RHU ( restricted housing units), mentally ill and have spent months if not years in solitary confinement without treatment or training, Then they are literally dumped at release. This seems to work for the system because in WIsconsin, a prisoner can be reincarcerated for non felonies .So these ex-prisoners in the main are then swooped right back  up into the system. As I work with many TIS prisoners, they call on me for help while in prison and then again after release- it is heartbreaking and we are working on a grant to help with immediate need for transitional housing as the system is absolutely inadequate to the need.

What is wrong with this picture? All studies show that people after the age of 30 commit almost no crimes- ALL OLD Law prisoners, every person you deal with - are over thirty , many if not most in their 50’s and above. They are very little risk to society an have much to give. I often say “We have Nelson Mandelas in our prisons” because we do- They have learned to focus in a way we out here, with too much social media and stimulation, cannot. They have learned self control in a way we never have to. And in the main they have a deep deep desire to give back, to repay society for the harms they have caused. Surprisingly, most prisoners although severely traumatized, are NOT bitter. They just want a chance to give back..Many have children they want to mentor and their deepest grief is seeing their children fall victim to the current inanities . Rufus lost his son in this way- and has had to deal with it isolated and alone.

 It is these OLD Law prisoners the  WI DOC holds on tenaciously giving the false reason that  they are to great a “risk  to society”, while TIS prisoners are let go usually with little or no support . There are wonderful non profit programs like OARS and DOES that help disabled prisoners with release but they have to be referred to these programs by social workers and this is hard to get for most of the most needy.

   WHO benefits from this system? Certainly not the public. Our prisons are so overcrowded and understaffed, they are often on lockdown and programs are at a minimum;staff works 14 to 16 hour days. Overtime and lawsuits are all paid for by the taxpayer. AND because the system mines the poorer, mostly non white neighborhoods, many of the kids in these areas grow up without positive parental models and choose gangs as their families out of necessity. A study by the UW concluded that over incarceration CREATES CRIME and this is one of the reasons. *

   WHO benefits from this system? It works by keeping the public in constant panic over crime. It works because the WI DOC policy of revoking prisoners at the slightest excuse keeps the public from ever seeing just who they are incarcerating . But it is excruciatingly harmful- When I went to college eons ago, I paid 200  dollars a semester, my husband went free in NY city, there were 7000 people in WI prisons. Now there are 22000 prisoners and college graduates reel under thousands and thousands of dollars in school loan debt ,  We used to support  education and we believed in rehabilitation.

I ask you to consider this rant - help us to leave behind the easy politics of fear that is leads to disaster for the many , to real listening and discovery. Through openness we can find the path to healing.

We desperately need Rufus West out here- please okay his release- he has much to give .

Thankyou for your attention, Peg Swan, Founder and Co-director/

1)UNLOCKING AMERICA: a summary from JFA Institute/Summary by David Rhodes:http://www.prisonforum.org/2013/05/unlocking-america-summary-from-ffa.html

Whole study:https://ffupstuff.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/unlockingamerica.pdf

2)ACLU:AT AMERICA'S EXPENSE: THE MASS INCARCERATION OF THE ELDERLY

https://www.aclu.org/report/americas-expense-mass-incarceration-elderly

3) Wisconsin’s Mass Incarceration of African American Males: Workforce Challenges for 2013

By: Employment and Training Institute University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee  2013

https://dc.uwm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1008&context=eti_pubs

 

 

lets get some facts Out there-

DO WE REALLY WANT REVENGE FOREVER??

Murderers and Rapists. Yes , some crimes are horrendous. Most are property crimes and crimes of poverty' We used to believe in rehabilitation, that people change- that was before prisons become profit making enterprises and vilifying prisoner became a way to maintain  over capacity prisons no matter the consequences.

here are some charts to begin the conversation:

over a third of our prisoners are mentally ill , hundred have been designate by the courts as " not guilty due to mental insanity or defect" . they are in prison because the courts do not know what to do with them and many end of in torturous solitary confinement ( RHUS). See more:: ( coming)

Over half of new admissions any year in our prison system are there for NON FELONIES, RULE Violations and they are revoked ( reincarcerated ) with little of no due process. 

( see- coming)

WE SUPPORT THE PRISON INDUSTRY, NOT SCHOOLS or our children

As stated in blurb above, when I went to    college tuition was 2000 a  semester and we  have 7000 prisoners . Now tuition In WI INSTATE is around 10,00 dollars and population in prison is 22000 . who benefits?

NEXT: WHO ARE WE INCARCERTATING?

OPEN letter to DOC Secretary to kick off our campaign

 

OPEN LETTER TO SECRETARY CARR AND ALL CONCERNED WISCONSIN                                   A                                       WE NEED TO CHANGE COURSE IN OUR PRISON SYSTEM

 

Recently a young prisoner was stabbed to death in Green Bay Correctional Institution (GBCI)- stabbed in the heart . We are still obtaining information on this victim but we know he was  young with only a few months to go before release. he was well liked,  and was actually trying to stop a fight over a phone. The place had been on lockdown due to lack of staff and they had all come out raring to call loved ones and friends. And yes , racism and gangs were factors. Now the place is back on lockdown for a very long time.

I bring this incident up because the deteriorating conditions in our prisons with lack of staff and overcrowding have caused  the DOC to cut all programs and put staff on 12 to 16 hour shifts and install frequent partial and full lockdowns. One prisoner said it is like being in solitary confinement. There is a crisis here the MANDATES we look at the bigger picture. 

Right now the DOC"S reaction to every problem is increasing lockdowns and restrictions. We will start with the use of third part mail, TEXTBEHIND to address the fentinel drug problem .  OUR campaign will go on to try to educate people on just who is in our system for the rhetoric about rapists and murderers used to keep the public terrorized is nauseating and must be addressed. Also important is the fact that over a third of our prison inmates are mentally ill.  As the DOC has abandoned its mission to treat  and, we as a public have abandoned our responsibility to treat vulnerable people and relegate them to our prisons. 

FIRST FORAY: The failed attempt to cut down on drugs in the system

Against this background of the stabbing cited above is the increased use of drugs, which most people contend ,  come in mostly with staff. With the introduction of the deadly fentinel into the mix, and the total lockdown of the prisons because of covid, prison authorities decided to employ a company called TEXTBEHIND= which to this day, takes all incoming mail, scans it and sends copies to prisoners- nothing comes into them from the public through the mail (except from lawfirms. )

The downsides of this system are many and complaints from all have been vocal. But the powers insist there has been a dramatic reduction of fentinel deaths since they started using Textbehind. We contest that claim and further want to expand the discussion to the negative side effects of cobbling communication between prisoners and their supports system and the refusal of the powers that be to address ANY of the conditions that cause prisoners to turn to drugs for relief.

 For the rest of this essay I will try to discuss these subjects:

A)Problems with TextBehind.

1) Questions about the truth of the statement that fentinel deaths are down since text behind (tb) ,

2) the disaster this program has been for our non profit ( FFUP)

3) The disaster this program has been for the right of prisoners to access the court and to get help form other prisoners, a right ensured by the constitution

4) Deterioration of mental health of those depending on letters from loved ones- this is especially true of prisoners in solitary  ( RHUS) and prisoners without money.

5) Frustration of family members that not only are their letters no longer private but the quality of the final product delivered to prisoners is poor and the time it takes to be deliver is unacceptable.

 B) WAY FORWARD- we must look at the bigger picture that the use of drugs by prisoners tries to address.

 PROBLEMS WITH TEXTBEHIND

1) The DOC says fentinel deaths are way down since TB.

A) We contest that and want to know how this is counted. Prisoners say that guards are especially quick in reviving and giving health care to those who overdose but let those that try to kill themselves in others ways languish. Also what is counted as prisoner death?- if the death occurs in the hospital etc. The interesting comparison would be fentinel overdoses, Conduct reports and deaths during covid lockdown and  now. There you would get a sense of how the drugs come in.

B) We are told the suicide attempts are way up all through the system as are all deaths. The stabbing cited in the beginning of this diatribe is an example of the increasing stress through out the system and it will get worse if we don’t  change direction in our corrections system. We contend that people turn to drugs when other ways to fill real needs are absent. The worsening conditions in our prisons must be addressed at their source. The prison authorities reaction to fentinel only makes all worse.

C) Drugs come in with staff mostly- weall know that the DOC powers know that but are afraid of possible quittings that could  result from good scanning of incoming staff. Sometimes drugs come in with visitors but visitors are so closely screened this is relatively rare. While TB made some sense during Covid lockdown, now fentinel and any drugs can come in through the front door  . here is link to a PLN article making the same conclusion about third part mailing nation wide>

D)As founder and co-director of FFUP, a non profit that works with prisoners and their families, I am concerned that we  are no longer able to send in our newsletters , learning materials or legal guides. All our programs are curtailed to a large degree because non profit mailing rates and USPS package rates are non available when everything has to be scanned and mailed at a per page rate.

Further we have a program where we help the prisoners learn the law as this is one of the only ways prisoners have in today’s prisons to learn how to ground their frustrations and turn that energy into positive behavior. We can , by law , get  legal material in , but with text behind our general newsletters and learning material as well as most expansive internet free legal guides are too expensive. And our program has prisoner helping prisoners, again a right protected by the constitution, and that is impossible with communications taking up up two weeks. Court deadlines are missed.

We are convinced that stopping prisoner litigation is the real reason for TB in our system and at that the system is very effective.

 

NEW DIRECTIONS NEEDED 

OVERCROWDING AND UNDERSTAFFING are the UNADDRESSED underlying systemic problems . Since the 90’s the DOC has increasingly given up its basic mission to rehabilitate “offenders and keep the public safe.  The prisons are now for profit institutions with corporations, communities , vendors large and small lining up the taxpayers trough. FOR example- Staff is so short it now serves 12 to 16 hour shifts- CAN YOU IMAGINE the overtime taxpayers pay?? For what? Because of overcrowding the prisoners are in their cells most of the time and programming and treatment is largely gone especially in our maximum prisons. We as taxpayers are supporting a dysfunctional prison system , not our schools. This needs to change.

 

Our campaign. FFUP is connecting with other activist organizations and to bring back the OLD TRUE belief that people change and that we can go beyond the fear mongering and see the human face behind our prisoners and their families.

 

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