Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
This information was reported to the Human Rights Coalition by way of letters, grievances, and lawsuits sent by people incarcerated in Pennsylvania and their families. Human Rights Coalition FedUp! Chapter 5125 Penn Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15224 email - hrcfedup@gmail.com phone - 412-361-3022 xt. 4
The following information is organized chronologically --Please note that some of these reports go into detail of physical abuse and may be upsetting Date of Incident Generalsummer 2008 and prior Date Reported June 8, 2008 & July 30, 2008 Name, #, Location of Person(s Larita Brown #OA1270 SCI Muncy Staff Involved Unnamed Type of Abuse Blocking parole; medical; deprivation of law library; psychological Description of Incident Larita Brown has been retaliated against by prison officals for filing grievances. Her parole is being blocked and she is being forced to max out her sentence, she is being denied access to the law library as well as treatment for severe tooth pain. These and other unnamed abuses are so overwhelming as to be causing severe depression. Grievance Filed, Date, # Yes Discrimination No
July 2008
Unnamed
Physical, denial of due process, deprivation of property, deprivation of food, medical neglect
Unnamed
In July of 2008 Larita Brown had her cell invaded by two male guards and one female guard while she was naked and on the toilet. She was slammed into the wall repeatedly, threatened with being thrown off the front tier, and then taken to another cell while being slammed into and drug along the railing. She was left in the other cell with her hands cuffed behind her back for hours. She was threatened with further misconduct charges if she were to continue filing grievances (see above entry). The C/Os then confiscated her grievance reports. Furthermore, Ms. Brown reports that she and others are periodically denied meals and medical treatment and access to legal material. Ms. Brown was issued a misconduct charge on this day for requesting that prison staff provide mentally ill patients with
Unknown
no
Unknown
No
Sexual
Deprivation of mail
May 9, 2008
Unnamed
Physical
June 7,
June 11,
Anthony
C/O Asp
Deprivation of food
blankets. Mr. Rex was forced to undergo a strip search by Lt. Gill, Sgts. Mckinney and Duncan in the presence of C/O Wolbent, a female officer who handled the video camera. On this date Mr. Burkholder had legal mail sent to him withheld on fabricated pretexts. He was issued a misconduct, falsifying the contents of the package, by Cpt. Ireland and C/Os Burton and Park. Gary Banks was subjected to attack with chemical weapons and stun devices on this date, clubbed with the blackjack, stripped naked and left in a freezing cold cell for a week. The riot team then proceeded to attack and forcibly extract David Harris and Yassin Mohamad, again using chemical weapons. These two were placed in torture chairs with their clothes removed. Mr. Wead reports that
Yes
No
Yes
No
Unknown
no
Unknown
No
2008
Marcus Washington #FN3117 SCI Graterford (now SCI Huntingdon) Anonymous SCI Graterford
Medical
Unnamed
Sexual
C/O Asp has been denying meals to Anthony Bussey in the RHU in retaliation for the inmates alleged assault against another C/O. After a fall from his bunk which led to inuries to his neck and back, Mr. Washington has received inadequate treatment and still suffers from severe neck and back pain. A man in SCI Graterford has been sent to the hole where he was given only one meal a day and denied clean clothing, showers, and recreation. Ronald Taylor submitted a report describing staff coercing prisoners into giving blood needlessly, and in an unclean manner; staff depriving prisoners of food; tampering with mail and commissary; and a lack of air conditioning during the summer and foul drinking water. Mr. Thomas, on several occasions, spoke to Counselor Shope, Sgt. Victor, and Unit
Unknown
no
Unknown
No
Yes
Yes race
Yes
no
Medical
C/O Harper
Physical
Manager Duck requesting that a proposed cell arrangement that would place one inmate in a cell with another who had been pressuring him to perform sexual acts be canceled. When the two were celled together despite Ducks promise to do otherwise, Thomas filed a grievance requesting separation of the two inmates and the removal of Duck from his position as Unit Manager of the SNU. Following this Thomas was shipped to SCI Greene and sent to the RHU in retaliation. Upon returning from Unknown surgery at Altoona hospital Mr. Periu was denied medical care by the 2 to 10 shift, despite Dr. Romeo having ordered ice for the inmates throat. Furthermore, Mr. Periu is frequently given the wrong medications. On this day C/O Harper Unknown slammed Jesse Baker on his face while the inmate
No
no
Periu #EK2071
Smithfield
Deprivation of food
Dr. Dolphine
Medical; psychological
February 8, 2008
May 5, 2008
Deprivation of property/speech
was cuffed behind his back. Harper then taunted Mr. Baker, saying, say something now punk, and broke his eyeglasses. On May 25th C/Os Unknown Harper, Powell, and Sgt. Lear denied Mr. Stein his food tray. Mr. Stein consequently covered the window of his cell until Lt. Whitesel arrived three hours later and ordered the prisoner fed. Mr. Periu, who reported this incident, further states that deprivation of meals in the RHU is standard operating procedure. Mr. Staten was placed in Yes a cell without clothes, mattress, or an observation blanket after he informed staff he was having suicidal thoughts. The conditions of his cell led to a worsening of his mental state. Mr. Jerry had been Unknown working on a childrens book which was confiscated on the basis that inmates are not permitted to publish
No
No
Yes, racial
May 5, 2008
Fabricated charge
May 1, 2008
Medical
May 9, 2008
Timothy Nurse Rainelle Everard #GW3245 SCI Cresson Chris Balmer #GX5754 SCI Pittsburgh Unnamed, high officials implicated
Medical/psychological
SpringSummer 2008
written material. Mr. Jerry alleges racism is endemic at SCI Cresson as well. Mr. Jerry was issued a falsified charge of assault on the basis of testimony provided by Nurse Rainelli to Lt. Bouterbaugh. Bernard claims that racist motivations are driving the actions of both. Mr. Everard reports that he has been given inadequate medical attention while in the RHU, including being prescribed drugs that make him sick, thus preventing him from taking them. Furthermore, the inmate has multiple diagnoses of psychological disorders. During a blood test Mr. Everard was told that if he gave Nurse Rainelle any problems she would stick this needle all the way down [his[ vain. Mr. Balmer reports a total absence of psychological/psychiatric are at the Secure Special Needs Unit (SSNU) at
Unknown
Yes, racial
Unknown
No
Yes
No
Unknown
no
Unnamed
Fabricated charges/retaliation
June 2008 September Dane 4, 2008 Hamilton #GA6426 SCI Mahanoy August 1, 2008 August 8, 2008 Calvin Henderson #GW2370 SCI Albion
Deprivation of food
Unnamed
Physical
August 6, 2008
Food deprivation/malnoursihmen t
SCI Pittsburgh. Inmates unable to take care of themselves wallow in filth while the guards do nothing and medical is understaffed and indifferent. Mr. Boozer was sent to the RHU on fabricated charges in retaliation for his legal efforts to seek redress against prison personnel and officials. Mr. Hamilton reports that it is a frequent occurrence for guards to deny prisoners meals for personal reasons or no reasons at all. Mr. Henderson was assaulted by his cellmate on this date, suffering injuries to his neck, back, and left leg. Mr. Henderson had previously made his cellmates threatening behavior known to staff, who continue to ignore his predicament. Mr. Galvin reports that Berks County Prison is serving solitary confinement captives a nutriloaf, which is unedible and so foul
Yes
No
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
No
Yes
No
Ricky Johnson #GZ1879 SCI Frackville Paul Rogers #BS6500 SCI Huntingdon
C/O Girardi
Deprivations; retaliation
Summer 2008
August 3, 2008
Unnamed
Timothy T. Lt. Arkwrite Everard #GW3245 SCI Somerset (now SCI Cresson) Arnold King Physician
Deprivation of water
smelling and tasting that some, especially those with medical problems, cannot eat it. Mr. Galvin lost 42 pounds 6 weeks, and Corey Milligan has lost 22 pounds during the summer months at Berks County Prison. C/O Girardi has been Yes harassing Mr. Johnson in retaliation for the latters filing a grievance against him. On July 15 he refused Mr. Johnson telephone access. Mr. Rogers was Yes subjected to an illegal search of his belongings which resulted in the confiscation of his personal correspondence. He filed a grievance and in retaliation a C/O planted a lighter in his cell during a search and charged him with a misconduct. Timothy Everard had the Unknown water turned off in his cell for 24 hours. Lt. Arkwrite promised to investigate and did nothing. Mr. King has been Unknown
Unknown
no
no
Medical
No
2008
April 2008
FebruaryMarch 2008
May 6, 2008
Sgt. Bridge
refused diagnosis and treatment regarding a hard substance in the vein of his right arm. W. Williams falsely claimed that physicians assistant Thompson diagnosed him and provided appropriate medication. Supt. Tennis held to this story as well despite Mr. King only having been given medicine for an upset stomach. Mr. Erwin reports that Unknown conditions on B-unit afford only 30 sq. ft. of floor space to inmate, and this overcrowding has led to unsanitary and unsafe conditions. In the first week of No February, Sgt. Bridge sexually propositioned Mr. Keyes, telling the inmate that if he refused he would take what he wants after placing the inmate in the hole. On March 1, Sgt. Bridge fabricated a charge against Mr. Keyes, claiming the inmate called him a name, and placed him in the hole.
No
Yes, sexual
Unknown
Roger Lee Wilson #CK3847 SCI Greensburg K.W. Vitale #GZ7697 SCI Huntingdon
Unnamed
Medical
This happened immediately prior to a parole hearing for Mr. Keyes, thus ensuring his ineligibility. Wilson was denied Unknown adequate medical treatment when his back and legs gave out on him while doing time in the hole. Mr. Vitale was denied Yes bathroom usage and forced to urinate down the overflow drain of the showers, resulting in a misconduct being charged to him. Subsequently, he was issued soiled clothing and both C/O Jones and Sgt. Mirabella denied the prisoner clean clothes, forcing him to wait two whole days. Mr. Vitale was also denied toilet paper, and forced to wipe excrement with his own hand. Ms. Acosta is being housed in the mental unit of the prison because of overcrowding. She has experienced No
No
no
August 2008
C/O Harris
Deprivation of shower, phone call, overcrowding, physical abuse and verbal abuse
Yes (race)
General 20052008
Mr. Rauch, Mr. Faulty Inspections, medical Benson, Mrs. neglect, overcrowding, Egan retaliation, rush meals, sexual abuse, unsanitary conditions, forced cremation, too cold, malnourishment, deprivation of sanitary products
discrimination in work loads and food servings claiming there is favoritism by the guards. Acosta was physically attacked by a fellow inmate, experiencing injuries such as scratches. After reporting abuse she was deprived of a shower and phone call. The fellow inmate that attacked her also called her a racial slur. C/O Harris said the physical attack was on tape but refused to do anything about it. Ms. Johnson reported Yes that prisons were made aware of dates and times of inspections so they could prepare and cover up abuse. She reports of medical neglect, officers ignoring the ill and punishing patients for ringing the buzzer too much. She had to be housed in the med. Ward at times due to overcrowding. She reports that they are rushed through meager meals, some eating so fast they choke, while
No
March 2008
Superintendent Mr. Joseph J. Piazza, Chief Grievance Officer: Cindy Watson, Sgt. Hamilton, Lt. Moyer, Grievances Officer/ Unit Manager: Thomas McGinely,
Uncooked food, lied on reply to grievance, deprivation of food, verbal abuse (racial), retaliation,
officers take their time eating. Mr. Benson approached her to have sex with her while he was her boss; she filed a complaint that didnt receive attention. Building is not in healthy condition, bats fly in and out. Heard that an inmate was cremated without family consent to cover up medical neglect. Too cold in the facility, run a.c instead of heat. An indigent prisoner was deprived of toothpaste for up to three weeks. Mrs. Egan the P.A shows disregard for inmates conditions, telling them to live with the pain. Mr. Young was served uncooked sausage on 3/25/08. The sausage was inspected and deemed raw and taken away and they were not given replacement food. He filed grievances that were responded to by saying there was no proof they didnt receive replacement or the sausage was raw. Sgt. Hamilton referred to
Yes, Yes (race) grievance filed for uncooked food date unknown. Grievance for racist slur filed on 5/26/08, appealed to superintendent 6/11/08, 6/30/08
General 2008
9/05/08
Deprivation of water, unsanitary, extreme heat and prohibited from covering windows, limited space, one size fits all clothing, deprivation of family visits
multiple prisoners as fucking niggers. He reported this slur to Lt. Moyer and he said I should have known. Once grievance was filed C.O Schell denied hearing the remark and the grievance was dropped. Said to not have proper evidence of a tape or video of the evidence when prisoners are prohibited from possessing these items. Limiting water use, timers on the toilets- 2 flushes per 5 minutes. The system locks out for an hour if you go over the limit, creating unsanitary conditions. Cant cover windows with sheets, experience extreme heat because that cant cover it. Room space has been cut down to 6 cubic ft of property. Previous clothing replaced with one size fits all, family visits have been taken away.
No
No
JulyAugust 2008
10/27/08