DENIAL OF LEGAL SERVICES

JRB. Limon Correctional Facility, Limon Colorado

Originally a Wisconsin prisoner, he was sent to Colorado in 1992, "for allegedly inciting a riot," he says, and "to keep me from Wisconsin Case Law and Statutes which I need to litigate both my criminal case and civil remedies for the wrong doing of Wisconsin officials."

TM, Connecticut prisoner in prison in Virginia

"I am incarcerated in Virginia ... on an [interstate] compact contract with Connecticut ... I am in the process of trying to get a new trial. ... I have a docket number with the court and [I've] even written to the judge [who] is presiding over my case to no [avail] though! [I need to take] the proper steps to try and get back to Connecticut. My life is on the line. I don't have many options left. I can't properly or adequately prepare for a court bearing here in Virginia. They don't carry Connecticut case law in their law library. I can't talk to my attorney or to my private investigator. I address[ed] the court on this matter and [the] Connecticut Department of Corrections [and they] never responded back."

6. HOUSING, LIVING and WORKING CONDITIONS

CROWDlNG and Cell conditions

"Where sleeping accommodation is in individual cells or rooms, each prisoner shall occupy ... a cell or room by himself. If for special reasons, such as temporary overcrowding, it becomes necessary for the central prison administration to make an exception to this rule, it is not desirable to have two prisoners in a cell or room." (MINRULE, Part 1: Rules of General Application, Accommodations: 9 (1)]

SN, Los Angeles, California

"I am housed in a 'secured housing' area, I only get out of my cell two hours per day (two man cell of five feet by twelve feet). I only get three hours per week of ... 'outdoor recreation' which is only a room about 40 feet by 25 feet, ... all brick on three sides, top and bottom. One wall is mesh to see out and get the air outside. I haven't seen or felt the sun in over a year and a half.

IGM, James V. Allred Unit, Texas

"They then ... moved me to a prison lock down taking all my privileges and property away, putting me with a cellie that was a known gang member. This led to me being cut with a razor shank. One cut was about 29 inches long, my ear was cut in half, cut in lower back and side of face while taking a shower (prison guards watched). They knew this was going to happen and moved me next door [in the] same building. Same people, waiting for me to get hit."

WSK, Program for Aggressive Mentally Ill Offenders (PAMIO), Texas

"I was locked in my cell 24 hours per day, ... [and] placed on 'alternative diet' (cheese and peanut butter sandwiches) for 'security reasons.' ... While I was squatted with my arms extended through the feeding chute a [captain] came to my cell [and] engaged me in conversation to distract my attention. A five member use-of-force 'extraction team' snuck to ... just out of sight. The captain brought from behind his back a can of aerosol mace which he sprayed into my eyes. ... He continued to spray mace on me for about 10-15 more seconds, filling the cell with mace 'fumes.'

"I was cuffed and ... ordered to lie on my abdomen in the cell. I did so, the team came in (wearing gas masks), ... picked me up, carried me out of the cell and slammed me on the ground. They ... removed my clothes and broke my necklace ... from round my neck. ... I was allowed to shower to decontaminate. After having showered I was placed in a 'strip cell.'