BA Stiles Unit, Beaumont, Texas

I have survived [in] (Administrative Segregation) for 14 years ... for being classified as a gang member. Since celled for 23 hours per day, outside the cell one hour five times per week - in what is called a day room ... - nothing but a table and chin bar. Two days per week to what is referred to as 'outside rec' ... a wall area divided in two parts of a so-called yard, one inmate on each side of the divided yard. ... In level one [where] I am at the present time, [one] is allowed to have all [his] personal property and all the privileges, such as commissary purchases, visits once a week, etc. [T]he ones in levels two and three are not allowed most of the privileges, such as commissary, personal property. Level two has just two visits per month and in level three it's one visit per month. I am sure that in those levels we are not fed the same amount as [we are in] level one. I have never been beaten up but I have seen others being beat up. But sometimes I believe that mental torture is a lot worse than the physical kind of torture!"

EF, Utah State Prison, Draper, Utah

"[I am in] this lockup in a cell 23 hours a day on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and 24 hours a day the rest of the week. The lights in the cells are turned out at 11:00 pm every night unless an inmate cuts himself in trying to get away from this torture and punishment we are forced into every day."

JHE, Wallens Ridge State Prison, Big Stone Gap, Virginia

"lt's unbelievable how much hatred these officers have for blacks ... displayed through the gross abuse of their absolute authority. Ninety five percent of the COs are white, most of them have never seen a black man and some top officers [are] associated with ... racist associations. Ninety five percent of the inmate population is black or minority.

"[During a period of four months] I've been through 39 abusive strip searches and 39 cell shake downs, my cell being left junked up and my personal and legal mail read. I've also been moved from cell to cell 17 times [in that same period], placed in filthy cells."

YARD INCIDENTS

BC, Amarillo, Texas

"[in] July, 1998, there was a fight between gang members (Black and white). There was not any weapons used. In fact, two officers were on the run watching the fight. Once they left the section, a sergeant shot gas in the section."

JRB, Limon, Colorado

"At limon (LCF) dogs were brought in to intimidate prisoners; staff shackled and cuffed and chained me and approximately 200 men [and] walked [us] through the snow without coats to [the] gym and forced us to sit on the floor for hours under threat of guns that fired [pellets] and one [that fired] rubber bullets while they searched our cells - they took - and refused to ... return my ... trial transcripts.

"[ln] approximately June and July of 1987 a guard on [the] Administrative roof [Limon Correctional Institute, LCI] fired on two occasions into the court yard with 'real' bullets."

JA, fiancee of prisoner at Wallens Ridge State Prison, Big Stone Gap, Virginia

"When John called this morning he said they had a 'shooting' again ... I ask him if he was hit. He said, 'No, because it was so obvious they were baiting us ... so someone would give them a reason to shoot. Most of the men recognized they were baiting us.' When John sees it coming he stays in his cell for rec[reation] and doesn't go to chow. He said after a shooting the guards act like they just won the super bowl. They are shouting and cheering. He said it [was] 'sadistic.'

"Last night when John called he said the tension was building up ... again. The guards were doing everything they could to antagonize the men for an excuse to fire. He said if you hear shooting while we're talking I'll leave the phone hanging for you to listen while I have to fall to the ground. It didn't happen while we were talking but I haven't heard from him yet this morning and he usually calls by this time. Can you imagine expecting every day to be fired at and not having a clue why ... then watch the excitement and jubilation of the guards ... knowing they instigated it? Think of the anger that is building in the men ... I wish the public could have a clear picture of what is happening ..."

WORKING CONDITIONS

Memo

To: Industry Programmed Inmates, Minnesota Correctional Facility, Oak Park Heights, Stillwater, Minnesota
From: Jim Rarick, Industry Director Date: 4/15/97
Re: Removal of Toilets

"...A series of incidents involving lost tools [believed to have been] flushed down ... toilets by just one inmate ... have created an intolerable situation and to allow it to reoccur would be unfair to the Industry program and to the inmates employed in that program