No More Contact Visits on Death Row

January 27, 2010 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , , , ,

Georgia’s death row inmates came have seen a number of changes within the last few months.  In addition to the murder of Timothy Pruitt (our sources report that security cameras show Jerry Jones, another death row inmate entering Pruitt’s cell just prior to his body being discovered) Leeland Braley committed suicide and his body was discovered on New Year’s Day.

According to the GA Department of Corrections these incidents have absolutely nothing to do with contact visits being taken away.  Not only have contact visits been taken away, death row inmates have also been restricted to their cells for 23 out of 24 hours each day.  That means that within the one hour during which they are allowed out of their cells inmates are to amongst other things, shower and use the telephone.  Whether this time out of the cell is during time when inmates might be able to call their attorney during business hours or family members when they would be awake/ at home is unknown.  This is simply another inhumane method of treatment implemented by the state.

The state says this is not a method by which to address recent incidents of violence.  We wonder what the state is doing to prevent further suicides and murders.

In the mean time death row inmates who threatened hunger strike upon implementation of the no contact visitation rule (and other new visitation policies) appear ready to take action.

The visitation policies which have changed for death row inmates include limitation of approved visitors to a dozen, only one of which may be a non-family member.  Additionally, Jackson is one of the first to implement the state’s new tobacco free policy.  Inmates and visitors alike report, however, that guards continue to smoke on prison grounds as well as inside the prison buildings, in spite of this policy which states that they, too, are to remain tobacco free while on premises.

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Suicide on Death Row

January 27, 2010 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , ,

After the falsified story regarding Timothy Pruitt’s “suicide” it looks as though another inmate on death row in GA, Leeland Mark Braley, actually has committed suicide.  Here is another article regarding the suicide (we find it to be one of the more distasteful articles reporting his death).  This article is an example of how inmates on death row, even in death, are discussed in most inhumane ways.  We wonder how, after the supposed suicide of Pruitt Braley was able to end his own life.  Wouldn’t common sense suggest that one incident of violence (of any type) ending in death is cause for increased monitoring of inmates on death row?  Too often we see a lack of common sense being used in regard to the GA Department of Corrections.

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Death Row Inmate Killed

January 27, 2010 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , , ,

Just prior to Thanksgiving 2009 Georgia Death Row inmate Tim Pruitt was severely injured and was hospitalized.  Weeks after his attack, shortly after being transferred to August State Medical Prison, Pruitt died.  While the initial response to his death from the Department of Corrections was that it was suicide, friends, family and fellow inmates confirm that it was a murder.  The current word from the Department of Corrections is that Pruitt’s death is under investigation.  The AJC and several other news outlets have covered this story. Below are a few of the many reports.

Initial Reports and follow up and information became available:

From the Gainesville Times

From the AJC

Another AJC

Hunger Strike

Investigation

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Another OpEd from the Macon Telegraph

August 3, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , ,

The below comes from the Macon Telegraph. Macon is not quite two hours south of the state capital, Atlanta.

Posted on Sun, Aug. 02, 2009

Human throwaways

I’m rarely shocked, one of the advantages and disadvantages of advancing age. I’ve been witness to several signs of social decline, but Friday, while listening to Warren Selby, head of Crimestoppers, he hit me and our audience on the Mix in the Morning with statistics that took be aback.Selby asked Kenny and I what nation had the highest rate of incarceration and probation? Iran, Iraq, Russia and Mexico came to mind, but I had a sneaky suspicion that it was the good old United States. I was right.

Selby then asked, “What state has the highest rate of people in prison or under court supervision?” This one was harder. Kenny guessed California. I thought New York or Texas. All good guesses, and all wrong. The answer is Georgia.

Selby then asked the coup de grãce: “What county had the highest inceration or court-ordered supervison rate?” Atlanta is first in everything else, so I thought Fulton County. Nope. Kenny suggested several rural counties. Wrong. The answer? Bibb County.

Here are the raw stats Selby gave us. The United States leads the world by incarcerating one out of every 31 citizens. Georgia leads the nation by having one out of every 13 resident under some sort of court-ordered supervision. Bibb leads the other 158 Georgia counties by having one in nine citizens either in jail or on probation. And we wonder why our new jail facility is already at capacity?

The above statistics don’t have to be viewed as a negative. The numbers could easily point to the great job law enforcement does in the nation, state and county. However, it could also point to weaknesses in our system of justice.

For far too long we have been on a “throw ‘em in jail and lose the key” mode, and we are seeing the results of that attitude.

According to “Prison Reentry in Georgia” by the Urban Institute’s Justice Policy Center, “Between 1982 and 2002, Georgia prison population more than tripled, increasing from 13,884 to 46,534 people. The per capita rate of imprisonment… rose from 219 to 538 per 100,000 residents… between 1980 and 2000, an increase of over 150 percent.”

Things have changed since 2002. As of last week, there were 52,336 active offenders in Georgia, according to the Department of Corrections.

For many of the incarcerated, the stint they are serving isn’t the first time they’ve been on this merry-go-round. In 2002, 49 percent of released prisoners had been incarcerated before. Twenty-eight percent were on their second, third or fourth go ’round.

The Department of Corrections has programs in place to help inmates return to society, and now there is another tool each inmate should receive when they are inducted: “Leaving Prison for Good” by Bibb County commissioner, local pastor and attorney Lonzy Edwards.

In 142 pages, Edwards provides a guide for getting out of the justice system and staying out,

Self-education is at the core of his ideas. Only 19 percent of inmates have a high school diploma or GED upon their release, but Edwards gets more personal by addressing issues of growth, resonsibility and reconcilliation.

There are also systemic changes that should be implemented in our justice system. Our lock ’em up attitude puts many folks in jail when a day reporting center, where the offender could keep his job, would do just as well. Or something as simple as lowering bail amounts could ease jail overcrowding. It costs Bibb County taxpayers about $50 a day to house and feed inmates at the Law Enforcement Center.

Throwing away the keys is leading us to national, state and local bankruptcy. We must do something different.

Charles E. Richardson is the Telegraph’s editorial page editor. He can be reached at 478-744-4342 or via e-mail at crichardson@macon.com.

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Opinion Piece Published in the Macon Telegraph

July 27, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , ,

Friday, July 24th the Macon Telegraph published an OpEd written by a woman currently serving a life sentence at Pulaski State Prison. She expresses the frustrations many of us involved in work with the GDOC and who have family/ friends incarcerated share. Unfortunately those who have taken time out of their day to comment on her piece seem to have a negative view (to say the least) of those who are incarcerated. I am posting the opinion by Ms. Fuller below as well as a link to the Macon Telegraph page where the article is found along with comments.

Friday, Jul 24, 2009
Prison system not looking to rehabilitate
By Veronica Fuller
Special to The Telegraph

My name is Veronica Fuller and I am incarcerated at Pulaski State Prison.

I read the paper every day and people complain without giving a positive solution. One person talked about “three hots and a cot” like prison is so wonderful. It is far from it. The state keeps cutting back so there are no real solutions for positive rehabilitation for many.

It would be much cheaper on the state and taxpayers if the prison system provided the resources so that upon release we would not return to the same things that got us in prison.

What taxpayers don’t see is that the prison industry is a billion dollar business, and as long as the system provides no resources we are pretty much sure to return. If there was no crime? how many people would be without jobs. Police officers, prison guards, FBI, GBI, probation and parole officers all would be unemployed. The system is designed for a person’s failure.

Instead of putting a bandage over the problem, fix it and watch how differently things will change. Some truly deserve to never get out, but 80 percent have truly made some bad choices and are looking to change their lives. As President Obama said, “change will not come overnight and it will take all of us coming together.”

We must all remember what our purpose in life is, and it cannot be attained alone. The only difference between me and the other inmates and people who are free is they did not get caught.

Change is a must. As an African American I have reached out to the NAACP in Macon, Atlanta, Henry County, New York and Maryland, seeking assistance. The only time anyone ever responded was when I requested a NAACP membership. The NAACP has truly lost sight of what its purpose was when W.E.B. Dubois founded it. For $30 I can join the “Fight for Freedom” but unless I have money, connections or a high profile case, they won’t respond.

It is a shame when the ACLU and Southern human rights won’t, at the very least, respond and say they are unable to help.

Veronica Fuller is incarcerated in Hawkinsville.

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Hot Georgia Summer

July 27, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , ,

Readers who live in GA will know just how hot it can get here in the Peach State. The majority of inmates in the state are housed in buildings without air conditioning. Each dorm may have a couple of fans to help circulate the air and whether these are kept on/ functioning depends on any number of things. Some of us are able to send funds to our loved ones to help them purchase a small fan to help keep a little bit cooler. If you know of someone who is incarcerated or have a penpal in a GA prison please consider asking if they have a fan or if they are in need of one.

Word is that new vendors will soon be taking over in at least a couple of prisons. Stay tuned for a more up to date price list. Also do remember that any funds you wish to send an inmate in the form of money order must be sent to Atlanta instead of to the prison. This is part of what is being called Consolidated Banking. The most cost effective method is to print out a voucher with your inmate’s information. JPay and Western Union are the other two methods. These charge a fee depending on a variety of things.

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Smith State Scabies

June 30, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , , , ,

To date we have both good news and bad news regarding the outbreak at Smith State.  The good news is that many of the inmates have been able to receive topical treatment (Elimite) for scabies.  This has considerably decreased their discomfort.  Thank you to all who have aided us in acheiving this!  The bad news is that no one has had a skin scraping which means that the prison can continue to deny having any problem.

The inmate transfered from Central who is suspected of having introduced scabies to the inmates at Smith upon moving into the open dorm, “Fast Track” reports that while living in an open dorm at Central he periodically had scabies.  In both prisons the inmates’ laundry was not treated as outlined by numerous guidelines regarding institutional scabies outbreaks.  This is our current challenge:  properly addressing this outbreak AND providing documentation.

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Scabies Outbreak

June 23, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged , , , ,

Smith State Prison located in Glennville (Tattnall County) has numerous cases of Scabies. The earliest case dates back to January which is also when the Fast Track dorm opened bringing with it an influx of inmates from other institutions. More and more inmates have been suffering from the effects of scabies (thanks in part to the prison’s lack of response?) though the prison continues to deny that they have a problem or that anyone has been diagnosed—-this depends on who is speaking, when, etc. as some at the prison have acknowledged one case to those of us in contact, attempting to get help for inmates. Please also note that the guys are going through the steps necessary to get medical treatment on the inside—-had that been effective we on the outside would not have to become so involved.

On Thursday, June 18 at approximately 2pm another case was confirmed at Smith (this one diagnosed on site). At this point approximately 30 infected inmates put in for emergency sick calls at the direction of the Sargeant—-this due in part to Fridays being considered “weekend” with departments such a medical, etc closed. On Monday, June 22 those who put in the afore mentioned emergency requests had their requests returned/ tossed out while an inmate who had been waiting almost two months to be taken to Augusta Medical to see the dermatologist was finally taken for a TeleMed conference at Reidsville. This inmate (who may have been the initial source of Scabies at Smith after having been moved there during January’s influx) had no skin scraping done while at Reidsville. Additionally, the dermatologist participating in the TeleMed conference did not see the inmate’s distinct Scabies markings.

The inmate requested to show staff his feet and other areas where the Scabies was most visible. He was denied this opportunity and was instead proclaimed CURED! Furthermore, because he had been successful (in the eyes television of the dermatologist) in overcoming whatever skin condition had previously ailed him he has been excluded from further treatment and was returned to Smith. At Smith he is again a bed away from the inmate who on Thursday, June 18 was diagnosed and is being treated for Scabies (both continue to be housed in the Fast Track building, an open dorm).

Another inmate was told by medical today, Tuesday, June 23 that he has gotten Scabies and that they would be calling him at some point to have a skin scraping done prior to his being treated. None of the inmates have had a skin scraping (which many agree is the most effective method of diagnosing Scabies). Upon reporting to receive their medication this evening a half dozen inmates learned that they were to receive treatment for Scabies. None are being isolated at this time. No dorm has been treated as a whole. Inmates continue to be transfered in and out of Smith State Prison.

At this point the inmates will have some relief from the discomfort brought about by Scabies. They will not be prevented from spreading Scabies to other inmates, employees and visitors. We are not content with this method of addressing what is now a Scabies Outbreak. With proper treatment and operating procedures this can be contained. The Department of Corrections’ behavior here is both ineffective and costly.

We encourage you to contact the below and demand that this situation be handled properly!

GA Dept of Corrections Health Services 404-656-4601

GA Dept of Corrections Office of the Ombudsman 404-657-7588

GA Dept of Corrections’ Statewide Medical Director 404-657-2217

Deputy Warden Johnson, Care and Treatment at Smith State 912-654-5095

Office of the Warden, Smith State Prison 912-654-5000

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Hi y’all!

June 9, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized

If you’ve got a friend or family who is incarcerated in Georgia (or has been in the past) you probably have become somewhat familiar with the Georgia Department of Corrections. At times communication with the GDC can be frustrating or even scary. Our loved ones on the inside often fear the consequences of speaking out or asking for help. Maybe they do and get nowhere. If nothing gets done to address/ correct a situation from within (when an inmate goes through the chain of command, the appropriate steps, jumps through every hoop and still has a problem) what can we do on the outside to help them?

Unfortunately retaliation is an all too familiar occurrence and many of us have attempted to get involved only to find that the inmate for which we advocate is targeted in some way. The repercussions of family and friends getting involved can be verbal and/ or physical abuse or even some form of harassment. This is unacceptable—-but what can we do? How can we, without being forced to worry about how it will negatively effect those on the inside, seek to help? Could we anonymously and get results with a show of numbers—-with several people contacting the GDC to voice concern?

Hopefully we can, together force the GDC to address problems, improve situations, and hear our concerns. Perhaps this blog can inform others of situations we (and the incarcerated) face all too frequently. Maybe some people interested in holding the GDC accountable for its actions (or lack thereof) will aid us in this struggle. Perhaps we someone out there is having a problem and would like help from others—-send an email to us and we’ll keep your name out of it and post it here. Let’s see if that works. It might (but it might not). Want to try?

Family, Friends, Loved Ones, Concerned Citizens and Activists Welcome to the Georgia Prisons Blog! And if you Twitter, check us out over there, too.

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