The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) have consistently denied prisoners any form of civil or human rights, and have only followed the courts many orders to do so grudgingly.
The right to have access to the law library, which was successfully won in the case Bounds v Smith, 430 US 817, 97 S. Ct. 1491 (1977) allowed state and federal prisoners the right to be able to challenge their convictions, as well as the conditions of their confinement. This case, however, have been sadly reduced and sliced (by the Supreme Courts recent ruling in Lewis v Casey, 1165 S. Ct. 2174, 1996) whereby prisoners are told they no longer have a right of access to the courts. And now the prisoners housed in Arizona's Department of Corrections (ADOC) are feeling the brunt of this ruling (for it was in Arizona that this case arose). It is only a matter of time before this ruling spreads to other states and throughout the United $tates.
Ironically, the U.$. Justice Department has ruled (in an investigation into the conditions of Arizona and Michigan prisons) that female prisoners at the Arizona Center for Women and at state facilities in Alhambra, Perryville, and Tucson, have been subjected to sexual misconduct and unlawful invasions of privacy, including prurient viewing during showering, toileting, and dressing.
At Michigan's Scott and Crane (women's) correctional facilities, female prisoners have been subjected to the same sexual criminal behavior as the women in Arizona facilities. And the authorities in Michigan have refused to allow Justice investigators access to its prisons and refused to negotiate to resolve the problem, as well as Arizona's department of corrections.
What we find is that the prisoncrats are not willing to confess and own-up to known violations and criminal behavior within its departments and among their employees. Yet, prisoners are continuing to lose more and more rights fought and died for through the years. This is what the revolt at Attica was all about. Prison reform, constitutional, civil and human rights. This is what so many have suffered trying to obtain.
No one has ever revolted claiming, "We want out of prison." All the revolts and prison unrest revolved around the inhumane treatment we must suffer while paying some debt to society, not to mention that many are in prison and were in prison for acts they did not commit, but suffered anyway until they were able to go back to court to prove themselves with the help of prison law libraries and the ability to utilize these law libraries.
The prison explosion across Amerikkka has gotten totally out of hand as law enforcement reaches out to incarcerate children 12, 13, and 14 as adults. Refusing to recognize that children this young have some behavioral problems that created their pathology in the first place. And instead of trying to deal with the problem they band-aid it with this 'lock up' mentality, thus never healing the behavior. And the creation for this behavior is stemmed from the way society operates and feeds upon itself. That is, what is seen on TV, the movies, what is read in print or drawn in pictures plays a role. Also, mind you, the economic, social and political climate of the country, which filters down to the very community one lives in, and also play a vital role on behaviors, actions and reactions.
Michigan has more people locked up than ever before and are working overtime to restrict even more basic rights from those who are locked up. Already Michigan prisoners are not allowed to see their children unless they are accompanied by an adult and in some cases, can't come into the prison until they are 18 years old. [This creates f]urther erosion of an already fragmented family structure thus adding to the delinquency of young children and their involvement with law enforcement.
The Child Welfare League of America Examined the arrest records of 75,000 children ages 9 to 12 in 1996. It found the arrest rate for abused children was 60 per 1,000 compared to 0.89 per 1,000 for non-abused children. So what does this tell us about the status of the prison system? What does this say about the hundreds of thousands of prisoners in Michigan and the millions across the country? There is a social ill at hand and the politicians are only interested in building prisons because prisons have become the "new kid on the block" on Wall Street's stock market.
In the trenches, -- A Michigan Prisoner, 10 November 1997
HOLIDAY FOOD BASKETS BANNED
...Well, the pigs took our food boxes that we used to have sent in during the Christmas season. Now we're able to spend a C-note a week. Yeah right, huh?! Fools in prison ain't got that kind of money.
I figure it's just a bunch of bullshit to bring the DOIC [Department of Incorrections] more money. 'Cause we were allowed three 25-pound boxes of food. And stuff's cheaper on the street than in here, you know, despite what lies the public is told.
The pigs are going to make a lot of money selling some jive ass shit. Before this year, convicts hardly bought from the pigs' store during Christmas, and the pigs hardly made shit. So that's why I think they took the food boxes.
From the looks of it, no one's going to do shit about it, or really seems to care that it's fucked up. Cause that is what the pigs want so they can keep on taking shit from us....
-- An Arizona Prisoner, 22 November 1997
UPDATE ON 200 PRISONERS SHOT BY PIGS
DEAR MIM, In response to one of your articles under lock and key titled, "Pigs Shoot Over 200 Prisoners". I am one of the inmates who these jinn's and uncle tom's shot up. I still have bird shot in me, due to lack of medical attention.
Also we given 720 days lock-up time in August 1996. Which half of us got our time reduced to 540 days by the time our lock-up time was up in January 1997. We were placed in Maximum Custody for six months, which detained us on Administrative Segregation until July 1997. When July came we were denied release out of Maximum Custody and were placed in Security Detention also known to us as Security Threat.
We do not meet the requirements for any of the above. Every time it's time for us to be released back into general population they come up with bourgeois excuses not to free the people of repression. The whole grievance system here is corrupted by these jinn's. South Carolina Department of Corrections is in the stage of genocidal torture by no other than Texas Klansman Michael Moore.
-- A South Carolina Prisoner, 21 November 1997
FEDS SQUEEZE INDIGENT ACCOUNTS
The federal courts have begun placing holds on indigent inmate prison accounts for law petition filing fees.
The Florida D.O.C. [Department of Corruption's] is also now placing holds on indigent accounts for legal copies made for court.
These recent financial holds serve as a deterrent to poor prisoners who seek access to the courts. What this all boils down to is: "How much justice can you afford?"
If the U$ Government squeezes us to death with these capitalist sanctions, then the so-called little man has to strike back by any means necessary!
-- A Florida Prisoner, 22 October 1997
HARASSMENT AT NEW MISSOURI GULAG
... Now as you may or may not know, the corruptional center I'm at is not even a year old yet. I've only been here for about 50 days, but I see already that shit is top of the line fucked up.
They got me in a cell that is more like an ICEBOX but they just turned on the heat yesterday. Yah, Right! It's so cold around here that I have a cold. I got my cold within 24 hours. We do have blankets, but shit they should just call it a damn sheet too.
The name of this corruptional center is Crossroads. The head beast is crazy, but that ain't strange. I'm on lock down now. I came from X Correctional Center 50 days ago. I haven't had a write up in all that time, and the head beast gave me 60 more days after I did my 30, for getting too many write ups. He also told me that he might just keep me in Ad. Seg. [Administration Segregation] for twelve months. What kind of shit is this? I ain't got no more write ups, but time will tell.
I have seen people in their cells pass out in the C.O.'s, Corrupt Officer, eyes and they just walk away from the cell. Just think, this is going on now at a new born baby corruptional center. What's really going on at the old heads of Corruption?
Your Comrade in the state of Misery (Missouri) Corruptional Center
-- A Missouri Prisoner, 17 November 1997
MISSOURI PRISONERS FED UP WITH BRUTALITY
... The department of corruption in the state of misery is preparing to open a new maximum security prison, and two more are planned.
On 28 August 1997, at crossroads correctional center, the black prisoners got fed-up with the guards beating prisoners and macing them while in their hand-cuffs. So three prison housing units rose up and attacked prison guards. Prisoners taking away guards' mace cans and spraying them with their own chemical mace, and beating five guards to a pulp -- two of them high ranking prison guards called white shirts. One sergeant was on the operating table for eight hours, and the entire prison was locked down for two weeks.
On 29 August 1997, 25 prisoners were transferred to potosi correctional center, and 60 more remain on Lock-down, even though general population is back open.
This incident showed the potential for the oppressed to come together in unity to battle the common oppressors of us all. Members of the nation of Islam, crips and bloods, gang members and moores, ALL came together in unity and ran the pigs off the yard. Three housing unites were under the control of the prisoners. prison pigs were so afraid they called the local police from out in society to come and help them retake control of crossroads.
Of course prisoners who did not participate were also locked down, falsely accused and transferred to potosi as well. The missouri department of corruption was so shook-up over this up-rising that the sent military advisers from jefferson city correctional center to show crossroads' pigs how to operate its slave plantation and teach them tried methods of oppression.
Prison officials are now saying that when the new prison, Bowling Green, opens that they are to send their problems there.
In Solidarity, -- another Missouri Prisoner, 18 November 97
TEXAS HIGH SECURITY LIFE
I'm writing to you from Texas' newest High Security Unit. This unit was built to hold Texas' worst prisoners. Well let me tell you that it is a big joke! A big joke on the taxpayers' whose money paid for this.
I'm on this unit because I was slammed with handcuffs on! Most of the people who are over here are mental people who came from mental units. They were sent here because Texas is cutting back on Mental Care.
We are in a cell that has no windows at all. Behind a steel door with windows. The officers deny our food, recreation, even giving us a change of clothes. We are being gassed inside the cells, for putting up a sheet or banging on the door to get something.
We filed grievance complaints to Warden Figueroa to no avail. We are constantly being written bogus disciplinary cases and the hearings are a joke. Everyone is found guilty, even when it is shown that the rules of the disciplinary itself are violated [by the pigs]. Then when we come up to moved to a better level status, the disciplinary Captain denies us our level upgrade because of a disciplinary case. And he's the one who finds us guilty!
Since I've been over here I've been threatened by several officers. My food has been spit in. All behind the officer who slammed me. The food is not worth anything. I've lost over fifteen pounds since I've been over here.
We inmates in Texas have no help. Most of us were once in Ad. Seg. [Administrative Segregation]. I'm an ex-crip now since I will not do their job for them in beating other inmates. The pigs put me in segregation, in which I believe they will try to kill me! Not only me, there are so many who are being messed over and don't even know how to write a grievance. And whenever someone else says something for them, then they are messed over. It's hell over here....
-- A Texas Prisoner, 13 November 1997
A PLEA FOR HELP
... I am 25 year old inmate in the MDOC Michigan Department of Corrections and I write to you on behalf of the (PDTRT). It's an organization for the betterment of prisoners doing the right thing....
...It is horrible in here. I have been beaten by staff. [I have been] refused water, clothes, medical attention, protection, food, [use of] the phone. I've been spit on called nigger, fag, fuck boy, pouch monkey, slave boy and worse.
I have witnessed several of my friends beaten to death by staff. A c/o [corrections officer] paid another inmate to stab me. There has been a total of four attempts on my life. I live in fear, but keep the faith.
I have almost been raped twice. The administration doesn't listen or care about us inmates. Staff writes fake tickets on us and we have no say in the matter. My mother has called to check up on me and they hung up on her.
At times I feel like killing myself is the only way out. Death can't be as bad as this. I've written to so many groups and it is all the same. We need our cries for help published. We need to find a group of lawyers that are willing to help....
...I have been denied parole for no reason. I am begging you for your assistance. Me and many of our PDTRT members that are in prison have been put in the hole for nothing. We can't use the phone at all, we are losing hope.
A brother stopped eating. He is trying to die. He has given up, so staff gassed him and beat him. Another inmate was begging to see a shrink doctor, and they pulled him out of his cell and beat him down. His is here at SMF [Standish Maximum Facility] where I am. He is only 21 years old, first time down. I wrote his family, now one of his legs is permanently out of place.
There isn't much I can do besides try to talk to people. But the public needs know what happens in here. We are brothers, sons, fathers, uncles, cousins, sisters, mothers, aunties, daughters.
They stole my tv, radio, legal papers, clothes, shoes, and tapes. But what am I to do? I cry myself to sleep like crazy. There are times I wish I could lay in my mothers lap and have her kiss my forehead, rub her fingers through my hair and make everything better. But it's just a dream.
...I've never been the violent type. I couldn't kill a fly! But I know I don't deserve this foul treatment. Denied razors and my personal hygiene products: soap, toothpaste, and deodorant.
It is not just a Black thing. I am for the betterment of the millions of all color inmates: white, Black, Blue, Green, Yellow, Brown, Chinese, Mexican, male, female, gray, bisexual, etc. That is what the (PDTRT) is all about. Even reaching our inner city youth before they become inmates. People say they want to help us. Give us their word, but never do anything. Actions speak louder than words.... There are a lot of talented men and women in prison who really deserve a chance to be free....
-- Another Michigan Prisoner, 8 October 1997
MIM RESPONDS: Thank you, comrade, for your revolutionary work in the struggle. You have been organizing prisoners and exposing the truth about the atrocities of the prison system. Keep up the good work. Please keep us updated on the pig brutality so we can continue to expose the truth.
Remember that the imperialists use prison to control potential revolutionaries. The pigs will try to divide prisoners, pitting one group against another, to distract you from targeting the pigs as your real enemy.
Don't give up hope. You are not alone in this struggle against imperialist domination. There are many people outside fighting oppression. When you or others feel like killing yourselves, remember that's how the pigs want you to feel. You have nothing to lose but your chains. Don't give up, work for revolution.
MICHIGAN PRISONER BATTLES CENSORSHIP
...As you can see by this rejection notice, that I am sending you, I am no longer allowed to receive MIM Notes. When I received this notice, I requested a hearing so that I could be shown why I'm no longer allowed your publication, but was my request was denied.
Then today, my cell was searched. Which was not unusual. But what was unusual about this search was the only things were looked at was my reading material and letters, or I should say the addresses on my letters. None were taken but, they did a lot of writing in their notebooks.
Since for years they've label me a troublemaker and an unmanageable convict, it seems that once again shit is about to hit the fan, so to speak. But as usual, I won't take it lying down. I've filed a grievance to the warden and one to the MDOC [Michigan Department of Corruption's] in Lansing. I won't win the grievances because here in Michigan, you never do. But at least in the end someone will have to answer my questions of why all of a sudden I can't receive MIM Notes anymore.
Other news from here is this prison is closing in December by Federal Court Order for repairs that will take place about years. At present there are less than 300 of us here behind the walls and those numbers are dropping every day. The big question on everyone's mind is, where are they finding all the bed space when all we hear about is the overcrowding. With the closing of this facility, there are 1,420 less bed in the state.
There are plans being made to transfer Michigan prisoners to Ohio and West Virginia, which brings thoughts of attack dogs and sadistic guards as in Texas to all of our minds. But so far all transfers have been within the state. I'm told I'll be sent across the street from here in the next week or two but since this problem I had with my choice of reading material, maybe I'll be one of the first to go out of state.
Right now the MDOC has their back against the wall. Taxpayers have said no to more money for corrections and the county jails are filled with people sentenced to prison. But the receiving center here in Jackson is filled so the counties are having to hold them until bed space comes open. And as usual the parole board refuses to grant parole to us in the higher levels. Last year's [1996] figures of paroles denies was 57% and this year [1997] hasn't been any better as far as I can see.
It is common in this state to do at least 2 flops of 12 to 24 months before getting a parole if you're in a level 4 or 5 prison. Since Michigan is well known for handing out long prison sentences to begin with, added to the flops from the parole board, most people in level 4 or 5 end up doing 12 to 15 flat years before being released.
It's just a matter of time before these high level joints explode. They've taken all of our programs away from us and we're in court right now trying to stop them from taking our personal property. Our futures here behind these walls are looking dim. Even though I can't receive MIM Notes anymore, I'll continue to be with you in spirit and will pass on any new information about what's happening in Michigan's prisons. Stay strong and don't forget about us and me.
-- Another Michigan Prisoner, 19 November 1997
***Letters of Protest can be sent to the warden: 4008 Cooper St., Jackson, MI 49201-7510***
ILLINOIS PRISONER FIGHTS CENSORSHIP
These no good corruptional officers have confiscated the literature I had of MIM Notes and a month later I was transferred to another corruptional center called pontiac.
Well at the time the literature was confiscated, I was at the stateville corruptional center. A month later in August 1997 I was transferred here at pontiac! They sent me a notice stating that the publication was not allowed and that it was a threat to the environment I was in. And it was a threat to the highest ranking pig there which was the fat warden (George E. Detella) at the stateville corruptional center. So I'm asking all comrades that in the corruptional systems to stand for the rights to have MIM Notes in all the corruptional centers in the united snakes!
I'm also going to write a grievance to the Grievance officer concerning this issue and would like for comrades to understand that these no good systems are trying to stop us from receiving MIM Notes. We have to stand strong in these injustice systems and stand up for the people who stand for us, my brothers -- I'm talking about MIM Notes! So to all my comrades in the system and out please stand for something that's worth standing for and for someone who is on our side not against us OK?. Stand strong my brothers. ...
-- An Illinois Prisoner, 11 September 1997
***Letters of protest can be written to the warden: P. O. Box
99. Pontiac, IL 61764.***