MIM Notes 186 May 15 1999

Prisoners petition for humane conditions
from a TN prisoner

WE, the inmates housed in Unit 3, A--pod submit this petition to 
the above listed individuals In the hopes that the conditions 
complained of can be rectified.
WE, the inmates housed in Unit 3, A-pod submit this petition based 
upon our own personal observations.
WE. the inmates housed in Unit 3, A-po4 submit this petition of 
our own free will, without promises or threats being made.
WE, the inmates housed in Unit 3. A-pod state that all the facts 
contained herein are true to the best of our knowledge, belief, 
and understanding, and are made pursuant to 28 U.S.C.  1746, 
penalty of perjury, as will be shown by our signature.

A. UNSANITARY LIVING COIDITIONS

Tennessee Department of Correction [hereinafter "TDOC"J Policy 
No. 506.16; "Living Conditions For Segregated Inmates" provides: 
VI. (3)(1). "Adequate ventilation, heat and lighting shall be 
provided, and the units and cells shall be cleaned daily and 
maintained in a sanitary condition."

We, the inmates of Unit 3, A-pod allege that we are not living in 
a sanitary environment for the following reasons
(a) we are forced to use a filthy, dirty, stinking mop to clean 
our cells with, or use our personal towels,
(b) we are not given any soap balls so that we may be able to 
use a cleaning solution to mop our floors, (c) ajax is not given 
in adequate amounts to clean the showers, and
(d) we are forced to sweep out our cells with a broom that to 
smaller than this sheet of paper, which in itself is humiliating 
and degrading.
TDOC Policy No. 112.01; "Monitoring and Conducting Institutional 
Sanitation ruspecttons.1 
VI. (B) provides "The warden or his/her designee shall appoint a 
sufficient number of sanitation Inspectors to ensure that weekly 
sanitation inspections encompass the entire Institution" and "
(C) Department heads and/or unit managers shall develop written 
housekeeping plans for their areas of responsibility. These plans 
shall Include daily, weekly and monthly duties and shall be 
monitored to ensure the institution with applicable health codes.
We, the undersigned allege that the warden and/or the unit 
manager has failed to establish, maintain and/or implement 
housekeeping systems to prevent filth, vermin end rodent 
infestation.
We. further allege that cleaning supplies and materials are not 
readily available for the showers to be properly cleaned or our 
coils.
We, allege that because of these unsanitary conditions the risk 
of harm posed to the undersigned as a result of the filth and 
vermin infestation is very serious.
TDOC Policy do. 112.06 VI (B) provides "Regular weekly and 
monthly sanitation Inspections throughout the Institution shall be 
conducted by the institutional sanitation officer, or trained 
sanitation inspector, to ascertain that the post control contract 
La being performed in accordance with the written contract.
We, the undersigned allege that weekly inspections are not 
performed, and because they are not performed rodent infestation 
is rampant.
B. FAILURE To NOTIFY OF RULES
TDOC Policy No. 404.10; "Administrative Placement, Segregation 
And Release", section VI (8)(1) provides 'Periodic reviews by the 
administrative review panel shall be provided to determine whether 
or not release from AS should occur. When reviewing an inmate's 
case for possible release from AS, the Panel should consider the 
following factors in making the determination "... Then the policy 
list eleven (11) factors.
We. the undersigned would greatly appreciate some clarification on 
(a) what determines the length of time an inmate stays on Level 11 
Phase Down, and (b) Level I Phase Out.  The policy is completely 
devoid of any mention of Phase 11 or Phase I, and as such denied 
the undersigned of knowing exactly what is/is not expected to go 
from one level to the next, or the amount of time to be spent on 
each level of phase out.
We. the undersigned would greatly appreciate your attention to the 
above-mentioned concerns.

Respectfully submitted, on March 25, 1999.
FROM: UNIT 3; A-pod.
TO:	RICKY BELL, Warden, R,4SI;  ROBERT WALLER, Deputy Warden, 
RMSI;  Mr.  Slaughter.  Unit Manager, unit 3, RMSI;  Michael 
Bryant, Sanitation Inspector, RMSI.