MIM Notes 188 June 15 1999

UNDER LOCK & KEY: NEWS FROM PRISONS AND PRISONERS

INCREASED REPRESSION IN NJ

I have passed MIM Notes around the phase I'm on, trying to wake up 
individuals, especially the young. I'm sorry to say but most at 
this kamp think that this is some sort of game. I try to reach out 
to them the most because that's the attitude I had when I first 
cam down. I'm only 25 but I've been locked up a little over a 
decade now. So I try to open the eyes of the young to the 
struggle, like some older comrades did to me. Reach one, teach 
one.

The kamp that I'm in is named South Woods State Prison and the way 
these redneck pigs and house nigga officers run this spot you 
would think you were down South in the woods somewhere back in the 
40s and 50s. This prison is the newest in New Jersey. It has only 
been open for 20 months. 

They don't have any control units at this camp or an 
administration seg. They do have a detention unit, lock-up, that 
they hold you in until they send you to an ad-seg or to the Gang 
Unit in Northern State Prison. 

This jail is so messed up most don't protest to get out of the 
hole. In fact, most go to the hold on purpose so they can be 
shipped out to another prison. 

I can't say I blame them. I only been here for five months and 
three prisoners have been killed in two of the other phases. In 
the phase I'm on...I witnessed a pig named Brian Ambrose commit an 
aggravated assault on a prisoner for no reason. This was the 
second time he assaulted a prisoner in a two week span. Myself and 
other wrote letters to the commissioner, state senator, and 
newspapers and to the news. Others had their family call down to 
protest this treatment. I haven't seen this officer recently but 
it is rumored that they just moved him to another phase at this 
jail.

...The slave labor here is real. No matter where you work on the 
main compound, you only are paid $1.30 a day for 8 hours of work. 
Then if you get one of the Uncle Tom jobs in "Industrial" building 
you can make up to $3.00 a day for 8 hours. But the catch is they 
have two jobs over there, meat packing and tailor shop. In meat 
packing, you package all the meat for the prison in Jersey. You're 
locked in a freezer all day standing on your feet. In the tailor 
shop, you make all the clothes for the prisons, and here's the 
icing on the cake, they bring in clothes from stores like JC Penny 
for you to do their cloths as well. They just has a special on the 
New Jersey news about sweatshops in South Woods. 

There is no education here higher then getting a G.E.D. They have 
four vocational shops in each phase for 1,000. But it's no more 
then 10 people at a time in each shop. So you might be on the 
waiting list for well over a year. 

We don't pay for living expenses, but we do pay a 10% tax on all 
items on the commissary, even federal stamps. They say it goes to 
pay court imposed fines, but even if you paid, or don't have 
fines, you are still charged for this.

The general conditions are next to nothing. General library is 
twice a month and they only have about 50 books out of date 
newspapers for the whole phase. The law library is open everyday, 
but only eight people are allowed in at a time. So if you don't 
get your work done in an hour, you have to put your name at the 
end of the list. 

Medical care is a joke. You can go over to medical for an 
emergency; they will look you in the face and tell you to drop a 
sick call slip, that nothing is wrong with you. When you drop a 
sick call slip, it takes you about (3) day to see this same part-
time nurse. They still won't give you any medication or treat your 
problem. They will have you sitting in the waiting groom for 
hours. When you finally get in, they tell you that they are 
scheduling you to see the doctor. Which will take at least (3) 
weeks. To get any real attention you have to act like you passed 
out. 

The new phone system they have here is ridiculous. When you call 
your family to accept the call, its $4.50 and it a $1.10 for each 
additional minute and your call automatically hangs up in 10 
minutes., so you will have to make a second call for more money. 

No longer in New Jersey are we able to get packages of any kind. 
No books, clothes, cosmetic or food packages. The only way you can 
get literature is if it is copied and mailed to you.

Hopefully my time in this kamp will be up in July. That's when I 
go to parole. This will be my second time going up in front of the 
board. The first time they gave me a 32 month future eligibility 
date. I have my family support to help find work once I'm 
released. The last time I had (2) jobs set up for me after my 
release. Even though the prison psych and initial parole hearing 
officer recommended me a date, the parole panel gave me another 32 
month hit, based on me doing a juvenile bid. I had got my G.E.D., 
been charge free for 28 months, had (3) certificate for programs 
for dealing with alternatives to violence and I still got the max 
on hit.

Another way they try to stop you from returning to the streets, 
even if you don't have a drug/alcohol charge or problem in the 
past or present. They will not give you status if you don't 
participate in these two programs and why will put a letter to 
parole in your file saying you refused to cooperate with 
institutional rules. 

Even though the RAIL Notes issue on the "war on youth, drugs and 
gangs" has been issued, I would like a copy of it. 

Next state pay, I will send at least 10 stamps to help assist in 
mailing out your literature.

In struggle,

 -- A New Jersey prisoner, 26 April 1999.

RAIL Responds:  The RAIL Notes on the "War on youth" has not yet 
been finished. We encourage all prisoners and RAIL and MIM 
supporters to submit articles on state repression of youth, 
especially on the new youth crime bill.


LACK OF RESOURCES IN JERSEY

I feel all the pain of the other brothers in the belly of the 
beast who struggled time and time again and wasted his body in a 
worthy cause but came up short because of lack of unity in the 
inmates who hold fear of these pigs. My brothers and I are in a 
fight against the system everyday there seems to be something new 
that the pigs do to us the inmates. In the last couple of weeks 
alone we have experience some foul play. The phones have been down 
for sometime, we deal without hot water from day to day. The air 
circulation has been cut off. In my mind, this has been done so we 
would have to buy the fans in the canteen.

There has been a shortage on tissue paper and soap. If you want 
these state items that we are supposed to get for free, we have to 
hit off a pig with a candy bar. There are many things I would like 
to run down to the MIM, but at the moment I'm in lock-up with one 
sheet of paper and don't have access to other paper. So I must 
depart this letter by saying to those who realize what the 
struggle is about to keep the fight up and one day we will prevail 
but we must remain strong at all times. I also send love to all my 
true Black and Gold brothers. 

-A New Jersey Prisoner, 6 May, 1999


FORCED DNA TESTS FURTHER STATE OPPRESSION

"Inmate DNA testing is wrong. It is an invasion of privacy, and 
unlawful due to the fact no one has to give incriminating evidence 
against themselves. The test is extremely accurate, but not 100% 
faultless. The tests are done for crimes which haven't even been 
committed. It blatantly slanders an inmate's character by 
basically saying we'll commit crimes again, just because we 
committed one before. We should just start testing all Americans, 
just in case someone may commit a future crime. After all a U.S. 
Bureau of Justice statistic from 1997 stated 1 out of every 20 
Americans will do jail time. It's hard to justify using tax money 
for tests on crimes which haven't been committed. We as inmates 
need to unite against these tests, and tell the government and 
corrections departments to shove the DNA tests! The same goes for 
sex offender registration, next they'll have all violent offenders 
registering upon release."

--A South Carolina prisoner, 14 August 1998.



MIM responds: We agree that the DNA database is a repressive tool 
to further increase the lockdown of oppressed nationals in 
Amerika. Unfortunately, courts have held that there is no 4th 
Amendment right to privacy, and no 5th Amendment right against 
self-incrimination when dealing with blood tests. But your point 
about uniting all prisoners against this reactionary practice is 
well taken, furthermore we organize to unite prisoners against 
imperialism which denies the oppressed to control their own courts 
and legal system.



PRISONER WANTS MIM NOTES TO COMBAT PRISON INDOCTRINATION

". . .This institution has started a college program which I've 
been enrolled in since December. The courses we are taking are 
social/political science and u.s. government. I have also 
disseminated [your] publication here and with the critical 
information that MIM provides I am able to learn not to be 
indoctrinated by their capitalistic justification of the 
oppression of so called Third World countries. . .any information 
you can aid me with . . . to confront not only the professors but 
the class, with the truth, may serve to influence many on the 
cruelty of this capitalistic system. The struggle continues!"

--A Maryland prisoner, 21 January 1999.



PRISONERS MADE TO STAND IN FREEZING COLD TO HUMOR GUARDS

". . .This morning with the temperature being 22 degrees the 
Supervisor at Horticulture had the guys to come out and stand in 
the cold in line for over an hour just because they are able to do 
so which don't make any sense at all other than oppression and 
there is no sense in try to air out you grievance because it only 
goes as far as the warden who won't go against anything that the 
c/o does. . . ."

--A South Carolina prisoner February 1999.



PRISONER RE-ARRESTED AND DENIED FAMILY CONTACT

". . . After doing 13 years of 15 years sentence. . .Upon my 
release I began to notice a lot of drugs being sell in the 
neighborhood which I been stayin in, so I organized about five 
revolutionary brothas . . . to speak out against the brothas who 
were selling drugs in our neighborhood. . . While in [county 
jail], I began to speak out against the cruel treatment that were 
be inflicted upon the prisoner. While standing up for my rights, 
the pigs start to retaliate against me. They stop my family from 
coming to see me, I couldn't make no phone calls & I couldn't go 
outside. . .[I was kept] in handcuffs and leg shackles for three 
days straight. . .and denied medical treatment!

--A South Carolina prisoner 10 November 1998



PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTROL IN PRISON

I've been housed in a torture chamber (segregated management unit) 
in South Carolina for the past 6 months. I recently came up for my 
review, supposedly conducted by professional case or social 
workers. I have no other disciplinary charges, you could say I've 
been a model prisoner.

The gestapo gave me 6 more months in isolation. I told them I 
should kill myself, I would be better off! They quickly put me in 
the suicide cell! Nothing but boxers, no blanket, mattress, 
clothes, writing material, nothing.

Next I'm given some pills to take, I'm not told what they are. 
Being curious I took them, next thing I remember is waking up the 
next day. This is how the gestapo treat you. They fail to realize 
the only treatment is to release me from the psychological torture 
they imposed on me. They fail to realize that my condition will 
only worsen in isolation.

I really didn't want to commit suicide, I just wanted to see what 
the gestapo would do. I know who needs to be in segregation, the 
so-called case workers and staff who subject other human-beings to 
the psychological torture. Maybe if these intellectuals spend some 
time in a MSU, SHU, SMU, whatever it's called in various states, 
this heinous, barbarous practice will stop!

We are already in prison, we are away from our families, we are 
not free. The oppressors take what little privileges they give us 
away if we commit disciplinary infractions, they take our good 
time, isn't that enough! The pigs don't seem to understand someday 
most of us that endured this torture will be on the street. Look 
over your shoulders, because all the hate and anger you instilled 
in me just might find you! I might even be your neighbor, pigs, so 
watch yourselves. Keep up your torture, so more of us can find 
you!

--South Carolina Prisoner, November 1998



NO OBJECTIVE PAROLE CRITERIA

MIM has asked about information concerning parole in South 
Carolina. I know of two parole hearings, in which a total of 47 
inmates went up for parole. Only 4 inmates made parole.

If all parole hearings are consistent with this, then roughly 9% 
of SC get parole. 

South Carolina Department of Corrections policy OP21.04 (OP) 
Inmate Classification plan states: Nonviolent offenders must do 
1/4 of their sentence, and violent offenders 1/3 before eligibly 
for parole.

Almost all inmates are turned down parole their first time up for 
it. They are given no specific reasons other than: "Due to the 
seriousness of your crime; we feel you need to do more time."

Apparently there's no objective, relevant criteria used. It 
doesn't seem to matter whether or not the inmate has been a model 
prisoner. Anyone with factual answers on how to make parole, 
please let us know!

I have another request of fellow S.C. inmates or any inmates with 
some answers: Pass on to MIM any information on the following 
policies: OP22.19(OP) Searches of inmates, and OP22.01(OP) 
Restraint chair. Both policies are conveniently restricted! I 
believe both policies violate our rights. The screws are not 
letting us know for obvious reasons.

Don't ever give up!

--A South Carolina Prisoner, January 1999 



PRISONER TAKES UP FIGHT AGAINST CENSORSHIP

I am in receipt of your February 5th, 999 form letter which 
thanked me for my order of "Maoism and the BPP", "To die for the 
People", and "Palante". I would like to let you brothers [and 
sisters] know that I did receive my first order, which was Palante 
by the Young Lords Party. Thank You! But as for my second order of 
"Maoism and the BPP" and "To die for the people", I never received 
them. There is no doubt in my mind that you sent it. These 
diabolical pigs are messing with mail. Which is a clear violation 
of my rights. Due to the fact that I was never given a 
confiscation sheet stating that those books are not allowed into 
the institution, I was never given an opportunity to send the 
books home, these pigs kept the books without giving me any clue 
that they arrived. If they weren't allowed, these pigs should have 
sent them back to the distributor. Those are state laws when items 
are not allowed into the institution. Which is another sign of the 
oppressor's crookedness within this dungeon. Once again these pigs 
took matters into their own hands, thinking that they can do what 
they want to do.

I am very thankful that you sent me this letter along with the 
guide on how to fight prison censorship. Now I am prepared to 
bring it to these pigs full force. As soon as I get into that law 
library, I'm going to put that guide on how to fight prison 
censorship into activation. I will not allow them to get that off 
on me or any other brother within this human warehouse. I'll keep 
you informed on what happens. 

In your form letter it stated that if I'm receiving MIM Notes, 
that I should write every three months and let you know if I'm 
still at the same address and if the prison is allowing me to have 
[MIM Notes]. Yes I'm still at the institution and yes I am indeed 
receiving the MIM Notes. I am learning a lot from them and I hope 
that you will continue to send them. Thank You! As I stated before 
I'm new to this, but I'm eager to learn. MIM Notes is opening my 
eyes and teaching me a lot. I'm interested in receiving RAIL and 
any other material that can help me in my growth in knowledge.

Stay strong to the struggle.

 -- A New Jersey prisoner, 1 April 1999 



SECURITY THREAT GROUP SCAM

To the ALKQN, I'm sending "Amor de Rey" and a revolutionary salute 
to those in the struggle.

Along with the illegal opening of Northern State Prison's Security 
Threat Group Management Unit, as a demonstration of the 
commissioner's willingness to go through the extremes in attempt 
to destroy oppressed nationalities, it is also evident that this 
so-called Gang unit is a revolving door.

This past January, a group of inmates completed (by force) the 
STGMU program and were shipped back to different prison 
populations, so a new shipment of inmates was needed in order to 
refill the vacant cages. What they didn't want to make public was 
that if the Gang Unit failed to have a certain amount of inmates 
partaking in the program, it would have to be shut down. 

The families (Latin Kings, Neta, 5% nation, Aryan Brotherhood) 
have been underground since the opening of this Gang Unit, making 
it difficult to identity core members, so the more inmates that 
went through the program gave them less chances of keeping it 
open, which that have now comet find out. It is to the point where 
(we) the family members in lock-up have had lock-up time (years) 
taken off our sentences in order to refill it (without our request 
for participation or lower time) Since we are the only active 
members left in the state. They have also closed one entire wing 
(due to lack of participants) and filled it with Protective 
Custody inmates (former members, informants, etc.) leaving one 
section open for programming.

Is how are they going to fill these death camps once the next 
group completes the so-called program? What is the purpose of it 
remaining open when there is no one left whom fits the set 
criteria? The answer was given once they made it clear that those 
who complete this program are forbidden to associate or take part 
in any gang related activities, yet that is like saying "don't 
speak to other inmates". It they were willing to fabricate 
evidence in order to prosecute non-members in order to keep this 
Gang-Unit open, then it won't be hard for Internal Affairs to 
fabricate evidence since the only candidates (victims) able to fit 
the criteria are those who have already been identified and 
completed the program.

The Gang-Unit in general was created to suppress political 
awareness, stop its agitation and mental discipline taught by and 
to the masses by targeting educated and most influential leaders 
in the system. It serves as a capitalistic tool for both the labor 
aristocracy (officers, psychologists, DOC workers who were given 
pay raises and ranks to oversee the Gang Units) as well as the 
state capitalists (Commissioners, DOC Parole Board, etc) who keep 
in constant flow of fund (profits of the billion dollar business, 
AKA DOC) by denying parole and making the inmates who don't 
complete the program be put in max facilities. Incidents are 
provoked and staged in order to gain support and make their savage 
tactics (beatings, torture, rape, etc) look justifiable.

We as family members and partakers in the cause must unite, 
educate and organize our movements within these walls in order to 
ensure success once released.

Arm yourselves mentally first, since the gun can't control itself!

"Amor de Rey" and a salute to all

Forever in the struggle,

 -- A New Jersey Prisoner, 13 April 1999