Class Action lawsuit in Wisconsin: prisoners demand more from state

The State of Wisconsin is attempting to settle a class action lawsuit over conditions at Supermax Correctional Institution (SMCI) in
Boscobel. The state has conceded to many of the prisoners demands including no longer calling the prison a "supermax" for "the worst of the worst." Other concessions include: keeping the exercise room at room temperature, allowing outdoor exercise, allowing face-to-face visits on levels 4&5, not using food as punishment, allowing religious articles in cells, keeping lights at no greater than 5 watts at night, and regulation of cell temperature and extra blankets and sweaters in the winter. Many inmates, however, are not happy with these
"concessions" which really just represent SMCI being forced to abide by the laws regarding prison conditions. There are many illegal and repressive conditions at SMCI that are still not addressed with this agreement and some prisoners have drawn up the following additional demands.

  1. Inmates not denied food because lights not on, pants not on, or clothing on head.
  2. Inmates be allowed all property magazines, newspapers, photos, photo albums on levels 2-5.
  3. Inmates be allowed access to regular television stations (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, etc.).
  4. Inmates be allowed to legal route and mail photocopied material.
  5. Inmates not be forced to participate in "Level System" to leave Supermax..
  6. Inmates be released to regular max Prison Population after 2 years with no major incidents.
  7. Inmates be allowed sweaters and long underwear.
  8. Handcuffs to be removed during use of law library.
  9. Abolish warning behavior log system in which inmates are demoted and not promoted based on non-appealable warnings.
  10. Inmates be allowed to order case law from Main Law Library for a fee.
  11. Inmates be allowed all personal electronics.
  12. Inmates be allowed canteen consistent with all WI prisons, on levels 2-5.
  13. Inmates on Administrative Confinement not be forced to earn
    privileges because per DOC policy and procedures Administrative
    confinement is non-punitive.
  14. Ability to turn off light completely.
  15. Abolish kneel down policy to be shackled.
  16. Contact visits since this would not longer be for "Worst of the Worst."
  17. More law library time instead of current 1 hour 40 minutes a week.
  18. Not forced to choose between law library and recreation.
  19. Privacy when dealing with Health Care Officials.
  20. Be allowed to seal letters consistent with all WI prisons.
  21. Be allowed regular toothbrushes.
  22. Be allowed to take correspondence courses if able to pay.
  23. Reclassification of SMCI, not just name change.
  24. Be paid school pay for participating in HSEP program like every other WI prison.
  25. Cameras removed from all cells except observation/control rooms.
  26. Inmates be allowed at least two 15 minute phone calls a week.

To these demands MIM would add a demand that SMCI stop
politically-motivated censorship of newspapers and other literature. We can not get MIM Notes in to prisoners there because the prison claims the "Publication teaches or advocates violence and presents a clear and present danger to institutional security."

As one prisoner wrote for a MIM Notes article a year ago, censorship is a part of the prison's attempt to oppress and silence the prisoners and filing grievances is only one piece of the anti-censorship battle: "I have placed an inmate grievance to the Warden and complaint examiner which, as of yet, has not been addressed, but due to the continued denial, I don't have much faith that my filings will be successful. So, I ask of you, are you willing to stand with me and help me fight the abusers of governmental power? Please be informed that this Supermax is now under a microscope already because of Unconstitutional Acts
(including U.S.P.S. mail tampering) that are occurring daily, 24-7, to hundreds of deprived men. We are in a legitimate, just, struggle to gain back our humanity and dignity."

To protest the censorship of MIM Notes and support the inmates just demands write to:

Warden Gerald Berge
Supermax Correctional Institution
PO Box 1000 Boscobel, WI 53805-1000


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