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.
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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