I am currently housed in the Supermax long term administrative solitary segregation unit for assault on a correctional officer. This unit houses inmates serving 1-5 years in solitary confinement (or even longer).
The COs in this unit are very brutal, and very seldom follow the institutional policy. Everything from toothbrushes to writing paper has to be purchased from the canteen section, so if another inmate is not fortunate enough to have family members send them money, then they are subject to go without hygiene products for an unlimited amount of time.
The inmates in this unit are on lockdown 24/7 and receive showers every 3 days for only 10 minutes. An inmate who has showed a consistent time of good behavior might receive 3 hours of recreations every week. (If COs are feeling good on this day).
The cells are solitary (one bunk) and the situations is so critical that an inmate across the walk from me hung himself on his vent. Another inmate next door to me just requested to speak to a psychiatrist due to feeling suicidal as I write this letter.
The COs here never follow policy and whenever the food is served it is always cold and never hot. I try my best to avoid them by not even speaking to them to avoid brutality.
I was recently put on "limited property," "hot liquid restriction," and "hazmat," for throwing hot coffee in a guard's face because he searched my cell and took personal property and planted contraband in my cell.
Limited property is when all you have in your cell is a pair of boxers and a t-shirt. Nothing else. Nothing. Not even toilet paper. Hazmat is when you have to wear a screen hat all over your head and face, making it hard for you to breathe. Hot liquid restriction is when you can have no types of hot liquid in your cell.
I am not writing this letter trying to glamorize the situation I am in, only to inform other comrades to continue the struggle because it is not done. This info that I sent you concerning my situation is only scratching the surface of the problem in this housing unit.
- a Missouri prisoner, October 2005