Prisoners Report on Conditions in

Texas Prisons

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www.prisoncensorship.info is a media institution run by the Maoist Internationalist Ministry of Prisons. Here we collect and publicize reports of conditions behind the bars in U.$. prisons. Information about these incidents rarely makes it out of the prison, and when it does it is extremely rare that the reports are taken seriously and published. This historical record is important for documenting patterns of abuse, and also for informing people on the streets about what goes on behind the bars.

We hope this information will inspire people to take action and join the fight against the criminal injustice system. While we may not be able to immediately impact this particular instance of abuse, we can work to fundamentally change the system that permits and perpetuates it. The criminal injustice system is intimately tied up with imperialism, and serves as a tool of social control on the homeland, particularly targeting oppressed nations.

[Abuse] [Michael Unit] [Texas]
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Spoiled Food at Michael Unit

Just recently on my unit we had an outbreak of spoiled chicken. The unit got quarantined until the lab results came back. A lot of people got sick, they shut the kitchen down and gave us Johnnies (sack lunches) for a week and a half straight. During that time we ran into the same problem: spoiled beef links in the Johnnies. Everyone then wanted to speak. It took them six more hours to feed us but they gave us two peanut butter sandwiches. Come on! where they do that at?!

Then the next day they pacified us by giving the unit four movies for showing throughout the unit and good sack lunches (Johnnies) but the sad part is that everything that happened prior to that went for nothing. The kitchen is nasty as hell: roaches and all that. Every time the ACA comes is the only major clean up, painting and roach bombing and still no one cares to do nothing about it. They are too busy chasing a high from K-Z or being in someone else's business instead of investigating these folks for the torture they inflict upon us.

Bringing people together is hard here but with the commitment I am standing on, when they knock me down I will get back up. So please understand I am committed to this struggle and ready to organize and put in the work. Take out the old and bring in the new.

Thank you for your time. Please get back with me on the requested items. I am planning on building a treasury to help with future material but it's hard now. It will only get worse if we don't stand up. I also plan on writing an article on Growth.

Once again Thank you for all MIM stands for. It helps us unite.

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[Abuse] [Texas]
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Racist Parole Denials in Texas

I'm expressing my sincere appreciation and give a strong embrace of respect that extends beyond these prison walls to all at MIM. I'm hearing more and more of the unselfish work you do, the usable informational packages, and the very powerful newsletters. I'm now witnessing the sleeping giants, the brilliant minds and the warriors awaken. They are compelled to seek answers, information, and changes for the betterment of their current situation.

In my previous correspondence, I mentioned the importance of release programs for Texas ex-prisoners and I now see the discrimination against people of color getting favorable vote by the biased parole board members. These board members have full range of discretion to release whom they please no matter how violent their crime. The right-wing legislators seem to be in favor with early release for white child molesters, meth heads/dealers and those who hire a parole attorney. But us rehabilitated, self-determined, independent thinking, politically conscious black or brown men are denied parole over and over no matter how perfect our prison records may be. I have completed 8 years on a 10 year sentence, with no prison rule violations for 4 years, but I continue to be denied, year after year. We are seeking all legal knowledge on how to attack this parole system. It reeks of racism and bigotry!

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[Abuse] [Hughes Unit] [Texas]
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Campaign Materials Received but Confiscated

I wanted to thank you for sending the items that I had requested per my last letter to you [the TDCJ Offender Grievance Manual, Texas Campaign Pack, Sworn Complaint Form, PD-22 Codes]. FYI we just went through our lockdown. The Officers came to shake down my cell and took all your magazines you sent to me. I had been using all your information to write grievances and letters. I guess I must of done some good for them to take it all.

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[Abuse] [Dalhart Unit] [Texas]
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Punished for Accidental Fall in Texas

On 7/5/19, I received notice for a 4/28/19 accident in the recreation yard: an accidental trip and fall while jogging across a sidewalk with washed-out edges. The accident report was changed from jogging to playing to running to fit a non-accident and is cover for the hazardous edges next to the sidewalk. I was found guilty of committing an unsafe act instead of engaging in an allowed recreational activity: jogging. 30 days loss of contact visits.

I wrote a grievance letter describing the inaccurate offense report. The grievance returned the same day, stating the matter to be not grievable.

I have learned a lot about the systems, be it criminal Justice or Parole and Under Lock & Key is overflowing with information and resources. I loan out my issues, but I make sure to study them myself.

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[Abuse] [Ferguson Unit] [Texas]
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Sadistic and Disrespectful Guards at Ferguson Texas

Guards are sadistic & disrespectful to you. They beat you up & write bogus cases on you like threatening staff & staff assault. They do not file paperwork & investigations accurately & truthfully. Food is cold & they serve you half scoops of main/sides & lots of times it's watery. No seasoning or salt/pepper. We are not given clean towels, boxers, socks everyday when we shower. Most cells do no have lights installed! Guards do not like to do their job & don't pass out enough cold water & there is excessive heat. We are not given cleaning supplies for our cells or indigent hygiene items.

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[Abuse] [Lane Murray Unit] [Texas]
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Charged with Gambling for using Mexican Stationary

This letter is to inform you of an urgent abusive matter happening to me here on Lane Murray Unit (a Texas Woman's Prison). I am being targeted and harassed by rank and C.O.s (mainly Sargent Transue) for exercising my vested right of using the Grievance System. The latest thing they are fraudulently charging me with is the allegation that I had in my possession "gambling paraphernalia", which was actually a stationary that my family & friends wrote me mail on. It is a "Loteria" stationary—and automatically it was assumed to be Mexican gambling paraphernalia. I asked Sargent Transue to take pictures of the writing of the letters/stationary and she refused, she only took pictures of what she claimed to be the "gambling paraphernalia"—very corrupt behavior on her part. There were two witnesses to this event, also C.O.s.

19 of my Prisoner Legal News and Criminal News were also taken from me in all that abusive search done against me.

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[Abuse] [McConnell Unit] [Texas]
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McConnell Treating Prisoners like Animals

The McConnell Unit on which I am located are treating their prisoners like animals. There are major injustices that are being perpetrated against us no a daily basis.

The water is not clean or clear, and no air circulation in these cells. Holes in the ceiling, walls, and floors. Prisoners are afraid to fight for what's right. They don't understand.

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[Legal] [Luther Unit] [Texas]
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No Grievance Manual at Luther

I am writing to request the Texas Pack. Thankyou for all you do for those of us behind the wire in Texas. At this unit, they took the grievance manual out of the law libraries, so every little bit helps. May God bless you for all you do.

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[Civil Liberties] [Texas]
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Property Taken in Transfers

Hello Sir! Do hope all is at its best for you in every way possible and gets even better for you.

I am a Texas prisoner who has had a handful of B.S. Being repeated[ly] sent to different units since my last permanent Hughes Unit in Gatesville. Now I am at the Michaels Unit in Tennessee Colony and got all or near all my property. Property officer took some property but also took family photos.

I was on your mailing list and do wish to be again. Please!! Also I've enclosed 10 forever stamps for the PD package [of rules for TDCJ staff].

Thank you and your staff for being there to help "us" out. Myself and others look forward to your help as well as your newsletters. Now hope to hear from you soon!!!

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[Abuse] [Telford Unit] [Texas]
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No Protection against Rape in Texas

I'm trying not to file on the law library because they handle my indigent mail, but they are denying me access to courts because I've asked them to send me an additional 30 sheets of paper so I can write out a motion for Tort claim and make a carbon copy for my records and they've refused to send it. Also they hold folders we send indigent correspondence and get supplies in for 3-4 days and as a result they are denying us access to mail letters 3 times a week and get supplies on our days to get supplies. I'm sending the warden a I-60. I've already wrote Huntsville, TX, TDCJ Headquarters, to try to resolve it without putting my name in the mix but I've about had enough.

Do you have any small claim Tort motions for Texas? If so I need them. The one I got I'm not sure if it's correct. I'm filing this Tort because on August 17th and early morning hours of the 18th, 2018 I was raped by my cell mate. Since the cell was "claimed a crime scene," I was not able to get my property. The assailant was left in the cell for who knows how long. My JHL manual and the Texas supplement issue were stolen along with a few other items. I am indigent and the pen-pal that bought them for me no longer writes me. I need these books to advocate for myself and others. I wish I some other books named in that censorship packet.

Ok you with me? I was pulled out like 2 months ago they said the DNA came back and my DNA was found on me but not on him or the sheets. When I went to the medical dept. after reporting it I told them I'd wiped myself because I had grease on me and feces and I threw it at the head of my bed but none of it was gathered nor my wash cloth or anything just sheets on my bed where the assault happened.

Now check this out on March 21st, 2017 I was sexually assaulted in Michael Unit. That DNA still has not come back. Now tell me how this can happen?

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