We have been engaging in nonviolent protest because certain individuals
(pigs) wish for the capital case population to fall under disciplinary
status, for punishment, when they haven’t committed any infractions
against the institution.
For instance, on March 15th 1998, Supt Varner implemented a disciplinary
policy that forced us in one day to ship all personal property, except
for what could fit in one box. We were told we are now on D status. No
more food items, no 6 hour visits, no sneakers, boots, and only
cosmetics would be soap, toothpaste, deodorant, and toothbrush. We had
to stop eating in order to get the media attention and people on the
outside to help us. We were restored all privileges.
Then we had to face the matter of access to legal property. They wanted
us to have access once a month when we needed access every week. They
gave us access once a week after we stopped eating again.
Then, in September 2001 we had to stop eating once again because Supt
Stickman wanted us to fall under the torture policy of sleeping with the
lights on 24 hours a day. This is a disciplinary tactic that’s designed
for population prisoners to stop committing infractions against the
institution. We requested our own policy separately from Restricted
Housing Unit (RHU), so we could be distinguished from disciplinary
tactics. They gave us our own policy and exempted us from being punished
with the light being on in our cells 24 hours a day.
Now on May 14, 2009, captain Walker and Unit Manager Guyton decided to
place capital case population back under disciplinary policy by turning
on the lights in our cells for 24 hours a day. We are asking that Deputy
Martin, Captain Walker and Unit Manager Guyton be removed from handling
capital cases because they’re responsible for placing us under
disciplinary policies. Finally, Mr. Guyton issued a policy that will not
permit us to wear hats to cover our heads during inclement weather.
We are asking for your assistance in helping us bring awareness to the
ongoing punishment tactics. We ask that a letter, email, phone call or
fax be sent to Jeffrey Beard the DOC Secretary of Prisons, Supt Louis S.
Folino, and Ernest D. Preate Jr.
Ernest D. Preate
Mellon Bank Bldg.
400 Spruce St, Suite
300
Scanton, PA 81503
570-558-5970
570-558-5973
(contact him
to contact Jeffrey Beard DOC Secretary of Prisons for us)
Supt Louis S. Folino
175 Progress Dr.
Waynesburg, PA
15370
724-852-2902
Secretary Jeffrey Beard
Dept of Corrections
PO Box 598
2520
Lisburn Rd.
Camp Hill, PA 17001-0598