IDOC Watch recently heard from a comrade about abusive conditions at Pendleton Correctional Facility. His cell block does not have working ventilation and the windows are all closed, making it impossible to breathe. The officials are also withholding soap and laundry supplies. Given the brutal heat and humidity of Indiana summers, these are unlivable conditions. As our comrade said, "They treat animals in the zoo better than us!!!"
IDOC Watch is calling for an immediate phone and email zap demanding that Pendleton officials open the windows, fix the ventilation, and provide inmates with hygiene supplies. Please call and email the following officials. A sample script is provided below.
- IDOC Central Office: (317) 232-5711 ext. 2, ext. 3, ext. 2
- IDOC Chief Counsel Robert Bugher: rbugher@idoc.in.gov
- Pendleton CF Warden Dennis Reagle: (765) 778-2107
Email these officials too if you have the time:
- Administrative Secretary to the Warden Shannon Schott: SSchott@idoc.IN.gov
- Deputy Warden of Operations Duane Alsip: DAlsip@idoc.IN.gov
Sample Script:
"Hello, I am [calling/emailing] to express my concern about the horrible human and civil rights violations occurring at Pendleton Correctional Facility. Cell blocks do not have adequate ventilation, windows are kept closed, and inmates are being denied soap and laundry detergent. Indiana summers are notoriously hot and humid, meaning these men are being denied the right to breathe, sleep, and wash. Open the windows, fix the ventilation, and provide soap and detergent to these men immediately!"
Thursday, July 1, 2021
URGENT Phone & Email Zap: Open the Windows and Get Hygiene Supplies to Pendleton
Friday, June 11, 2021
Tuesday, June 1, 2021
Phone Zap in Defense of Trans Prisoner Lakesha Norington, Abused by Miami CF Officials!
Phone Zap for Lakesha!
Lakesha Norrington is a trans woman incarcerated at Miami Correctional Facility (MCF) who has been increasingly targeted for her gender as well as her legal work and knowledge which she has used to push back against repression from CO’s and prison officials against her and others as well as the inhumane conditions that incarcerated at MCF face. Earlier this month Lakesha was placed back in a cell with somebody who had previously made transphobic threats against her. Staff refused to move Lakesha to safety despite this person making verbal threats against her physical safety in front of staff and other prisoners. On May 4th this person physically assaulted her, hitting her on the jaw. When she reported the assault to the staff Lakesha was penalized. We are asking for calls to demand that Lakesha be transferred and that her concerns be addressed immediately. We will not stand for this retaliatory response to her being assaulted. The DOC must abide by their own policies and procedures in regards to a response to physical violence.
From Lakesha:
“I was assaulted by a gang member on the 4th of this month by Terrance Harris who was put back into my cell after being removed from my cell for being a gang member. When he was put back into my cell he repeatedly confessed to staff and prisoners that he did not want to be in my room on the base of my being a fag or homo. He was very debasing toward me in front of staff and prisoners and threatening yet staff kept him in my room resulting in him putting his hands on me. Now I am in a unit which is DIRTY hell no cleaning supplies or anything. The night that Harris hit me in my jaw I reported it to staff but I was penalized. I was told that Captain Fisher told staff to put me in this unit pending 2 reports that had nothing to do with my being assaulted by him. A few days ago caseworker Issacs showed me paperwork stating per approval of Lieutenant Bales I was put over here pending the outcome of the two reports (interference with staff and interference with count)-only one I had already been screened for a week prior and was unaware of the other. I have not seen it to date. Then the prison was placing all the people that I filed requests for protection against and reported to staff that they were trying to harm me and were discriminative toward me and harmful towards me in the same dorm with me! Where they do that at?! These people are playing with my life! I am fearful and it's crazy to be in this state of mind. They still did not process my classification request. I submitted December 2020 and again April 2021 and have not responded to my status request on the same, though I contacted the classification supervisors here about it. I feel as if they want to keep me here to cause me more harm they are causing to me! I need help. I and my property need to be transferred up out of here. Staff are lying on paperwork to conceal the reported violations and "misplacing" paperworks to cover things up. Staff here lie, lie, lie to people that call up here to get answers for obvious reasons.”
“Due to unfair and unsafe classification practices the Indiana Department of Corrections has, and is pulling the black veil over the eyes of the public locally, and nationally, and as a result internationally, by, when and where the Indiana Department of Corection ("IDOC") in its official capacity ("working and business related dealings") and its staff in their individual capacity ("dealings in the workplace done but not permitted by or as a result of 'working and business related dealings'") subject women, men and children therein confined that identify as, has been, and is identified as, and is commonly known to be and present as Transgender, Intersex, Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay and any variation thereof to: (1). Unfair and unsafe housing practices-though telling members of the free roaming public society that unfair and unsafe housing practices has no place in the operation and organization of the IDOC pursuant to state approved policy mandates such as, but far from limited to, Policy 00-00-101, The Use and Operation of the Department of Corrections.
Whoa! free roaming public, who is unaware, the IDOC is subjecting confined minorities to the hardships of unfair and unsafe housing practices. The account of one woman, Lakesha L. Norington, brings sight, light and truth to the perspective of a woman of color that the IDOC is, and has, subjected her, as others, to unfair and unsafe housing practices. Though the accounts attested to are not limited to those provided, it is for the free roaming public society to make inquiries into the truth of the said attestants by contacting the state public agency, IDOC, requesting, even demanding to see related records, policies etc..., of which the free roaming public society is entitled to, by mandatory legal due processes, and is as follows: (A). Lakesha L. Norington, age 36, height 6'3", weight 159 lbs has been in the Indiana Department of Correction since 2003 and the Miami Correctional Facility. Due to unsafe classification and housing and treatment practices the body of persons known as transgender are being assaulted by the IDOC and its staff and as a result the confined persons therein. It is unhealthy for the IDOC to allow such widespread practices and conditions of confinement which includes, but is not limited to, we women in male prison environments being cross-gendered pat and strip-searched against our will and against PREA laws and the correlating policies”
Please call director Jack Hendrix to demand Lakesha’s transfer!
Phone number: (317) 232-2233
Email: jdhendrix@idoc.in.gov
“Hello, I am calling/emailing out of concern for Shawntrell Norington DOC #138726 who is incarcerated at Miami Correctional Facility. She has been subjected to physical violence and repression from other staff and other incarcerated people at MCF which when reported was ignored and used to penalize her instead. Her requests for protection have not been honored and she has been intentionally placed in dorms with those who have threatened and harmed her. We are demanding that her request to be transferred is met immediately to ensure her safety!”
Wednesday, May 5, 2021
Monday, May 3, 2021
*PHONE ZAP FOR RASHID*
D.O.C. No. 264847
Wabash Valley Correctional Facility
We are asking that friends, comrades, and supporters call WVCF and let them know that we will not stand for these retaliatory measures that have been taken against Rashid and that they must abide by their own policies and procedures in regard to his property.
Warden
Frank Vanihel
fvanihel@idoc.in.gov
Mailing Address
6908 S. Old U.S. Highway 41
P.O. Box 500
Carlisle , IN 47838
Phone Number
(812) 398-5050
Administrative Secretary to the Warden
Janna Anderson
Facility Staff
Deputy Warden of Re-entry
Kevin Gilmore
kgilmore@idoc.in.gov
Deputy Warden of Operations
Frank Littlejohn
flittlejohn@idoc.in.gov
Administrative Assistant
Legal Liaison
Michael Ellis
MEllis28@idoc.in.gov
(812) 398-5050 ext. 4198
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
Urgent Action Alert: Stop the Campaign of Harassment and Violence by Prison Officials Targeting Shaka Shakur
IDOC Watch
Shaka Shakur is a politically active prisoner and a long-term militant of the Back liberation movement in the US. He has done courageous work over his decades of incarceration in organizing fellow prisoners, including leading one of the longest prisoner hunger strikes (37 days) in US history during the summer of 1992 from within the Maximum Control Complex in Westville, Indiana. More recently, he co-founded and developed networks,such as IDOC Watch, of prisoners, lawyers, and outside activists with the purpose of exposing human rights struggles within US prisons. He is also a co-founder of the New Afrikan Liberation Collective.
On December 18th, 2018, Shaka was transferred from prison in Indiana to prison in Virginia, as part of a campaign by the State to neutralize the effectiveness of his activism in Indiana. Despite this form of “domestic exile”, Shaka has continued his human rights activism within Virginia’s prison system. Consequently, he is being subjected to a campaign of systematic harassment by VDOC prison officials, including those in an administrative and supervisory capacity, at the Buckingham Correctional Center (BKCC) where he is currently incarcerated. This campaign by BKCC officials includes the following elements, in full violation of VDOC policies and State Statutes, including the P.R.E.A Statutes:
Working with collaborator and influential prisoners to spread false rumors about Shaka, namely that he is a “snitch” and “sex offender” when, in fact, he has consistently stood up against abuses of power nor has he ever been accused and convicted of any sexual related crime in his life;
Repeatedly placing sexual offenders and predators in Shaka’s cell with him;
Repeatedly encouraging prisoners to attack Shaka, to carry out sexual and other physical assaults against him, telling these prisoners that “Shakur needs to be fucked”, “Shakur needs to be shot [stabbed]”, etc.;
Releasing and distributing Shaka’s Jpay emails and transcripts of his phone calls to other prisoners;
Releasing Shaka’s personal and family information, thereby facilitating identity theft;
The following BKCC officials have been specifically engaging in acts of sexual harassment and use of sexual language to harass, provoke and/ or incite sexual violence against Shaka--all with the full knowledge and complicity of Supervisors.
Sgt Johnson, Day Shift
Sgt. Rose, Day Shift
C.O. Penn, Day Shift
C.O. Jones, Night Shift
C.O. McGriff, Night Shift
Take Action: Call AND email the following officials and demand the following:
An immediate end to this life-threatening campaign of harassment against Shaka Shakur 1996207;
A thorough and independent investigation into the official misconduct involved in this campaign against Shaka and the total disregard for IOP’s and DOP’s, Virginia statute, and the 8th Amendment of the US Constitution.
Call/ Email:
Mr. Harold Clarke, VDOC Director
VDOC Main Office
804-674-3000
press 0 for receptionist, ask for Harold Clarke
Email: DOCmail@vadoc.virginia.gov
email for Harold Clarke: HAROLD.CLARKE@VADOC.VIRGINIA.GOV
Mr. John Woodson, BKCC Warden:
434-983-4400
press 2 for departments
press 1 for warden
John.Woodson@vadoc.virginia.gov
Central Regional Director Henry Ponton
Central Regional Office
804-674-3008
dial 1 for dial by name directory
dial 76686643679# (for Henry Ponton, regional director)
email: HENRY.PONTON@VADOC.VIRGINIA.GOV
Governor Northam
8047862211
press 1
for email: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/constituent-services/communicating-with-the-governors-office/
Script:
“Hello, I am [calling/emailing] on behalf of Mr. Shaka Shakur #1996207, who is in VDOC custody at the Buckingham Correctional Center. Mr. Shakur has been the target of a campaign of sexual, verbal, and physical harassment since he was transferred to Buckingham CC in September 2020. This campaign by BKCC officials includes the following elements, in full violation of VDOC policies, US Law, and State Statutes, including the P.R.E.A Statutes:
Working with collaborator and influential prisoners to spread false rumors about Shaka, namely that he is a “snitch” and “sex offender” when, in fact, he has consistently stood up against abuses of power nor has he ever been accused and convicted of any sexual related crime in his life;
Repeatedly placing sexual offenders and predators in Shaka’s cell with him;
Repeatedly encouraging prisoners to attack Shaka, to carry out sexual and other physical assaults against him, telling these prisoners that “Shakur needs to be fucked”, “Shakur needs to be shot [stabbed]”, etc.;
Releasing and distributing Shaka’s Jpay emails and transcripts of his phone calls to other prisoners;
Releasing Shaka’s personal and family information, thereby facilitating identity theft and endangering his family.
The principal actors in involved in this illegal harassment campaign, who are supported with the full knowledge and complicity of their supervisors, are:
Sgt Johnson, Day Shift
Sgt. Rose, Day Shift
C.O. Penn, Day Shift
C.O. Jones, Night Shift
C.O. McGriff, Night Shift
Mr. Shakur and his supporters are demanding:
An immediate end to this life-threatening campaign of harassment against Shaka Shakur 1996207;
A thorough and independent investigation into the official misconduct involved in this campaign against Shaka and the total disregard for IOP’s and DOP’s, Virginia statute, and the 8th Amendment of the US Constitution.”
https://www.idocwatch.org/blog-1/2021/4/26/urgent-action-alert-stop-the-campaign-of-harassment-and-violence-by-prison-officials-targeting-shaka-shakur
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
Thursday, April 8, 2021
Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Mistreatment of People with Diabetes at Plainfield CF! Please Call & Email Ombudsman
We just received this report from someone who has a loved one incarcerated at Plainfield CF:
Diabetic Inmates at Plainfield Correctional Facility (Central N Cell Block) are being accused of being intoxicated and sent to medical where the nurses have confirmed their sugar is low and they are NOT intoxicated. Yet they are still being put into segregation and then into a holding cell with just a mat and none of their personal or hygienic belongings. Several are not receiving their proper amount of insulin.. if any. This can cause severe medical emergencies and even death.
People with diabetes have been killed by medical neglect in many prisons in the US and it needs to stop! They have the right to proper medical care via each individuals 'medical care plan.' Having accusations thrown at you, all your belongings left to be taken or thrown out, just to be thrown into an individual holding cell for a false accusation and not receive medical care is neglectful and abuse.
Please call/email Charlene Burkett, DOC Ombudsman Bureau, at (317) 234-3190 or Ombud@idoa.in.gov and demand they give the diabetic inmates their full dosage of insulin and to give them the essentials in their individual holding cells!!