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BY KHALFANI MALIK KHALDUN

Handbook on surviving soltarily confinement

A survival manual for the targeted prisoner

By Khalfani Malik Khaldun

First edition August 2004

Originally published By The Books 4 Prisaners Crew
Special thanks to Maddie for typing and rough layout.

‘Suggested asking price for free world folk $5. Free to prisoners on request.

‘This work is intended to be anti copyright for the purpose of getting it to as
‘many prisoners in need as possible. The only stipulation laid out by the author
s that it is to be provided free of charge to prisoners. Groups who sell this
‘manual to free world folk are encouraged to return some of the profits to the
author. Contact The Books 4 Prisoners Crew using the info below or see last
page for details. -

‘When you purchase this manual directly from The Books 4 Prisoners Crew. 52 goes
back (o the author or his designated support group, S2 goes o support our free
prisoner book program, and $1 goes towards printing costs.

‘The Books 4 Prisoners Crew
P.0. Box 19065

Cincinnati, OH 45219 USA
Em

‘booksdprisoners@hotmai.
web - www. freewebs. com/booksdprisoners

TABLE OF CONTEN

Chapter One: Being Used to Legitimize These Units... Page 1

Chapter Two: Study and Learn What Rules and Prison
Policies That Govern the Operation of Control Unifs......Page 3

~3.aapter Three: Building a Basic Solidarity With Prisoners in
Your Environment.. .Page

Chapter Four: To organize an Educational Program....Page 7

Chapter Five: Building a Strong Support Base Around
Yourself... Page 9

Chapter Six: Becoming More Proactive About Being Housed
in Solitary Confinement Page 11

Chapter Seven: Making Use of Your Access or Limited Use
of the Units Law Library Areas............. Page 13

Chapter Eight: Proaction Participation ble
Educational, Religious, or Correspondence Programs... Page 16

Chapter Nine: On Turn Your Cell Into Your Own Personal
- Laboratory. ..Page 18

Chapter Ten: Educating Your Family on Building a Support
Group For You. . Page 19

INTRODUCTION

There are different kinds of prison segregational confinement.
They all are similarly alike, with long lock-up confinement
sentences. Severe restrictions on activities and on physical
contact with other prisoner elements. Extreme security measures
are used to maintain such units.

Due process requires that prison officials periodically review
prisoners’ status to determine if there is still a reason to keep
them in Administrative Segregation. Most cases where prisoners
are placed on an Administrative Segregation Unit, it’s not for
‘what they are alleged to have done, but for what administrators
believe they will someday do or are capable of carrying out.

The court system has acknowledged that this situation
presents “a very difficult question” but have not . .. what to
actually do about it.

Prison authorities know that putting someone in
administrative segregation turns largely on purely subjective
evaluating of prisoners and on predictions of future behavior and
on intuitive judgments that are fostered by a lot of stereotypes
and preconceived notions of prisoners. In other words, since
Administrative Segregation is not really based on facts, fact
finding procedures often are not helpful.

Prisoners are being denied a real hearing to contest their
placement on Administrative Segregation Units. The mandatory
review process is reduced to “Sham Reviews,” they are not
meaningful. Due process is not satisfied by a perfunctory review
and rote reiteration of old outdated justifications. Some facilities
and State Departments of Corrections, are only providing
prisoners with a paper review every (30) days, in which they use
the same language every time. The only thing that changes is the
date. These paper reviews are nothing but a sham, violating state
and federal law and state codes that govern all prison policies.

Hopefully this handbook will be an instructional guide to
prisoners in this country who are new to these units. With the
recent prisoner abuse in Irag, more attention is now placed on
the systematic abuse of prisoners inside Amerika’s own borders,
and the faulty reasoning endemic in U.S. policy on criminal
justice: that these people can build themselves out of a problem.
In reality, unless other critical steps are taken, prisoners will be
abused unabated. Try to consider first the flawed assumption
that punitive incarceration policies work. This country is
indisputably a leader in this arena: as of June 30, 2002, this
country imprisoned 701 men and women for every 100,000
residents, almost four times the rate found in other so-called
democratic countries worldwide. Few countries have invested as
heavily as the United States in Supermax prisons, fortresses,
where so called difficult inmates can be placed according to the
Amerikan mindset on control units. Confined indefinitely in
isolation for 23 hours a day. None of these policies have worked.
The crime rates are still substantially higher than those in most
industrialized countries, and prisoner abuse is, if anything, worse
in Supermax prisons than in regular prisons. The current
administration continues to repudiate the use of torture to
extract information. What happened in Abu Ghraib prison isn’t
an isolated incident as our government would have us to believe.
But that isn’t true. Such a description ignores the fact that U.S.
officials are investigating at least nine homicides of captives who
were beaten or assaulted by U.S. personnel before or during
interrogation and who later died as a result. In many of those
cases, no active investigations had been under way until after the
Abu Ghraib abuse came to light. Those cases stretch across the
globe, from Iraq to Afghanistan to Guantanamo Bay. Several
other possible murders by U.S. hands cannot be investigated
because no autopsy was done to determine the real cause of
death. The U.S. Government is violating the Geneva Convention.
Torture is being excused because they have found clear ways to
circumvent the Geneva Convention here and abroad. Top
Iawyers at the U.S. Dept. of Justice produced a draft memo in
August 2000 since leaked to the press—that attempts to explain
how the United States could legally torture captives without
violating international and amerikan laws that explicitly outlaw
the practice. Without such diligence, the well-documented
human willingness to indulge in the torture and humiliation of
others might be given free rein, allowing it to occur on a broader
scale where it can not possibly be justified. Unfortunately that is
exactly what seems to have happened. Abuse is occurring in U.S.
prisons all across this country, many of such cases are not
documented. Some of these abuses are physical and others are
psychological. The continued use of Control Units, Supermax
Prisons, and A/S (Administrative Segregation), and places like
Florence in Colorado does constitute state sanctioned
psychological warfare. So its my hopes that my handbook proves
beneficial to all prisoners being housed in these units. This is my
introduction to this handbook. Any questions or comments
should be directed to this author at the address below. Please
take care.

In Solioanty,
Bro. Khalfani Malik Khaldun #874304
(Leonard McQuay) A-207
P.O. Box 1111 (SHU)
Carlisle, Indiana
47838
Chapter 1
Being Used to Legitimize These Units

Society must start to look closely into the intentions being used to
operate and legitimize solitary confinement units. All across Amerikida
today, U.S. prisons are isolating prisoners who are labled “high security
visk” or prison organizers, activist, and lawsuit litigators. Prison
‘administrators are screaming the need for more security and money
provided by State legislators which opens the flood gates for more
control units.

Prisoners who have displayed the integrity and guts to challenge the
oppressive_conditions of the many controlled environments they are
forced to live in. Once known as an agitator, prisoners are placed in
these categories and named as problems or potential problems. Once
placed on the list as a high risk prisoner you can be placed under
administrative watch by the States Prison Commissioners Office. This
status will allowa classification committee to bounce you around from
control units all across the state you are imprisoned in. The thing that is
important to understand about this placement in solitary confinement is
they are properly selecting prisoners whose names are recognized all
around the Prison Department of Corrections of the state the prisoners
are housed in. These moves are being made now, even when the
targeted prisoners have not committed a prison violation or rule. They
are being isolated because they are feared for being too influential inside
the general populations of state or federal faciliies.

Some of these administrators claim that they suspect certain
prisoners will do again or in the future commit act’s of violence. So
their rational is they will not let prisoners ever do it again. For example,
your Attica’Rebellion, Resistance Days of San Quentin, Lucasville Ohio
uprising, and so many others. The State Prison administrators all
across this racist country don’t ever want to see another Attica. This I
am sure of. There s another relevant point to be made in this section on
how they use big named activist prisoners to legitimize the existence of
these control units.

‘There are a lot of prisoners gifted in challenging the violations which

exist in many SHU Units, Supermaxes, Maxi-Maxi, box car units. Such

challenges however good ultimately result in helping these people create

new ways to enhance their torture, abuse, and isolation. Why do I say
PAGE 1
this? Many prison litigators will admit that our work forces prison
violations to surface and the courts sometimes issue orders of correction.
But in other cases the courts leave the
discretionary racist rule” in the hands of prison administrative
commissioners to do things as they please. This opens a window of
opportunity which allows time to bring violations up to part and
undermines the legitimate grounds we raise in legal battles. So there is
always a need to be mindful of this as a reality for the challeages we
expose. Taking a stand in prison results in most cases in prisoners being
placed further and further into the trenches of the belly of the Amerikan
prison plantations, Prison administrative committees know that
historically, isolation has been used to drive prisoners insane and break
their will to resist. To conclude this section, 1 will outline some “points
to ponder.” That the readers who come in contact with this guide
should always remember. Survive this madness.

Points to Ponder

* Learn exactly why you are being beld in, or being classified for, the
placement in Administrative Segregation, control units, or Security
Housing Units.

% Maintain your personl file on all of your complints, grievances,
reviews, and keep copies of every letter you send to facility heads.

* Don't ever be afraid to question the legitimacy of your placements
from the Superintendent Office, on to the commissioner’s office, on up to
the Governor of your respective states.

* Write your local Senstors, State Representatives, who represent the
closest district near the prison you're in. Expose to them the violations
that are taking place. —
* Write letters to the editors of the local newspapers describing to
them what the living conditions are like. Also contact the news media
and suggest that they come in to inspect the units.

These points are not comples, in fact, it’s rather simplistic and should
be incorporated into prisoners daily programs while isolated in solitary
confinement wnits across this country. Prisoners must do the required
research and study to arm themselves with the wealth of information in
circulation on control units, The prison administrators in control of
these units are putting men away like “unusable goods” to deteriorate;
rot away, then ultimately die. lf.yw‘nwmfinnnlive,mhnddhe
AGE 2
nerve to fight for your survival.

Chapter 2
Study and Learn What Rules and Pelicles
Which Governs the Operation of Control Units

Prisons all across this country that now operate solitary confinement
administrative segregation units of control are all governed by state
statues, prison operational procedures, mandatory rules, all of which are
... In state law. Many prisoners who are being transferred to these
units are basically unaware of these realities. This has been one of the
bimfihulllnlwrbeuluwbmywdnn‘thowldvilfidnurllw
has been violated. There is no way to make anyone be held responsible
for these violations.

Prisoners must obtain copies of these state codes and statutes
governing all laws for the treatmént of prisoners. This is imperative.
After a careful review of such, then and only then may you understand
what they can or cannot do. Prison administrators often know that
rookie guards are inclined to violate prisoners rights. But most have a
“code” amongst themselves that if you fail to document your complaint
or allegation of abuse it’s like it never happened. So to not keep your
records or file your complaints, it's like defeating your ownself before
even starting. Do your home work.

These control units operate on these policies which in most cases vary
from facility to faciliy or unit to unit. Their characteristics are extreme
isolation, reduced environmental stimulus, scant recreational, vocationsl,
or cducational opportunities, and extraordinary levels of surveillance
and control of movement. All policies are not always followed, and
when this happens you anticipate abuse and dehumanization of prisoners
almost every day. So you must study these policies, it allows those of us
under attack, to plee a shield around ourselves. Also it helps us to keep
those prone to abuse in check.

Bén‘mnfimdlnflle:d”nl(fllfl“)bfluflldqyp‘mnmllnta!
fimtnmdymflimrndiznflflnndu,pofid&prmdnrfi.m
laws or codes and use them to confront those responsible for our
placement in these units. The state code violations must be exposed
because these codes mandate the laws all citizens inside the state must

PAGE3

follow. State employees, which includes all prison guards operate under
the color of state law. So to obtain copies of the state codes for your
state where it applies to the treatment of prisoners would be helpful to
any prisoner. Having spent countless years in prison already, I am clear
on how this work can exhaust anyone after period of time.

However, most times it is our self determination and consistency that
helps us get the attention of our captors. When we start a pattern of
giving up easily, or simply never challenge the wrongs waged against us,
prison administrators will never view any thing we challenge as &
recognizable threat to their violations of state and federal law. They are
doing what they please to us now simply due to our overall lack of legal
law knowledge. We must become more diligent in learning how to
interpret the law. Learning these things will be like loading your gun.
Without your bullets your weapon is useless. Arm yourselves so you
will bring forth an effective challenge.

Points to Ponder

Prisoners must create an active file of all the prison regulations, rules,
policies, tate statutes, and codes that govern your custody.

* Look for mandatory language like “they shall” or “they must”
because this is what gives us our leverage to challenge violations of their
own mandates.

% Most prison libraries and law libraries have prisoners supplying the
control supermax or security housing/units all over this country. We
must establish respectful relations with these prisoners to help us secure
the legal cases etc. We will need communication in this sense means
everything.

% We must send copies of these rules, policies, to our families, loved
ones, and other extended family members. Educating them about these
things can ouly help us win the war for our lives in the long run.

Mpo{nhm-ofwnplu,hhdh'lrflhrflnplficudllnnld
be incorporated into prisoners’ daily programs. Especially when you're
going to be isolated in (23) hour isolation for an indefinite period of time.
Control units or as others call them solitary confinement chambers are
claiming lives and stealing the souls of men. ‘We must continue the work
others have started to control o stop the construction of these units.
Providing the outside with the troth behind these the lies being told by

PAGE 4
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Chapter 3

Bullding a Basic Solidarity With
Prisoners in Your Environment

Prisons have always been places where hostilties can be created by
those who run them. Solely for the purpose of keeping a perpetual
wedge between white and black prisoners. Why? This question is easily
answered by acknowledging their agenda. To perpetuste racial violence
inside prison, prison administrators prevent us from seeing who the real
source behind the problems are, which is them. This is classic
divide/conquer tactics and in most cases it works.

These tactics not only prevent us from sesing the real picture, it slso
prevents us from development/sound relationships of solidarity. When
we don’t work together, we become real vulnerable to be attacked
without their fearing retaliation. When we are trying to come together
for the better of our conditions none of this can be done without mutual
respect being established. This is ot always a easy job, due to prisoners
having different ideologies, religions, political beliefs, and these
differences sometime get in the way. This has been a stumbling block
when we try to build collective unity on control units in very reactionary
environments.

‘But due to the growing levels of consciousness, and development, in all
US. prisons, collective unity and understanding amongst targeted
prisoners is growing day by day. We must move with this momentum
when it exists, and build unshakable foundations of solidarity. All prison
organizers must know and come to terms with not being sble to
galvanize 100% support from prisoners. Even when it is those who
don't participate in struggle related efforts who benefit most sometimes.

Prisonérs who work to expose violations are those who sometimes
suffer the most. This is why we must have respectable communications
with at least a majority of the prisoners in our.environment. No matter
where we are, on a administrative segregation unit, Disciplinary
Segregation unit, Security Housing Unit, or a Supermax control unit.
Tmnmunmminmun-h=dopi-;m.mmwm

AGE
about will display reactionary tendencies. They will approve staff to
beat you up, set you up, or even kill you. This is a fact, and you don’t
ever want to isolate yourself from your fellow prisoners. Because when
you need to have someone call or contact your family to inform them of
‘your abuse. No one will care to assist you.

Soit is very erucial to be established as a principled person who would
help them ifthey needed you. This way even if your envied or prisoners
hate you out of misguided jeslousies they still will feel compelled to
honor/aid you, this is KEY and must be established by all. ‘We must be
more observant of our current situation, and become masters in
whatever we know our gifts to be. We all have a purpose some of us
through trial and error, have grown to know what our purpose is.
Whill many of us remain trapped in a whirl-wind of misguided emotions
and utter blind confusion. This is not to say the latter person(s) will not
discover what your life’s purpose is. Everyone has a purpose, and
through the host of your countless experiences, this purpose is
discovered. Without ever discovering our purpose in lfe, our souls will
dflflnllflp!‘lfltfllfil’lfldflrflifl].

Points to Ponder

% Don’t play into the games of the administrators when they promote
the divide and conquer tactics.

* When trying to create unity among prisoners always show them what
they all have in common with each other as prisoners similarly situsted
in the same oppressive conditions.
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challenges they must prepare for in confronting the host of violations
* Encourage collective work and responsibility among the prisoners
you may have some influence with, Everyone has a role to play in prison
activism.
*Mlblflcpflfifiullibnrylnddoymrbdmnflunch
mmfifl-mwmflnflnflemflmdfliuwlflmnfim
We are supposed to be creators. So this is our job.

* Develop a policy among yourselves that if one prisoner comes under
attack, then it symbolically means all of you are under attack. This way
you will build a solidarity that extends beyond the racial expectations of

prison life.
PAGE 6
These points are not complex, in fact it’s rather simplistic and should be
incorporated into active prisoners daily programs. Especially when it
will mean your survival or your certain death if your don’t. Brothers,
it's imperative that our struggles for balance, justice, freedom, rise to

Chapter 4
To Organize an Educational Program

Solitary confinement in our current state of incarceration still breeds
insanity and body deterioration. One of the key components for
countering mental instability i a solid study program.

1¢'s been said that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. So when we fail
to create various forms of release we can leave ourselves vulnerable for
a host of psychological disorders. These wnits are creating psycho-active
psychosis and the results end in then slowly falling apart. In most of
these units prisoners are allowed to order radios or televisions. These
avenues of release helps to serve as social distractions and avenues of
escape. But t00 much of both can serve to keep one too content with
reality T.V. shows and one loses focus on legal work and your freedom.
Prison administrators use many social distractions as pacifiers to
maintsin control of the prison populations/units as a whole.

Too much humility can become cowardice, so we must stay strong
body, mind, and spirit. Prisoners must acquire a host of reading
materials on subjects that helps to empower them with wisdom,
knowledge, and understanding. We all have a purpose to our overall
existence. 1f you're not willing to surrender your soul or become a
victim of (23) or (24) isolation status, build yourself an educational
awareness program to stintulate individual or collective growth and
development. Group dislogue is really helpful in closed up units like
‘SHU units, super maxes, or administrative segregation units.

The sensory deprivation that overwhelms and impacts the minds of
prisoners in these places makes the effects of isolation that much more
critical. A constant reading, writing, and communicating with family
and friends are the weapons we used to combat the intentions of this
form of isolation. We must maintain a heaithy balance of mental
stimulating information, Reading helps us develop new ideas as well as
keep the mind active. A body and mind in motion stays in motion, A

PAGE 7
‘mind and body at rest stavs at rest.

Solitary confinement has the potential to rob a person day by day of
some of their ability to rationalize and think critically. So I can’t stress
the importance of developing a sound system of basic and advanced
education programs. 1 have spent many years in (23) hour isolation
units to know exactly what works and what will ultimately fail in the
end. T suggest prisoners inside these units make their isolation work for
them. Make it a companion, instead of falling apart, pull yourselves
together and do all the necessary things you can to preserve your life.
My earlier years of isolation allowed me time to discover that I had a
creative writing spirit. Those were times when some of my best essays
were created. It was then I learned how to use isolation as & tool toward
my own growth and development. ‘We must steadily and consistently
feed our brain the necessary stimuli with quality materials. A healthy
study habit helps tremendously in combating the ills of insanity. So
many prisoners have succumbed to the conditions of these types of
reactionary eavironments many prisoners are being made subject to
spending decades and entire prison terms on these units. You will be
their next vietim if you don’t prepare yourself right now.

Points to Ponder

* Prisoners who like to read and do their own research and share their
political or non-political materials‘should organize a people’s library for
the unit. /

* Prisoners could make use of any idle time by developing “spelling
bee” contest on your unit as a way to upgrade and better one’s spelling.
Prisoners can build a strong vocabulary by studying the dictionary.
This helps to also better our ability to communicate with everyone we
‘write or come into contact with. The use of properly used language can
be very persuasive.

* Prisoners who believe that there is a higher being or higher power
should do what is necessary to get in-tuned with their spiritual side.
This helps to balance out the stress one endures on these units.

* Prisoners should find one or two people we have things in common
with in the free world and maintain a connection to the streets. This is
very crucial to your continued stable mental health.

These points are not complex, in fact its rather simplistic and should
PAGE 8
be incorporated into an active prisoner’s daily programs. Especially
when it will mean your survival or your certain death if you don’t.
Brothers, it’s imparitive that our struggle for balance, justice, freedom,
rise to the next level. We all struggle together as one brotherhood with
the objective of our freedom as our common reality.

Chapter B8

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Yourself

Prisoners who are being housed in solitary confinement and units like
. (secarity housing units) or supermax control units must come to terms
. with their need o build a strong outside base. Many of us still have
close relationships with our families. While on the other hand, some of
us don’t have anyone out in society who cares enough to help us. This is
+ why it's extremely important for us to build extended family ties with
people who care for the survival of prisoners across the country.

Personally, prison administrators’ mission in most cases are to destroy
the ties and relationships we have developed with freedom loving people
who's on our team. These ties are crucial in times of support and
assistance. We all need people who are not overly judgmental and who.
will embrace us as we are and stand by us in our fight for freedom. So
we must bring all of our supporters together with our loved ones and
build a movement. When you don't have anyone to make a cal to the
warden, governor, or commissioner’s office, who will expose what is
occurring on your unit, or to you by prison guards these people are
‘more likely to violate your rights.

‘When harassment goes unchallenged, prison administrators tend to get
out of control. So we as prisoner must educate and inform peaple on the
things they can o from the free world to keep prison administrators at
bay. Over the years this has been an effective process because when the
people on the outside have all the informational tools o assist us they
will almost always respond correctly. Sometimes this can be a not s0
easy process, because all people don’t work well together. Personality
conflcts, ego flare ups, insecurities, and a varicty of other factors
prevent such collective efforts.

PAGE 9
Prisoners’ families and those who care and support them share a
common connection that must be revealed to them when we begin the
process of encouraging them to work together for our freedom our
families and friends want the same thing, and that is to see us return
home through the gates we entered. This is common relationship they
share on the outside.

Building or organizing yourself a freedom defense commmittee of people
loyal to you is & must. This committee on your behalf would serve as
your voice. The job of your outside committee would be to keep the
courts, attorney on your case, prosecutor, on notice of your supporters
having your back. They would help you solicit funds to build a strong
financial base to pay your attorney or securing one if you don't have
reliable legal representation. They would help o publicize and inform
society about your current prison reality and legal battles as you push
for freedom from Amerikka’s prisons.

A strong base of support is very important for many reasons. No one
in prison should be in prison without some kind of support. But
prisoners who are the constant targets of prison administrators deserve
it more so then others, for it is these men or women who are trying to
change their oppressive environments. They are not targeted due to
reactionary behavior in prison. They are constant victims of
manufactured set ups, harassment, slander, and even attempts made on
their lives because they are revolutionary and politically conscious. Also
tese men and women work to expose violations of policy and law.

Points to Ponder

Build yourself a support freedom committee to help you maintain,

survive, promote your freedom, and expose the conditions of the prison

or control unit you're in.

% Try to establish a consistent relationship with friends who will visit

you regularly. It helps to keep one focused and uncontrolled by the

conditions of your environment.

% Always send a card or a warm respectful letter of appreciation to

those outside who support and show their love and concern for your well

being. Never abuse these relationships or you may live to regret it when

you're alone and depressed.

% 1f you are in need of money for legal representation build n creative

fund raiser. They can sell some T-shirts, buttons, hats, that reflect
PAGE 10
* Prisoners can write booklets of poetry, history, prison life, their lives,
and once formatted correctly, they can be sold on E-Bay or some other
‘venue to raise money.

These points are not complex, in fact they are basic and rather simple
and could be incorporated into an active prisoner’s daily programs.
Especially when it will mean your survival and freedom from these
prison plantations.

‘Brothers and Sisters it is imperative that our struggle for balance,
justice, freedom, equality rise to the next level. We all share the same
reality we're in prison which gives us & common relationships. This

Some years ago a fellow prisoner gave me some wise advice sbout”
combating prison abuse from those who run these prisons. He said you
‘must become more “proactive” in the ways you challenge and oppose
oppressive conditions. Forllm[fimmnylflulwhflhlvfllflynnnr
more in saw the coming of hard times and prison changes. We also saw
the potential for the construction of the proliferation of control nits we
see popping up all across the country. We failed to prepare ourselves,
and now we are the one’s being buried inside solitary tombs. Preparing
w—lvuwulldhnmmfllllmmflfinglpmufivem
Today, many.of us are not being proactive when it comes to really
preparing and exposing these units and those who run them for fear of
m-finfimorm'-hwbu'l[hmflnmlnnm But this
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way they are classifying us on these units. Their actions are arbitrary
and meant to cause undue mental harm on many prisoners. Historically
it has been stated that too much isolation does and will cause insanity.
Such isolation also causes any preexisting mental health conditions to
enhance themselves.

‘Without any meaningful mentsl stimulation or physical release of pent-

PAGE 11
up frustrations the entire existence of the human begins a deterioration
process. This writer has been housed in controlled environments for the
past (16) years. I can personally say that prison administrators have
used my solation to punish and break my willto resist. I remain strong
and am resisting, but I would be openly Iying if I said I am not being
affected by fong term isolation.

Prisoners 'must be more proactive and challenge being housed in
control units or being placed on administrative segregation on indefinite
terms. This is unnatural and sbnormal, but it openly shows the barbaric
nature of prison control unit administrators. They are violating our
human and ‘civil rights every day. We are the victims of premeditated
arrogance, ‘and bald racist tendencies, at the hands of these prison
officials. _Don’t you all agree, that we must learn how to protect
ourselves sometimes without the use of violence.

Medin outlets and newspaper publishers are always interested in
hearing o reading stories sbout prison conditions. Prisoners must do
what it takés to get their words in the hands of people who are in real
positions to help. We are dying in these units. Some due to
deterioratinig health troubles while others are being beat to death or shot
up with psychological “mind controllers” that destroy one’s ability to
focus and be rational. We will benefit in the long run for exposing
prison abuse, poor conditions, bad food, and all violations as & whole.
This establishes a clear record documented by those of us who don’t fear
retalistions. Prison administrators have made it a practice to intimidate
prisoners who file successfol complaints against them by Inunching false
conduct reports or infractions, placing restrictions on our movements,
destroying our mail to the outside, random cell searches, petty
confiscations of reading and legal materials, or even making attempts on
our lives by manipulating prisoner collaborators. We can live like men
on our feet challenging these injustices, or die off slowly like cowards on.
‘our knees. WE must never feel like we don’t have a right to protest and
speak out about prison violations.

Being proactive s us taking our destiny in our own hands. The time is
now.

Points to Ponder

* hydmmfimmnflv.dnflrhlltainywmiu. Doing this
will prepare you to organize new changes to the challenges you make to
PAGE 18
oppose those meant to be repressive.

% Write stories and letters to social groups, media personalities, news
editors, describing your being housed in solitary confinement. Share
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they can be helping in doing investigations into your cisims. Notify your
state’s health department if you have issues of poor sanitation.

% Encourage prisoners in your unit to compel their loved one’s to
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news channels active in your area. Getting the word out is importaat.
*Wfikmflnfldfinlmppon!orywrdl'flnlmd!mmio
groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Keep
a file of everything you file for your record. ;

These people are trying to kil us men. These points are not complex
and easily understood. Meant to not confuse you, only to guide and
‘motivate you. We must remain active by staying extremely proactive. I
hope you will stand in solidarity with me and take control of your own
survival or you'll die in isolation.

Chapter 7 .
Making Use of Your Access or Limited
Use of the Units’ Law Library

1 am almost certain that all across this prison industrial complex and
country as a whole inside the secured housing units, supermaxes, maxi-
max, and administrative segregation units exist a small unit law library.
Each unit no matter where it’s situated or what respective state it is in.
There are state. prison. policies, state law, and federal law and
regulations state control units must comply with.

Except for the right to life, the most fundamental right of prisoners,
and one that is often at risk s the right not o be subject to torture and
cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or pupishment. This right is
protected by both the (ICCPR) and the convention against torture and
other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment, another
treaty to which the United States is & party. Itis also clear that solitary
confinement, particularly for long periods and particularly when
combined with extreme deprivation 'Agmmlufmmllmm.' ion, may cause

PAGE B
“The Prison Industrial Complex by choosing to subject hundreds of us
to prolongéd periods in extremely harsh and poteatially harmful
conditions that cannot be justified as reasonable necessary to ensure
security or o serve the legitimate goals of punishment, the industrial
prison contplex - has violated prohibition on cruel,. inhumane or
degrading treatment contained in the international covenant on political
and civil rights and the Unitéd Nation's standard minimum rules for the
treatment of prisoners.

It is more accurate to describe life in these units as one of extremely
limited environmental stimulation, one in which perceptually informative
inputs are limited. Our worlds in here are cramped, claustrophobic, and
austere. We are spending years of solitary lives, surrounded by the
noise of others but without the opportunity to develop normal social
relationships. In federal administrative segregation case called Bono
v. Saxbe 450 F. Supp. 934 ED. 111. 1978 The Court said:

Before we can be placed in control units they must begin by giving
written notice of the acts which led prison officials to contemplate taking
the measure of confinement in the control unit, must be given a personal
hearing with the right to present documentary evidence and with an
impartial decision maker, must be given written notice for the action,
and must have an opportunity for review at the time of the
determination and for later periodic review.

‘Most control units don't provide a criteria, and terms you're forced to
live in such confinement may be said to be permanent. Prison
administrators claim that placement on administrative segregation in
control unit are not to be punitive when in fact it's clearly a form of

PAGE 14
punishment, For the most part our placements in such wnits are
arbitrary.

In Wright v. Enomoto 462 F. Supp. 397 (N.D. Cal. 1976)

Though prisoners rights may be diminished by the needs and exigencies
of the institutional environment, a prisoner is not wholly stripped of
constitutional protections when he is imprisoned for a crime. There is
10 iron curtain drawn between the constitution and the prisons in this
country...prisoners may not be deprived of life, liberty, or property
without due process of law.

Points to Ponder

% Secure yourselves copies of all relevant cases dealing with
administrative segregation where prison authorities were ruled against
by the courts in the prisoner’s favor.

% Learn al state prison policies that have rule over the environments in
which you live. This is how we keep the officers in place when they
violate facility rules.

% Never miss you opportunity to visit or sead for legal state codes from
your law libraries on those that govera your state or federal prison.

% Learn what your rights are.as-a prisoner so that you can expose to-
the media and courts how they are being violated.

These are some simple key points to incorporate into your everyday
lives while many of you are housed in control units. Today in Amerika
we are being called hot-heads, terrorists, and the Amerikan Patriot Act
i opening the door for all of our rights o be eroded. Learning how to
apply state and federal law in defense of your rights. could only be
helpful down the road.

‘The inhumane treatment and over-all prison conditions can lead to a
lot of bitterness and the loss of self-esteem after doing any significant
amount of time in these units prisoners’ character defects seem to grow.
until they literally dominate the-persons’ eatire personality. Such closed
confinement makes it extremely difficult to function in 8 civil
environment. Prison authorities all across this country will have to come
{0 terms with the pathological problems that are arising out of long term
incarceration. Trying to reconnect with loved ones once released from
these units back out into soclety is extremely hard.

PAGE 15
Chapter 8
Proactive Participation in All Available
Educational, Religious, or
Correspondence Programs

There is nothing more solid than he or she who’s confined in prison or
housed in control units then to take an active stand and participate in all
meaningful, positive, and wholesome activities. Many prisoners
segregated on control units are being denied access to actually attend
class for college. But they are granting us access to take our G.E.D. and
pay to earoll in courses though mail correspondence. Also we can
obtain a host of certificates of achievement by taking courses from the
federal emergency management institute free of charge.

‘Also there are a wide variety of religious schools of thought that offer
prisoners a chance to earn a lot of great certificates. They too are free
of charge when a prisoner is convicted and sent to prison. When going
back into the court room, it's proven beneficial for many to produce
certificates before the judge ruling on your appeal or modifications of
sentence motions. Each prison also offers substance abuse and anger
‘management courses where you can obtain a certificate of achievement
once the course is completed. Many of the federal grants once readily
available are now bankrupt and prisoners are hindered in their pursuits
of higher education. Prisoners who are housed in control units,
administrative segregation units, and disciplinary segregation units, for
the most part, can’t attend actusl college classes, and must pay for a
college though mail correspondence.

When a prisoner becomes proactive and not reactive, it's like taking
back their lives. So it's very important to play an active role in your
own survival and emotional, social, and political development. Society
on a daily basis is being influenced by the Amerikan media’s social
commentary.. Much of this propaganda is overwhelmingly anti-prisoner.
So when prisoners are all being castigated 24/7 citizens are not quick to
want to assist s. But being able to show your achievements while on
the inside, prisoners can destroy the many myths or stereotypes being
propagated. This is extremely important. Take charge of your life by
taking your life back.

PAGE 16
Prisoners have a right to write in to their local governors, state
representatives, legislators, and others to complain about nom-existent
educational programs. State law and state codes require all state
facilities/federal institutions to operate a program service and
educationsl outlet for it's prisoners. If prisoners fail to hold those
officials responsible, educational advancement will be non-existent in
these units.

Points to Ponder

* Write letters to correspondence schools and request an application to
participate in obtaining certificates by completing their variety of
courses.

* Write letters to colleges in your area and attempt to establish
relationships with college professors and professionals who may
empathize with your situation and want to take a personal interest in
helping you further your education.

* When you start to collecting your certificates, you may want to make
copies of them and send (1) copy home and have one placed on your
facility packet.

* Engage yourself in any self-help and self-improvement opportunities
that are available to you and encourage fellow prisoners to participate as
well.

* Taking action is “proactivity”. We must always do for ourselves first
and maybe then someone would be encouraged to help us as well.
Anyone who desires to obtain a G.E.D. should do 5o if you don’t have
one. We are actuslly the only ones capable of rehabilitating ourselves.
We must first be transformed internally before actusl changes can be
made.

‘This is simple and if you are genuine, it can be helpful to anyone who
takes charge of the direction of their lives. Stop wasting time and
energy engaging in activity that isn’t conducive to your development as 8
whole. Inside Amerikan prisons, there exists a high level of hopelessness
that will overwhelm most prisoners. This hopelessaess cripples many to
the point of discouraging men from fighting for their freedom. No one
‘will help prisoners until they know we have a desire to fight for our own
selves.

So as we struggle to endure the maduess that comes with being in
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PAGE 17
must become our weapons of choice. ‘The prison industrial complex is
hoping to steal souls and lives of prisoners who are isolated in their
custody. If you're not ready to die, stand up and become more
proactive.

Chapter 9
On Turning Your Cell Into Your Own
Laboratory

Sensory deprivation is alive and well and is used by prison authorities
who run and operate control units all across this country. Most
prisoners who are sanctioned to indefinite terms will more than likely be
forced to live in conditions isolated to a cell (23) hours a day. Sometimes
even (24) hours.

Closed inside these units, prisoners are being compelled to turn their
cells into their very own laboratory. We have to study, write, exercise,
and create right in these cells. In most cases you will have a cell to
yourself. Some other units run the double man cells which ultimately
can become very cramped for real active prisoners. These cells are the
size of some big closets in people in society homes. Most of our time is
spent in these cells so we have no other choice than to come up with
creative ways to use the isolation to our advantage. Personally it is
crucial to use your moments of isolation to develop self-control. When
we control our inner self we have won our first battle for freedom.
Because without internal freedom you’ll never know real freedom at all.
‘Working on our inner selves enables us with the ability to conquer the
sensory deprivation of being in a cell 23/4 hours a day.

‘Another very important issue we must develop is a good study and
spiritusl program. Doing so helps us to release the negative feclings
such environment five rise to. This small cell must become your
Iaboratory where you create your unshakable foundation. Where you
develop your maturity-as & person, and where all the necessities you
need are right,there in 8 arms reach. ‘We should never leave our
rehabilitation in the hands of prison suthorities. We are our own
liberators—-we educate and teach ourselves. The credit goes to those of
us who possess the self-determination to guide our survival in these
oppressive control units all across the U.S. These units are built to

PAGE 18

contain and repress. prisoners’ resistance in the general populations
across this country in Amerikan prisons. They are torturing and
dehumanizing prisoners everyday inside secured housing units and the
‘many supermax prisons all across this country. The ugliness of what the
Amerikan people just witnessed in the prison Abu Ghraib over in Iraq is
nothing new to us here in Amerika. Torture and dehumanization are
“tools of the trade” in U.S. prisons and supermax control units to
destroy dangerous people. Prisoners are being suffocated, strangled,
hanged, and hit with electric stun guns. They are dying and no one in
society seems to feel this & serious problem, but only a few staunch
activists. We owe it' to ourselves as revolutionary and aspiring
revolutionary prison activists to work diligently to expose all prison
abuse. Prisoners must learn all they can about existing violations inside
the units they are isolated on then expose it to the local public in the city
and states yow're located at. Turn your cell into your personal
Iaboratory.

Points to Ponder

* Build your own personal library of good quality up to date books
and materials that can help you stabilize your foundation. This includes *
spiritual books also.

* Develop yourself a real meaningful line of communication with a love ,
interest and others who share real concern for your freedom and your
survival.

% Get yourself a stimulating physical exercise program one that works
the cardiovascular, abdominal, legs, arms etc.. A well rounded workout
does wonders for the mind, body, and soul and it reduces high blood
pressure.

2 Surround yoursl with psiive thinking people at all imes mnd your

- state of mind will always be positive.

Chaptar 10
Educating Family on Building a
Support Group

Building a support group isn’t a new idea to say the least. But many
PAGE 19
of us seems to feel we deserve one, yet we are not willing to put in the
necessary work to bring this into a reality. We must first possess a
vision of what this support groups over-all objectives will be, what types
of people it will consist of and if these people involved are qualified to
represent you entirely outside of your presence., When we hope to
create support group that's specifically focused on your freedom from
prison it's imperative that we educate and provide family with
paperwork on concrete ways they can conductively help us. A personal
support group is extremely important because they will serve as your
oice in the streets. They will be able to make your phone calls to
judges, lawyers, prosecutors, and anyone else that must be contacted.
So you should work hard to develop an understanding with people as to
what their commitments to you are, When you're being held hostage in
these control units all around this godforsaken country your support
group will be helpful in advocating justice for you. Many of us who
come under attack by prison authorities need the help of support groups
to raise factual complaints of abuse, torture, and violations of state or
federal law or prison policies which are governed by state codes or
‘statues.

A support group will be able to galvanize media support and publicize
your struggle on ll levels. The media will be more willing to listen to
free people, as opposed to prisoners, so you must direct your people on
what must be done. A support group can also help you solicit funds so
that you may retain credible legal representation. Other funds may be
used for your personal survival while fighting for your freedom from
prison. These control units are dismal desolate places, where men and
women prisoners alike are languishing in these places. Prisoners who
have support groups already should encourage others in the ways of
organizing a support group. Everyone in prison needs and desires
saety net, having a group of people out in society that will help is very
important. Our survivalis dependent upon help from outside sources.

Points to Ponder

* Build your support group and involve family members that you trust.

* A post office box number should be acquired to use as the address

for correspondence. Personal addresses should never be given to

strangers.

* Your support group must obtain a computer/printer/and a scanner
PAGE 20
to advertise your case or whatever.
* Your support group should establish you a personal website that can
display & relative and factual information you want shared with the
public.

All art or poetry and other things you're into should also be displayed
on your website.

* Your group should organize fundraisers and take out a persona)
account to put any donations that come in to support you.

These points are simple and if you are serious sbout building a
support group you will take heed to these few points. Taking action is
the incentive to building something that endures. If you don’t help
yourselves nobody will be willing to do anything. I don’t have all the
answers and more than likely, I will make some more mistakes. 11 fail
t0 learn from the it will all will be in vain.

Requested Understanding

‘This booklet or handbook will be sent o prisoners free of charge. I
am currently fighting a prison related murder charge of a prison guard.
T've served my original sentence.already, but now due to this new
charge the state of Indiana successfully manufactured this case which
after a (7) day murder charge resulted in a freshly new (60) years. All of
my initial appeals have been denicd. 1 am now on the second level of
appeals. :

Donations are welcomed and should be made out to the freedom
campaign of Khalfani Malik Khaldun in the name of Mark Thiel 30 N.
19% St. Lafayette, Indiana 47904, = Your help, assistance, and
compassion will be much appreciated. Without your help there is no
way I can gain an advantage on my fight for freedom.

The struggle continues, Freedom, justice, and equality. Peace.

PAGE 21
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