Report on Internal Changes Occurring Inside the
Indiana Department of Corruption: A Call to Action
A Prisoner’s Overview (2005)

"Settle your quarrels, come together, understand the
reality of our situation... that people are already dying you
could have saved, that generations more will die or live poor

butchered lives if you fail to act...”
~ George Jackson ~

This report is being written for the sole purpose of giving
voice to the current changes that are occurring inside the
1.D.0.C. and the politics involved with these changes.

Indiana’s Governor, Mitchell Daniels, Jr. was elected after
victory over ousted Governor Joe Kernan. Governor Mitchell
Daniels Jr. immediately launched a campaign replacing the
staff of the original Governor O'Bannon, with his own new
staff. His power and reach of this office, also trickled down
to the Indiana Department of Corruption.

Evelyn Ridley-Turner, the past (1.D.0.C.) Commissioner,
was replaced (by Governor Mitchell Daniels Jr.) with J. David
Donahue, in January of 2005.

Commissioner Donahue'’s Bio

J. David Donahue has 24 years experience in corrections
including service with the federal bureau of prisons, local
government and private corrections. He started his career
as a corrections officer in 1980 and has held several
management positions throughout his tenure.

He was assigned to several facilities throughout the
country, having served as warden of two institutions. In the
early 1990's, Donahue was allegedly committed to
progressive, professional and efficient government. He is a
well-respected professional who has a broad range of
experience, according to his background check. J. David
z
Donahue is a native of Bardstown, Kentucky. He received
his Bachelor's Degree in Police Administrative and Criminal
Justice, from Eastern Kentucky University and did graduate
course work at Spaulding University.

Donahue has maintained, according to his background
check, a professional membership with National Convictions
associations and has also served as public safety director for
the city of Barbourmeade in Jefferson County, Kentucky. He
is married to Jan Caffee Donahue and they have three
children.

Indiana's Commissioner as Trouble Shooter

On June 28-29, the second Superintendent's Conference
was held at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana.
This was hosted by the Department of Criminology. The
conference was attended by facllity Superintendents, parole
supervisors and division directors, representing the Indiana
Department of Corruptions. The Commissioner had agreed
to Interviews with local newspapers in Indianapolis. He had
also attended community forums in the New Afrikan

communities in Indianapolis.

These actions have lead Indiana citizens into believing
that he cares about the voices and concerns of the People.
He may be "progressive” but he is a political agent, whose
sole purpose is to serve the interests of his office.

Some of his work immediately was shown in the way he
approached the lack of professionalism in department staff.
Instead of promoting, Donahue sent a message throughout
the employed members by demoting many who held rank
down to rookie officers. For many of us on the inside, this
gave us the impression that positive changes were on the
rise. But the changes that are currently occurring under this
new administration are centered on saving the Prison
Industrial Complex more money. Doing this has a drastic
impact on prisoners and our rights as a whole.
Commissioner J. David Donahue highlighted the 150 - day
3
accomplishments of the department and emphasized
"employees, efficiencies and effectiveness.”

Privatization * Profits * Prisoner Suffering *

Prisons are Big Business in the U.S. today and private
corporations have worked assiduously to build their market
niche. While private prisons still represent a small
percentage of the overall prison industry, they exert an
increasing influence on criminal justice policy.

Indiana Governor Mitchell Daniels appointed
Commissioner J. David Donahue and Donahue embraces as
part of his success that he's operated on a flat-line budget,
while accomplishing new and innovative ideas with speed.
Here's a list of his other projects:

* Launched the 99-cent menu provided by private food
provider, Aramark, for the offender prison population.
Effective today, this supposedly saves $11 million for the
Indiana taxpayers. Another alleged "benefit" of Aramark is
the "Inmate to Workmate” program. Connecting with the
1.D.0.C.'s New Re-Entry initiative. The program is designed
to train prisoners in the food service business and prepare
them for future employment in the food service industry.

* Opened two meth drug treatment units, allegedly
gamering nationwide attention. The first program began in
April of 2005 at Miami Correctional Facility and was
replicated in June at Wabash Valley Correctional Facllity.
The intensive program - Clean Lifestyle is Freedom Forever
(CLIFF) - teaches offenders how to change ther lifestyles.

* Created advisory boards for each (IDOC) facility. They
said everything they do must prove an added value to the
public and tie in with re-entry. Their alleged priority and
focus is to put public safety number one.
3

* Commissioner J. David Donahue hosted a (3) day tour of
six correctional facilities around the state to highlight
opportunistic objectives. Their move is to reduce the $656
million spent annually on Indiana prisons.

The Indiana Department of Corruptions through the
Governor Mitchel Daniels Jr. awarded a $258 million contract
with Aramark, which is a private corporation. This third-
party vendor will operate In (30) facilities in this state. This
contract is to last for the course of its ten year duration.

Major Aramark clients in Indiana include, Conseco
Fieldhouse, Clarion Health Partners and Butler University.
Aramark also provides a wide range of food, facility and
other support services to more than 450 correctional
facilities in North Amerikka!

On July 1, 2005 all food menus changed due to Aramark
setting up Its food services across the state. Food portions
were immediately reduced to child-like portions. Just
imagine what a 99-cent meal would look like. This has had
an extremely severe impact on prisoners, causing great
psychological suffering, due to having to.contend with
hunger as their constant companion. While religious diets
and vegetarian diets are being perfunctorily respected,
Aramark and those appointed to be food service supervisors
are not ensuring that all meals are being prepared according
to a full daily range of 2500 to 2800 + calories.

On July 11, 2005 some prisoners began a collective
hunger strike at Wabash Valley Correctional Facility inside
the secured housing unit (SHU.) The strike only lasted (5)
days and they passed up (14) meals collectively. The strike
was located on the disciplinary segregation wing of the
S.H.U. Prisoners are not allowed to order any food products
from the commissary from this unit. Prisoners on
administrative segregation are allowed to order $50.00
worth of food, at their inflated prices.

1In October 2005, several prisoners housed at the
"Supermax" in Westville, Indiana, also now known as (wcu)
Westville Correctional Unit, organized a hunger strike also,
s
that lasted some (14) days in opposition to the wrongful
practices of Aramark. We are suffering, while the
Department seeks to save taxpayer dollars. So, we are the
victims of profits, totally disregarding the fact that prisoners
must eat to live. Being in custody of the (1.D.0.C.) there's a
duty and obligation to ensure that we are properly
nourished. While the food appears to be healthy, portions
are disrespectful for an average adult male prison
population.

In other efforts, prisoners at both the (SHU) and
"Supermax” launched petitions to prison officials, trying to
compel them to consider allowing disciplinary segregation
unit prisoners across the state to purchase food from the
commissary. The essence of both these petitions was to
promote the following:

We make the following suggestions as the just
alternative to the inherent hunger due to small portions
under Aramark. Approve

2 jars of peanut butter
2ars of jelly

2 boxes of saltine crackers or snack crackers
2 bags of freeze-dried Colombian coffee

2 bags of candy (mints) or Jolly Ranchers

1 box of sugar.

IR

Our petitions have been sent to the Commissioner’s,
Superintendent's and Governor’s offices.

A Direct Impact on Our Privacy

On November 9, 2005 J. David Donahue issued executive
directive #05-30 from the central office of his command
center. This directive presents a revision of policy 02-01-
103, "Offender Correspondence” and its administrative
procedures. The commissioner's revision of this policy
exposes the department's intentions to launch a campaign of
secret censorship or targeted prisoners. The alterations ¢
made to this mail policy that most affects us are:

* The procedures regarding the sealing of outgoing mail
correspondence has been changed. With the exception of
legal and privileged correspondence, outgoing
correspondence is to be submitted "unsealed" and is to be
inspected for contraband and prohibited property. Outgoing
mall is not be read unless the facility has reason to do so.
Legal mall and privileged mail are to be submitted sealed,
but may be opened in the presence of the offender for
inspection, if there is reason to belleve that it may contain
contraband or prohibited property.

* Section (G) is added which bans printed matter and
personal photographs that contain nudity. It defines nudity
and Indicates possible exceptions. Offenders are to be
advised that they must dispose of any printed matter or
personal pictures that contain nudity as described in these
procedures. The offenders are to be advised that there will
be no "grand fathering" of these items.

What must be understood here with this revision people,
the correspondence policy prior to these changes made to it,
already had an alternative method of monitoring outgoing
mail concerning possible contraband. So, while J. David
Donahue, Indiana's newest prison commissioner, is being
heralded as cleaning things up, he obviously has an agenda
to censor our communications. Staff can now simply
destroy, copy or just simply delay legitimate complaints we
attempt to file against the department. Our correspondence
now will be exposed to the arbitrary review of disgruntied
officers, who we have open hostilities against. They also
openly express their contempt of prison revolutionaries and
prison activists.

Being compelled to leave our mail unsealed constitutes a
1st Amendment rights violation to privacy. This is an
outright and blatant attack on all prisoners - White, New
Afrikan, Hispanic, Native Amerikan and on our families am:l7
those we maintain communications with. Our mail will be
read and having to leave it unsealed, they will know
firsthand of the status and political nature of our
relationships. This is their extension of the "War on
Terrorism" through manipulating the American Patriot Act.

New Changes By the Commissioner to
The Offender Grievance Process

According to a new memo from the commissioner's
office, also starting on December 1%, 2005, (1.D.0.C.) will
begin a new grievance program. Previously, the process
was a (5) step/tier review. This (5) step process is now
reduced to only (2) steps. For many of us who challenge
violations through this grievance process, can see the
agenda here. Most legitimate grievances against rank and
file members of the IDOC in most cases, are delayed,
destroyed or simply put, never get filed. Because we are
forced to file the Initial complaints to our facilities'
counselors, who in large part maintain personal relationships
with the person the claim is against. So these counselors
will suppress the grievance. When they do respond to them,
it's a generic response in support of the staff member and
used to invalidate our claims.

When the change to this policy may on its face appear to
be focused on easier conflict resolution, its inherent catch
will be discovered and exposed. Its Initial statement reads:

* It s the intent of the Department to resolve all offender
grievances as quickly and informally as possible. Both staff
and offenders are to attempt to resolve problems through
open, courteous discussions before a grievance Is taken to
the written, formal grievance process.

* Prior to filing a formal grievance, an offender shall
attempt to resolve problems in an informal manner by
discussing it with their counselor or another member in the
housing unit who may be able to assist in the resolution of
the problem.

* Offenders must never let his complaint go beyond (5)
working days, unless the offender can provide a reasonable
explanation for a delay.

* If the offender has been unable to resolve their grievance
Informally, the offender shall be permitted to file a formal
written grievance. The executive assistant shall ensure that
the offender population has ready access to the forms
necessary for the grievance process through the unit team.
An offender wishing to file a formal written grievance shall
file it in (20 working days) from the date of the incident

the grievance. The facility head may waive the
time frame if there Is a valid reason for doing so.

The process of resolving these issues sounds real good.
But we know things are not always so easily resolved. The
department is trying to create an atmosphere where staff
and prisoners establish more social interaction between the
two. This can work in most cases, when staff are trained in
conflict resolution and people skills. A prisoner's attempt to
use professional courtesy could accomplish such an
objective.

But it's been my experience that in a vast majority of
facllities, where the employed staff are mostly white, these
men/women are very disrespectful and unwilling to allow us
to assert our complaints. They use foul language and simply
just walk away. These actions will disrupt the process of the
basis of this new approach to the grievance process. Many
staff members whom we seek assistance from in the
informal process could (and do) easlly fabricate untruths
about us that could automatically stop the entire process.

As prison activists, we must work to ensure that this
program is not used as a "suppressant" of all our challenges.

Many of the grievances filed by us are concentrated on
the violations made by Aramark, such as inadequate
portions of food. Most of the letters and suits being filed are
against Aramark and this new mail policy. Iam of the
opinion that the IDOC is trying to track all our challenges by
reading the unsealed mail. The call for more interaction,
could Intel the state's agenda to foster more covert relations
between those prisoner elements who will provide
information to them about prison activism. When the state
makes changes, it's to the benefit only to the state!

Unprofessional Conduct of Department Staff

Inside the secured housing unit (SHU) a lot of the
unchecked staff assaults have reduced since January, 2005.
This must be seen as a good thing, but without the show of
solidarity from some prisoners, those actions would have
never reached the level of exposure needed to get it
stopped. The following Is a list of some of the things
happening to prisoners on disciplinary segregation at the
SHU.

* Prisoners who are filing grievances and are active in
challenging Aramark and other conditions are being targeted
by staff, giving our mail to other prisoners which is an
obvious retaliation.

* Prisoners' cells are being targeted by disgruntled staff and
they are tearing up personal family photos or confiscating
books and magazines.

* One prisoner was recently the target of disgruntled staff
who searched his cell and removed a letter from his cell,
then he discovered the letter was taken from his cell on his
lunch tray. This was done to cause his psychological
torment. Now, due to prisoner solidarity, the officers are
under investigation.

* Staff are targeting several prisoners by tampering with
the food on their trays Some prisoners have received their
4
trays with bites off their deserts or other foods that are in
solid form. There are about five (5) officer on one shift,
doing this.

* Two New Afrikan prisoners were recently targeted having
a staff break his television. The other prisoner was recently
transferred from another unit to the SHU and staff claims to
have "lost" his television. This is blatant!

* Officers openly express thelr hostility towards the actions
of Aramark, because they are being placed in the middle of
our war with corporate Indifference.

* False charges of rule violations are being made by certain
staff against prisoners they don't like who challenge their
authority.

* Prisoners are being heavily medicated as a form of
behavior modification control. Yet, this SHU remains a
highly disorganized, reactionary unit.

* Some custody staff tried to coerce (2) prisoners into
providing information that they were being paid to assault
staff in the SHU. They were targeting one specific prisoner
for a charge.

Some Points to Ponder in Establishing a System
OF Pro-Activity

* Prisoners should organize among themselves letter
writing campaigns directing their complaints to Aramark
(I.C.L.U.) the Governor's office and to solicit the help of local
Senators, who supposedly owe their support to Indiana
citizens.

* Class action lawsuits can be helpful in making the state do
the right thing on the food issues and the recent moves by
n
the commissioner to require our mail to be left unsealed.
We need a collective response!

* It's extremely important that prisoners encourage family
members and loved ones to get involved in these struggles
occurring around Aramark and our malil. Prisoners should
convince their people to work together to help us expose
these issues. Your families' participation Is welcomed and
needed. Set all personality conflicts to the side for the
greater good of such an objective.

* Write letters to the media about these changes taking
place and seek their help in investigating such matters and
running stories on them.

* Draw up petitions that collectively address the concerns of
prisoners who are starving in units where food is not
allowed. This petition must highlight the reasonable
alternative/proposal that suggests that a list of food Items
should be put on the commissary list for all D/S prisoners.
Present the petitions to the superintendent and
commissloner’s office for review/reply.

* We should try to keep a coordinated system where the
outside is constantly being updated with our work in
conjunction to theirs. The inside and outside must always
be connected as a pro-active collective, fueling one another.
This is how we win!

Questionable Practices by Political Officials
And Statistical Research on Prisons

The involvement of private prison corporations in the
development of model criminal justice legislation is done
through the conservative legislative support organizations.
We must continue to question the role of private prison
corporations in the U.S. incarceration boom. The Influence
1z
wielded by private prison corporations on state level
candidates and legislation is huge!

Activists here in the state of Indiana must investigate
what role privatization is currently playing in the politics of
Indiana prisons and in the political arena. The medical
department of IDOC has already been under private
contract. Now we are being confronted by Aramark, the
private food provider. The Governor Mitchell Daniels Jr.
secured the $258 million ten-year contract, supposedly
saving taxpayers $11.5 million. In light of all these shady
corporate dealings, Governor Mitchell Daniels Jr. may have
stock in Aramark and could the commissioner. We must
research the internet to gather all available information on
Aramark. We need all information on other state prisons
and federal prisons throughout the prison industrial
complex, wherever Aramark Is operating their malnourishing
for profit businesses.

We should be recording all existing prison disruptions
and riots occurring as a result of such small portions of food
being served throughout the archipelago. Corrections
Corporation of America (CCA) a private prison group made a
long haul investment in 1996. Their candidate, Indianan
Stephen Goldsmith, was once the mayor of Indianapolis
(1992-1999). He scored a $31,000 contribution for his
failed gubernatorial bid, but in 1999 became a top domestic
policy advisor to Republican Presidential candidate / now
President George W. Bush. Goldsmith is a strong proponent
of privatizations of all government services, which includes
corrections.

The Crime Control Industry nd the Economy

Government expenditures for "Justice" have been
growing at an average rate of 8.1% a year since 1982. A
staggering Increase from $36 billion in 1982, arew 409% to
$147 billion by 1999! While some police and judicial
expenses are not for crime control, the government figures
do not include the $104 billion private security industry.
13

Criminologist Nils Christie estimated the combined size of
the U.S. public and private crime control industry at $210
billion"in the year 2000. Just imagine what that number
looks like in 2005!

* These industries have zero interest in stopping prison
growth.

* There are a tremendous number of people dependent on
the industry and have no concern for the prisoners in their
care.

* Growing opposition to prison sitings by local communities
is making it increasingly difficult to site new prisons.

Conclusion

1 am hoping that everyone that comes across this report
on Indiana State Prisons will find it to be a minor
contribution as well as a blueprint of encouragement for and
to those of you who are preparing to challenge Aramark and
other mounting contradictions systemically inside the IDOC.

We must network with forces inside/outside the state of
Indiana to present an effective challenge against
privatization and repressive institutional policies. I will list a
number of resources that ones can network with and alert
them to assist us in these endeavors. This is for all the
prisoners and our families and sympathizers to utilize.
Power to the People!

*A Man's thoughts are his Kingdom."_
~ Tsonga Proverb ~

By, Bro - Khalfani Malik Khaldun #874304
(Leonard McQuay) B - 302 SHU
P.0. Box 1111 °
Carlisle, Indiana 47838
Note:

IAd

These organizations are active in assisting

prison activism and will join us in solidarity.
Please make good use of them.

National Lawyers Guild
Prison Law Project

558 Capp Street

San Francisco, CA 94110

A.C.LU.

1875 Connecticut. Ave. N.W.
Suite. #410

Washington, D.C. 20009

ACW
National Prison Project
1875 Connecticut Ave. N.W.
Suite #410
Washington, D.
(202) - 234 -

Prisoner Assistance Project
Northern Univ. School of Law
400 Huntington Ave.

Boston, MA 02115

Incarcerated Veteran's Net.
C/o Robert Miller - Director
NI YN

29141 Hayes Road #B-30
Warren, MI 48093-4023

Inter. Legal Defense Counsel
1429 Walnut St. 8" floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) - 977 - 9982

Civil Rights Legal Team

2207 S. 39" Street
St. Louis, MO 63110

Prisoner Legal Asst. Project
Austin Hall

Harvard Law School
Cambridge, MA 02138

Southern Center for
Human Rights

83 Poplar St. N.W.
Atlanta, GA 30303-1202
www.schr.org

Prisoners Self-Help
Legal Clinic

2 Washington Place
Newark, NJ 07102

Inmate Clerical Sol. Inc.
412 E. Madison St. #1109
‘Tampa, FL 33602

(813) - 390 - 3447

Standing Committee of
Legal Assistance

750 N. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60611
Amnesty International
322 8™ Ave.
New York, NY 10001

153

Human Rights Watch
1630 Conn. Ave. N.W. #500
Washington, D.C. 20009

Northwest Coalition Against Control Units

Sista Mary Mulligan (NONI)
P.0. Box 10523
Gary, Indiana 46411 - 0523

Senators and Other Addresses Where Letters Should Be Sent

Anita Bowser
Indiana Senator

1912 E. Coolspring
Michigan City, IN 46360

Cleo Washington
Indiana Senator

520 W. Wayne St.
South Bend, IN 46601

John Waterman

Indiana Senator

7452 N. County Road 375 E
Shelburn, Indiana 47879

Governor of Indiana

Mitchell Daniels Jr.

Office of the Governor

State house - Room 206
200 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2797

Evan Bayh

U.S. Senator

10 West Market St. #1650
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Julia Carson

Indiana Senator

300 E. Fall Creek Pkwy N.
Suite 300

Indianapolis, IN 46205

ARAMARK FOOD SERVICE
6811 E. 32" Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46226
SUGGESTED READING

1. The Iceman Inherltance, by Michael Bradiey
2. Uightfrom Anclent Atrica, by Naim Akbar
3. The Art of War, by Sun Tz
4. Immaculate Deception, by Green
5. Behold the Pale Horse
6. Ethiopla and the Origins of Civillzation, by john Jackson
7. The ISIS Papers, by Dr. Frances Welsing
8. 48laws of Power, by Green
9. At of Seduction, by Green
10. Blacks In Sclence, by Ivan Van Sertima
11. Great African Thinkers, by Ivan Van Sertima
12. Black on Black Violence, by Amos Wiison
13. Blueprint fo Black Power, by Amos Wilson
14. The Shaping of Black America, by L. Bennett
15. Before the Mayflower, by L. Bennett
16. Black Skin White Mask, by Franz Fanon
17. EGYPT Child of Africa, by van Van Sertima
18. The Assasination of the Black Male Image,
by Earl Ofarl Hutchingson

Please note:

All comrades! We need updates on conditions on Aramark and the
new policy changes on the sets you are on. Be sure to get copies of
;hisintheflflfihlnd.l. Keep your heads up! The struggle continues
forever!

UHURU Sasa!
~Khal ~

SOUTH CHICAGO ABC
ZINE DISTRO
POB721 HOMEWOOD IL 60430