Survivors
Speak

Prisoner Testimonies of Torture in
United States Prisons and Jails

A Shadow Report Submitted for the November 2014 Review of the
United States by the Committee Against Torture
1. Reporting organization

The American Friands Service Commitise (AFSC) is a Quaker faith based organization
that promotes lasting peace wilh jusiice, as a practical expression of aithin action.
'AFSC's interest in prison reform is srongly nfluenced by Quaker (Religious Society of
Friends) activism addressing prison conditions as informed by the imprisonment of

Frionds for their beles and
actions inho 17” and 16"
centuries

For over thrao decades AFSC
has spoken out o benalf of
prisoners, whose voices are all
100 frequently sienced. We
have received thousands of
calls and ltters oftestimony of
an increasingly disturbing

nalure from prisoners and ther
families about conditons in
prison that fal o honor the Light
n 0ach of us. Drawing on
continving spiitual insights and working wih people of many backgrounds, we nurture
he seeds of change and respect for human e that transiorm sociel relations and
systems. AFSC works 1o end mass incarceration, improve condiions (or people who are
‘o prison, stop prison privatization, and promole & reconcitation and heaing approach to
criminal justice issues.

Contact Person
La Lindser, Esa

1822 A 51 NW. Washingion, DC 2000 USA
Lindsey@alsc.org

(202) 483:3341 oxt 108

Wabsio: ww afsc 019

Acknowledgements

“Tris report woud not ave boen possibie bul o the courageous indviduals held n US. prisons
and it who 150 85ove tha spacier ofreprisalfo Ging 1851imanias of tho abusas hey endure.
The Support and assistance of American Frends Senice Commites pogaim stafl ware crucalin
e dovelopment of i feport. We also thank Paul Wiight, Man Gaicia and Susan Schwartzkoph
ol Prson Lagal News for imviting prisones o share ihoi experinces. Ganarous contibuions
2 assstance provedad by Bonie Kermess, Casey Diaz, Ashira Jones, Scile Wehalig.
oo Bissohnotto Lawey. Laual Townhead and Emiy Conane-Mann aro doeply approcialed.

s o s onoages 1. 2. 8421 oo v o o e e CopTGh AP
Table of contents 3

1. Executive Summary.....

. Questans from List o lssues.....

. Health Care.

V. Inhuman, cruel and degrading treatment.

. Concens about confinement condons...
. Degreding and crue acts commited by fal and prison staf .

V. Sexual vioence..

8. Abusas commitid by prison and el Sa......
. Abuses commitod b thd paries wiile i ihe cusiody of i U S. govemment... 13

V. Isolation and soiiary confinement .

"

& Condiions In salkary confinement
b, Menial heattn and solaton
©.. Lite afier isolation.

"
1
7

Vi Political prisoners and Control Management Unit. 18

Vil Psychological/ "No toueh” torture. 2

1X. Reprisals against prisoners fo airing grievances.
X. Conclusion.

XI. Questons

Xi. Suggested concluding obsenvations.

1. Executive summary

The popular narative of iving i the Uritod States is one of prosperly, equalty, and
opportunity. America is seen as a nation where everyone has the right o e, bery, and
Hroadom. While tat may be rue for some privileged segments of saciety many

‘Amoricans are preventod from full realizing these rights because they are in the
custody of the U.S. govemment.

At the close of 2012, the U.S. led the world in incarceration rates’ with over 2.2 millon
aduits® heid in prisons and jas.” Why s tis the case? Deeply flawed policies focusing
‘on punishment - not healing of rehabiitation - have created a pipeine through which
‘economically disadvantaged populations are funneled into prisons and jais. Incarcerated
individuals are frequently exposed to deplorable, oruel, and dangerous condilons of
confinement that no human being should experience.

The lst of abuses committed against U.S. prisoners s long and deeply distressing:
sexual violance, humiliation, unsanitary conditions, extreme lemperaturos, insufficiertly
Pulriious food, inadequate medical care, isolaton, psychological orure, racism.
Ehemical abuse and disproportionate uses of orce. These are just a sample of
‘experiences you wil read about in theso frsthand accounts from individuals iving in
Jails and prisons throughout the United States.

Other civi society shadow reports addressing corrections conditions feature legal
analysis, data flusirating the prevalence of i reatment committed against prisoners and
asights rom experts. This shadow report supplements those crucial examinations by
bringing the human experience o bear. Statistcs are helpful in understanding the ways.
i which the U.S. prison system is undamentally broken. Yet aven the best charls are
unable t llly Gonvey the feaity of what t s ke (0 ive through breaches of CAT
‘obligations. These are thei testimoniais - verbatim - of ishuman conditions under which
hey are held, abuses that irrevocably chenge thei ives. The detais are dificull o read;
Some of the langusge is crude and graphic. Al are compelling narraives.

oo Prect, Tunds n Comecions Fa oo
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e gy st st s il e o b0 S0 S ST 08
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Tt o s v 10 e s TS
Il. Questions from List Of Issues

Articles 1and 4

Q2: Please clarify the State party's positon with regard 1 ts understanding of acts of
paychological toture, prohibited by the Convention. Does the State party recognize a
wider catagory of acts which cause severe mental suffering, irespective of their
prolongation or its duration, as acts of psychological torture prohibited by the
Convention?

Aticle 16
Q32: Please provide information on steps aken o:

(2) Prevent and punish violence and abuse of women, in particuiar women
belonging o racial, ethnc and national minoribes. Do these measures include
providing specific lraining for those working within he criminal justice system
‘and raising awarenass about the mecharisms and procedures provided forin
natonal legistation on racism and discrimination?

(¢) Ensure that reports of violence against women are independently. promptly
‘and thoroughly investigated, and that perpelrators are prosecuted and
‘appropriately punished.

Q33 In ight of the Committee’s previous concluding observations, piease elaborate on
the measures adopted by the Stato party 1o ansuro that women in detention are eated
i conformity with interationa standards, a5 well s on the implementation of these
measures (para. 33). Furthermore, please provide information on the impact and
effectiveness of hese measures in reducing casss of ii-reatment of detained women.

Q37 Please descibe steps taken 10 improve the extremsly harsh regime imposed on
detainees in “super-maximum securlty prisons”, in partcular the practice of prolonged
isolation.*

Ui o Comrane Aparat Teure, Ut ses P11 1 e Suisin o h o P Fapon o s
St of Amerca. U o CATIEUSAR G001
Il Health care

ho U.S. govemmant obfigation to prohiit orture encompasges third party actors, such
25 doctors and medical personnel in centers of confinement.” Prisoners commonly report
Irecioquate heatth care conditions thatinclude significant delays in accessing medical
reatmen, medical personnel engaging n treatments for which ihey have not received
‘adequato training, deniaisof prescription medications, and humilating reatment by
‘hoaiih care staft. Fegretiably, prisoners have no recourse when medical reatmontis
requested but wilhheld. In the most serous cases, fafing to secure timely medical
attention can result in irreversible harm, and at imes, deain.

1 suffer from a are form of benign turmors called Aggressive Fibromalosis... Al my
Semtencing my primary care physician Timothy MCBride testfied that without proper
Tadical care my health would deteriorate and could eventually lead to death | was
forced t0 do a lengthy Sentence... | was sent to USP Big Sand In Inez, KY. While there |
‘continuously complained of & tmor in my chest and the Avascular Necrosis i the left
haad of the humorus... 100k 14 month from the time | first reporied thes tumors unél
Iney were fnally removed... | had a ciic wth prison physician Or. Foger Jones. On this
Gate ! reported anothr knot in my chest. | suffered through 27 morihs of misery before
s tumor was removed. The tumor was 5o big looked fike a softball in my chesL... If
m forced 10 stay here and not sent 1o @ proper federal medical center | may not survive
{hose B years." —M.6., USP Terre Haute, Terre Haute, IN, 2014*

~On Sepiember 2, 2013, | winessed two inmales being sprayed wih chormical agents,
ooth mentally i, in soltary confinement,after their water supples were shut o, for
Tequesting to speak with medical-one did try o commit suicide the next day by cuting
s wist . Guards shut off the eniire pod's waler supply and when | questionad tis |
was sprayed with chemical weapons and lef in that state for 40-50 mins with only tollet
ater it n the bowl {0 help wash my face and body with. AS | remained in pain and
Pleaded for halp guards threatened to shoot me with a 37 mim fot control gun. | was,
Socurely locked inside a single man cell he whale time 100 as | was sprayed, etc. | did
‘Sustain frst degree chemical bums from the amount of spray and the lengh of time it
Zovered my body." —F.D., Mount Oiive Correctonal Complox, Mt Olive, WY, 2014”

~Over the years that | have boen here many people have died here that had gone over a.
‘month without their heart medications. I s a shame that | and many olhers i here
‘Cannol get any medical treatment for our medical problems. The infimary nurses are
fond of saying 'you are not worth the cosL™ —R.K. Cummins Unit, Grady, AR, 2014"

o Spesa e n Torure and O G o Dy Tiiment Puihmer U, 0o
oo,

I January 2014, wihout baing seen by any medical person, APN Griswold
discontinued my Propranolol 20 mg. Notefuly, [sc al that ime, the Unit 6id not have an
‘actual doctor assigned 1o . According to a Physician's Dosk Reforenco, bota blocker,
such as Propranolol, must not be siopped suddenly as | was because there can be
sevore medical compications (e.g. @ hear attack. In February! March of 2014 an inmate
laid n the infitmary complaining of severe pains on Ns ight sde. They did not send him
out 0 a hospitalbut et him lay in the infirmary. There he died of appendicits. In Apr of
2014 inmate Eugene Lily wen {0 the infimary complaining of chest pains. They gave
him aspirin and sant him to his baracks. He wnt to s barracks, aid down or a nap
and died. Two nurses were fied for falsiication of records. in May of 2014 inmate
Riding fel out n the exercise yard. Infimay stef finaly responded, however, it was
inmates who biought him back Irom his heart attack. He was taken to the infirmary and
there ho died.” —J.G. Cumming Unil, Grady. AR, 2014

“One guy was in the infirmary here at LCF ot ong ago and as he fell 0 the floor in his
cell, cutching s chest in severe pain of a heart atack —nurse Suzy told him 0 shut up,
Quil whining, and getoff ofthe floor and up on his burk. The poor chap died on the spot,
tight than and there—due directy 1o nurse Suzy's negiect” —7.T., Lansing Correctional
Facilty, Lansing, KS, 2014'"

“Ive had serious
montal lnass sinco
chidhood, bipolar
disorder’ and
bohavioral
problems
intermittnt
explosive disorder”
and fve got
intelectual
functoning disord
As wellas chvonic.
seizures, grand mal
seizures...my mental liness went 100% unireated for my first couple yoars in prison!
‘Which caused me to be put into confinement...'ve been in strip cell’ with nofhing but a
steel bunk in the middle of winter and no heal in the cell house and had the offcers
spray waler inmy cell and on mysell, and | would stay ke tha fo up 10 10-12 days at
times! With the whols call having a thn layer of frost! —B8.8., Tamims Corectional
Center, Tamms, IL. 2010

oo 5. a Amacan FrantsSaice Conten 2914
= Lo o 7110 AmvcanFrands S Gomtes (014
IV. Inhuman, cruel and degrading treatment

Despite ihe U.S. Constitutional prohitition on cruel and unusual punishment” and
obiigations under CAT 10 ban cruel inhuman and degrading treaiment* abuses agains!
prisoners in the custody ol the U.S. government are al 0o Irequent. The myriad of
‘abusas fallng with the scope of CAT Ariclo 16 are diverse in nature, yel all all within
he scope of State obigation to prevent orture, as “conditions thal give rise 1o -
reatment Irequently faciltato orture. **

Many o the testimonies AFSC receives document cruel acts commitied by prison and

staft. A culture of impunity and an ‘us versus them* mentalty of pison/ail staff croate
‘an environment rpe for prisoner abuse.

Prisoners Irequently raport denials of fo0d and waler, forced nudily, unsanitary
confinement conditions, inadequate nulriion, and use of racil and sthic skus by
guards. Regardiess of the origins and classification of the prohibited acts, the
‘Consequences (o victims are the same: dehumanization and iraura.

A. Concerns about confinement conditions

1 ave to bog for water and food. W ao being kiled sowy. you were 10 coma here
You woukd i us in tis "y Cai naked, cold and hungry. We are being cut of rom il
avenues of recoursa. | was femove from specialnaocs and placed here, lease can
Jou gt somebody. anybocy 10 ge s out ofthese torture chambers? We are Gong
otning wiong and have no nenton of doing o. m having seius probiem i the
Safl and administration hero. T goting hresianad 1o be physicaly assauted by saf
2s wel as iher inmaes, | don eal much efther, isstarted aftr | fled mylawsu. |
don el sal, | o ot o sloep, noiing. Tha sall wants me 1 withcraw my
Gomplain. They won' oven gve me paper 1o it on any moro. s o ofhar peaple on
i Uit scaredfor ther ives dve t safl misconduct and misiniormatin. They wil i
us* —W.T., New Jersey State Prison, Trenton, NJ, 2014"

*Staph infecton, scabies, spider bites, T8, hepallis (A, 8, C)is present among the
brothers... Ive wilnessed COs" beating other incarcerated ciizens unjusty.” —K.S.,
Waliam €. Donaldson Facilty, Bessemer, AL, 2014

It 5 of us back here and our call has feces, bugfnsectinfested, lollet bowl ithy, feces.
‘on door and wals, showers are extremely hot, showers are bug infested and] unclean,

[ry——

= Conveio s o and e Cre, o Doy Trmanc P (Oocamr 10, 1380,
Gora asar Poion 046

STazs

o bW T 1 Ameran Fonds S Cammnes (2014
7

coldfoad, locked n cal 24 hours 7 days a wesk, o yard-<alls at a1, not allowed 0 buy
hygiene off store, insect and bug infested vents of heat in fooms thal ive off & distineive

smell, very few cellclean outs, and no cleansing just strightening p py cart am ang
ete.” ~X.C.. Hayes State Prison, Trion, GA, 2014

sttt 'm n Segregation Lockdown 23 hours a day... Th offcals hore commonly use
chemical agents on inmates with documented asthma then loave you in your coll ke,
1o proparty at al no blankets, shoets. or matress for 24 hours and no shower or soap
1o wash off the tea as or pepper spray. Just last summer in 2013 an imae nam
Wlverton, | tink, here the ECB High Securty Seg buiiding disd of chemical agons,
He was eft on his cell floor covered i leces, he had a colostomy bag, and he wae found
dead the nex day after several counts... W are woken up alevery count, very } 13 5
hours round the clack for count. You can never sleep more than 2 hours ai a tm.-
W, Clements Uni. Amario, TX, 2014"

Ve are orced 1o be otally naked In front of staff constanty as well as other inmates.

foreed o be naked n rant of them when we dress, wash, do bodiy functions. | ney
Nurse Fleming and Sig. Champman on 6-22-14 smear feces insic a nasal madicason

i augh e jus{blew shit up his nose™ —C.G., Stte Correctional nstuion Groen,
Waynosburg. PA, 20147

“My frend Barry begged and
pleaded o have the lights tumed
outn his room. Offcers.
sadisticall laughed at the
sulering they caused. Barry tore
out his 0wn eyes 5o he could get
some sieep. Thay all laughed at
him and abused him greator
Later—he kiled himseli~ — C.»,
FMC Devens, Ayer, MD, 2010°

“inihis housing unt the windows a0 weided sh... They had one fire and used CO; gas
wice. The ft, sic we were taken out one by one and when they Sprayed ihe gay v
went nowhere...i made a ot of guys fee! sick incuding mysell, And there i o jre

1 Letertom 11 13 Amescan Feancs S Comta 2014,
1 Lot 10m G 1o Amerean rancs Sarce Comacn ore

Sorie Kemees, o Toure i Unke Stes P Evcanc o A e e, 53 2 s, Amancan
Franc Saves Comineny

lo

suppression in this it o we were forced 1o breath [sic]in smoke because windows.
don't open." —T.M., SCI Frackvills, Frackville, PA, 2014

B. Degrading and cruel acts committed by jail and prison staff

“AS I was kneaiing down to subit 0 leg estrints, GO Baker gradbed mo around my
neck n a choke hold position and puled me, atsmping to get m into he cal outof the
view of cameras and witnesses... sl aving me in & choks hok! positin, slammed my
face and forehead into the ground, causing severe excruciating pan and a bl
blackout Whie | was on the floor, CO™ Best sruck me forcelully i the tesices and
CO Baker giruck ma n the head with this hand... To other unknown CO™ twisted
leg and CO™ Pashel siomped on my knee... | atiempted suicid by rying o hang mysell
and | was found by CO™ Godley and Pashe, hanging wit a [si pants around my neck.
After spraying me wit chomicalagent .. | was then placed in cell 1.A.130 wihoul being
given a showe 1o wash o the chemical agents. | was made fo wak naked il he way 10
cel 130. n acdiion the cel was fihy and had fecal mater smeared on the wals and
loor 1 was ef i this cel o e days wihout being allowed to wash of the chemical
agents... They i tis one mora tima. Then they picked me up and carred m o the
cell 1 was assigned (0, al he whils tormenting me wih racial surs such as “we should
have il ns pifta harder” and ° think we cracked i taco shell” — G M, Crossroacs
Gorractional Center, Cameron, MO, 2014™

“A white guy that came into the traller at 12 a.m. drunk wih a istinct odor to his body,
he was yellng at us, calling us Gumb ass riggers for not aing... | il have nighimares
from my experiences and I sl live Wi the foar of being sent back there and beat or
Kiled just for being black.” —M.S,, South Woods State Prison, Bridgoton, N, 2014%

“Ive witnessed an inmate get beat up by a gang of ffcers for alagedy sicking his
mior out his cel 10 ook at a nurse. He was sent 1o a hospital where he died. Ive
witnessed an inmate get denied medication for hs heart treatened by an oficer if he
didn? stop complaining, and relurmed 1o is coll. He died in his sleep that very night, Just
recently | witnessed an offcer physically abuse an inmale during a foutine pat fisk.
When the inmate fought back, at laast tweive othor offcers cama running o restrain him,
‘and then kick him while he lay on the loor with handeulfs on, The sergeant was.

n

overheard yeling, "Break his armI” Tha inmate wen into a coma.” —Anonymous, Sing
Sing Correctionai Faciiy, Ossining, NY, 2014

*0n 11:26-12 Monday, at around 5:36 p.m., 3 C.0 brought me matiress. 1 of them
pinned me to my bunk, punched me atleast twice in ight side of ibs, semi-choked me,
‘while the other 2 watch... Aterwards, beforo lunch, 3 C.0.® entered my cell again,
pul e off bunk, punch on e, butintentionally avoid punching my face.” —G.E. Alfred
Hughes Uni, Gatesville, TX, 2014

“The lead building seven officer was not satsfied with the normal squat and cough
procedure and docided that he wanied me t0 *spread my cheeks” with hs smirk on his
face so | simply stood my ground and looked at him fike he was a pile of muio excreta so
he pulled out his MK 9 0l resin capsicum spray and emptied it in my face where |
5100d passively. However | withstood stubbornly the effects of the offcer’s MK 9 each
offcer in succession and [they] emptied a total of 4 MK 9 canisters into my face and due
only 1o my glasses the substance did not getinto my eyes. This enaged the officer and
he then decided 1o pull his expandable balon to hit mo. | was culfed and shackied and
carried to the patio with a canvass “spi bag” over my head even though no one had
been spit on but | had a head and face fullof “orange crush” MK 9 which the canvass
bag held inside. While on the patio a water hose was directed al the canvass bag an my.
head and' being handcufed. Water and canvass over one's head was noting nice.
‘This was the COCR™s new form of orturous walerboarding without the board. | could
ot breatrsic] hrough the pepper spray and water mixing on canvass bag over my head
‘and i not for the arrivalof another supervisory staff 5o one of the faoiity S+E™s.
removed e bag and | was then abie (o breaih [sicl" —B.8., Wasco State Prison,
Wasco, CA, 2014™

{Offcers] locked me in soltary confinament for 10 days handcufled and shackied to a
‘metal bed. During that time they would extinguish ther cigarett buts on my body and
fip hot ashes in my face and eyes and place meal rays just ot of reach. Onco | yelled
for water o drink. The oficor rammed the nozzie of a chemical ire extinguishar into my
rectum and flooded my insides with iquid and chemicals that caused me to soream wih
‘agony. Another officer tod me o shut up of he wouid kil me and used hs boot to kick
me inthe head...” —C.P., FMC Devens, Ayer, MD, 2010°®

e
3 Lot o E. 1 Amercan Fands Seice Commn (2011
e bl G i s

2 Sty s Ene O

2o A s S Comn 10,
“Koress a3 523
12
V. Sexual violence

In early 2014 the Bureau of Jusiice Stalistics, an agency of the U.S. Department of
Jusiice, announced that repors of sexual abuse in prisons and jais increased
Significantl between 2007 and 2011." In 201 1 alone, 8,763 prisoner claims of sexual
‘abuse were fiod with correctional administrators al thoir acity.* Approximately 51
percent of reporied sexual violence was committed by a prisoner against another
prisoner, and around 49 percent of incidents were perpetrated by sta against a
prisoner®

However, the statstics change significantly when prisoners are surveyed direclly about
Sexual violence they have experienced (as opposed to relying solely on reported
lncidents 1o examine rates of sexual abuse). In Ight of guard retalation against prisoners
Wwho fle complaints or may consider doing 50, i s unsurprising thal surveys indicate far
greater rates of sexual abuse incidents than what offiial accounts suggest. These.
Surveys show tha during 2011~ 2012, 30.490 ects of prsoner-on-prisoner sextal
vilence occurred and over 47,300 incidents involved guard-on-prisonor abuse.

Sadly, the true rates of abuse is kely higher than wha these surveys indicate given the.
level ot fear of reprisals prisoners experience. Fegardless of who perpetrated the cruel
act, Article 16 of the CAT obligates the U.S. govemment lo protect ail thoso in their
custody from inhuman and degrading acts.

A. Abuses committed by prison and jail personnel

i or about April 2012, Former Detention Center Officer Sherrie Biown-Sraswell began
10 sexually assault and demand sexval acts om me which were non-consensual and
against my will Braswoll threatened me with physical abuse should | resisther sexual
assaults o report this aciiiy 1o another employee. Braswell continued the sexually
‘assauts and iveats until approximately Noverber 2012.. This s humiiating

considaring the fact | was raped at the Detention Center.* —S.F., Union County Jai,
Eizabeth, N, 2014

“We [women raped by prisonailstaf] are constantly given false wite ups and put in
Segregation on the itlest things... because of my RVS rating [indicating that the prisane.
has had sexual contact with an offcer) another offcer, as he stated, ‘you wil nover tol

0% Gon U8 Gopuant o e Ofce o i
e P o s v v 0080 01 Ly 2 010

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e e .50 Arcan e e Cammn 7014)
13

again since you got screwed 50 bad by CDOCA? you learmed your lesson.” Then he
forced me 1o perorm. | had no choice, when ne is grabbed around the neck and
breathing diffcul I is easier to comply and besides | learned that f you resist you gt
broken body parts and | can' tako any more of them. SO | dd as required. But my friend
s st going through it and needs help. This AVS rating makes you open (o all who want
10.get you 1t never stops and onca & cop has an inmate they become serial rapists.

becauze o anesops ham.” ~Anoryrau, Cokrado Dep.of Corecions, Pusbc, 0,
201

Abuses committed by third party actors while in the custody of
the U.S. government

“My cell mate started 1o beat me and storfp on me about October (Sic and he beat and
rape me for 11 days and h broke both sides of my jaw, deformed my lef ear and swole.
sk} my nuts 2 mies thar normal size. Then he shoved a piasiic spoon up my ass..
Now I suffer rom paranoia and constant fear of others and always feel that pecple are
90ing 10 hurt me or kil me. Now | am a vict of rape and a brutal beating and suffer
{fom Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. —D.K. Jester IV Uni, Fichmond, TX, 2014%

“In 2004 at the Srith Unit | was sexualy assauted by a Crip Gang Member... Upon
teceiing a custody change | wes sent 0 the Robertson Unit in 2010 and upon being
Placed back nto General Popuation where | was again harassed by the Mexican
popuiation and the Crip Gang members. | decided to pay the required extortion
‘payments 1o a white Crip gang member for the protecson | need 1o keep from har.
Then I was sexually assauted and physically assaulted by this same Crip, and forced to
perform sexuall for his other Crip homeboys... They were going 10 piace me back into
the General Population of the Robertsan Unit when | atfempled to tzke my fe... In
October 2013 I started recelving sexval harassment n my workplace by a TDCJ.® Food
Service Manager. Itwas ongoing unfil 1 had had enough and refused to continue to
‘perform homosexual acts to shame me for his pleasure.” —W.K., Elis Unit, Huntsvile,
X, 2014%

[ ————
2 oK o Ameran et Senic Commale (2010
TowasOeparner o G .
s om . 1 Aarcan P Sevice Compies G014,
VI. Isolation and solitary confinement

Concems surrounding the use of isolation are most frequently rooted in the fong ferm
~paychological eftects on survivors of soliary confinement. n the U.S. federal system
lsolation from the genera prison population s classilied a5 “special housing units™
(SHU), of which there are two categories: administrative isolation s designed to remove
he prisonor lrom the general population 10 keep that individual andlor th facilty sale for
prisoners and stafl whersas discipinary segregation is used for punitive purposes.
45 you will read below, pisoners may find themselves i the SHU through no fau of
heir own o for minor rules infractions.

Prisoners in isolation report anger, bitemess, boredom, sress, losing a sense o realiy,
suicidal thoughts, ifficulty concenirating, sensitilty 0 stmull and halucinations *
Mental heatth experts found the rales of psychological and psychiatrc issues were
greater in populations exposed (0 soltary confinement than among hose who had never
been isolated™ Those with a pravious history of psychological problems placed in

isolation generally experince a signicant eteroalion oftelrcondiion” wile
solation.

‘Some survivors of soitary confinement have lost decades of theirife and countiess
‘peaple suter reparable psychological harm due [0 U.S. government relance on
solating people from meaningful human contact.

A. Conditions in solitary confinement

| am currentlyin sotary confinement he 1 SCI Greene (since 2005). | have boen

ypeatedly sexually harassedhreatened by guards here multiple times... Col Moore
‘Who's the leader o ivmate brualty (brags about “fincing” by himse 4 inmates hanging
Geac has 10 be a record) here at SCI Greene, repeaedly has teatened 1o hang me in
{7y collwith a black bag over my head"in ron of the whole block... Ao, Col Moore
1 tho wholo block thl Iney neded & good “beat down” and he'd march s a1 yard
naked n our socks and he stat sodomizing inmates... Ho throatened lo"execute” al
the long term inmates... | have already been assaulted by another C.0. for re
abuses.” —C.G, Slate Corectonal Insiuiion Greene, Waynesburg, PA, 201

“None of the locks on celldoors work which resulled n the eath of 5 prisoners in one
month... We are supposed 1o get an hour a day outside our cell but that's nol rue in

et et
i ey
Georgia. We gone [sic] months without seeing the sunlight with nothing o read but a
bible. Prisoner suicide has tripled and its a medical fact that everyone has lost weight in
this program.* ., Hayes State Prison, Trion, GA, 2014

“They called it 2 23 hour lockdown, but curing the hour out, you had no other human
‘contact- not even stafl.. As you are aware we are made 10 eat and sieep In a concrete
‘and stool bathroom...In my partcular case they never furned offthe igh, My window
‘was covered on the oulside wih some type of whie plastic 5o that we could not atiempt
any type of visual communication with whalever may have been out there.” —D.L.,
Plymouth County Correctional Faciity, Plymouth, MA, 2014°

I have been in soitary since 1998. From 1998-2005 | was hald on “High Risk
Polentiar".. which in part includes zero staff andior inmate contact, no group actites,
0 program partcipation, stripped of pivieges (e.9. phone, canteen, contact viss,
hobby craf, inter afa), and escorted with arm and log restraints that have a cog leash
altached to them during any movement. In 2008 | was removed from the *HRP* status
‘and Disciplnary Segregation, but placed on Adminisicative Segregation. Im st stipped
of pivileges, staff and/or inmate contact, no group activiies, no program partcipation
and in-cell confinement for 23 hours a day. | als0 only get o shower every 3 days.”
~G.P., Bl Stato Prison, Ely, NV, 2014"

First and | feel most importanty is the sollary confinement a the last prison | was at. i
i5 a dungeon ik setling. Dark, 10 windows, you Go woeks and months sometimes not
seeing light. These are dangerous and unsupervised for the most part. Men are putin
these celis with other men which fight and get Injured withou anyone knowing for hours
an end...Nave soen seveal mes inmats geting beat whis n culfs o Ganged p by a
Aumber of offcers...” —C.M., Staton Correctional Center, Elmore, AL, 2014

“The conditions were very inhumane...hot, io working vents at al.. stfty and
humid...my first coll bugs ware biting me all over my body, when | said something about
it they (the medical staff) played fike | was crazy then finaly after constant compisining
they gave me Benadryl then moved me and siil didn' clean the cell. They had & ight o1
allday thatfet ke a rotiseri lamp. It was hard to sieep because of the hot humid cells
‘and constant bugs biing me all day and night.we had 1o cups to dink the brown
colored water that came out of the sinks and toilets. There was conslan! screaming

B. Mental health and isolation

“Inave basically been in seg® housing unit and while being here the guards have
lormnted and encouraged me 1o cut mysel and even specified jugular, carotid 2
2 nave taunied me every time | have cut my wrist arteries, saying thal | did not do it 1o
Thel satstaction and have threatened 1o boat mo 10 a pulp.* —G.C., Wapun Corectional
Insttuton, Wapun, W, 2014

1ts hard o expain the mulitude of e factors tha induce stress, anxiely, rustraton,
and depression. .y bestatlempt o desciibe prolonged solation n a supermax prison
o tha s like Chinese waler orure. A single drop may not harm you b the millons of
e crops of sr0ss, anety, unceriainty. depression, and sorrow buld vp unti you can
bogin o ee! your min beaking. 1 wish | coud explain beter. Maybe then people
oud understand and wouldn? alow this hefl 10 continue.* —.D., Tamms Correctons!
Center, Tamms IL (2009)""

1y besn in the (hole) for three years and now S0 parancid that | can' be around

people 1 can' sven sieep in acellwith somean else even i | knew him il my le. 've
Tied every reatment, medication possicie, no help...| am now 50 paranold | can' even
be o the yards. Evenn a fock [sc] cel, a lock [sic] shower, lock sic] ec cage, 'm sil
paranoid 50 how s going to be on the streets when | am around others? [ve realy tried
B work on it bu nothing at all works even the medications. So al | ask i, s this place

oty Saactod” -~ Foderal Correctional Complex, Oakdale SMU, Oakdale, LA,
201

“A suicide atiempt. That's whal happened 1o me during my ime in soltary. A serious,
legitimate suicide attemp. | suffer of {sic] schizophrenia and while | was in segregation
i1 had to talk to was the voices in my head... While in softary | was electrocuted due to
faulty wiing. Aftor that everything just went downhill o me. Every day | talked o
Gelusions more and more. I got 1 the point thal | did whatever the voices told me.
Eventually 1 docidod that was no way to ve and chose 1oty 1 kil mysall. | was found in
Iy room passed out and cover [sic in blood. The next morning | went fght back into
ying t kil myselt as 5o0n as [sic] woke up. | ried to kil mysell by diving nto & metal
001 suffr of brain damage... I | would (sc] had dally conversations with other

= Segmmon

SoSTan.C. o Anatcen Frends S Comiios 2014
Karss . 23 1011

s a2 070,
17

people, | would have not interacted with delusions. Delusions that led me 1 ty to kil
mysell” —D.A., Contral New Mexico Cormectional Facily, Los Lunas, NM, 2014°

C. Life after isolation

“This term i solitary confinement) have been in e over 4 years siaight, but overall
most of the past 15 years... Affer doing a substantial amount of time Inside alone, thon
being released i shocking. I is a biast for a few days then the pecpl, colors, sounds,
touching, movement, Kids, cars, and socil nteractions become way 160 much, kind of
e over.stimulation of the sanses, i gets reall uncomfortable around everyone and
everything, so much thal it usually takes alcohol or drugs to ‘eercomfortable.” —A.T.,
Corcoran State Prison, Corcoran, CA, 2014

“Even now, six months outof the hole | sl remain affected, | withdraw from social
nteraction/satting. | feel rustrated for no apparent reason. Possibly the most damaging
aspect of segregalion i the sense of powerlessnoss. You can yell scream, report
misconduct and abuse 10 prison offcials (o 10 avail” —8.5., Jeferson Cily Corroctional
Center, Jetterson City, MO, 2010

2 ot om 0. 1 Arn FrendsSenicoCommise (204,
ot lom A1 2 AmcanFranc S Comnaes (016
k4
VII. Political prisoners and Control Management Units

Inthe U.S. federal prison system Control Management Units (CMU) are distinctly
Giferent from al other confinement facilies, as they wer "established to house inmates
who, due 10 their current oflens of convition, offense conduct,or other verifid
information, require increased monitoring of communicaton with persons in the
‘community in order to protect the safety, securly and orderty operation of Bureau
lacilties, and protect the pubic

The most well-tnown CMU residents are those convicted of terrorism-related actities
such as the men deemed responsibie for the 1993 Workd Trade Canter bombing.
individuais convicted for he 1976, 1985, and 1996 hijacking cases”, and atleast one.
‘person convicted of providing material support (o a terorit organization.”

Two CMU facifies are commonly reforred to as “Litle Gitmo™ and “Guantanamo
North™ because, reminiscont o the U.S. Guantanamo Bay facilty, two-thirds of the
prisoners aro Musiim (despile only representing six percent of the general federal prison
‘popuiation). ™ In these faciies the use of softary confinement is rampant, pisoners are.
‘expased 10 constant surveilance and their abilty 10 interact with others is severely
rastrictod”

¥

Today, CMUS house not just 1hose serving time for terorism-related convictons but
others i socialjustico movements, who engage in prisoners' ights advocacy, and who
Tile grievances about thei reaiment while incarcerated,” whose beliefs and ideology the
U.S: seeks (o track.™ Prisoners sent o CMUs are deomed securly (hreats and thus aro
constantly observed of their actlons, leters, emails, calls and visis® The uniting
characteristic of hess prisoners s nol the nature of their convicion, but that the U.S.
‘Government fears they may recrul others (0 undertake “errorist”or “criminal” acts."
CMUS rely heavily on extreme condilions of soitary confinement, solate prisoners from
ne general population, and create conditions intentionally hindering ther abily to
communicale with the outside worid™

Condiions in CMU are severe and disproportionate 1o the crimo for which they were
convicted. Prisoners are prohibitod from physical contact with visitors, il

¥ Cartr o Consncons g, vl a 1. Hotler o o P ok o Summey cgman E10 .1
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‘communications are monitored, and prior 10 legal acton taken prisoners wers permitted
‘only one 15 minute cal per week.= Access (0 programrming, education, and job training
s limitect* isolaton, inabiity to nteract with other humans in a meaningful way, not
‘being told how long they may be in CMU, and limiad visits from immediste farniy cal
inlo question the U.S. government complance with CAT.

T notice informs you of your transfer 1o a Federal Bureau of Prisons (Bureau) faciity
that allows greater management of your commurication with persons i the community
thvough more effective monitoring of your telephone use, wrkten correspondence, and.
Visiting. Your communication by these methods may be fimited as necessary 10 aiow.
effective monitoring. Your general conditons of confinement n this unit may also bo
restricted s necessary to provide greater management of your communications.”
—Foderal Buroau of Prisons, Notce [0 Inmate of Transfer lo Communication
Management Unif®

“llearned why the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) sent me 1 the CMU... In shor,
‘based on is disagreement with my poliical views, the governmen sent e 1o a prison
unit from which it wou be harder for me to be heard, serving as a punishment for my
beliefs... What's aiso notable about the CMUS is who is sent there... many CMU
prisoners were there because o thei relgion or in retalationfor their spasch. —Daniel
McGowan (2013/"

“Inmate McGowan's communications warrant helghtaned contols and review dus (0 the
fact that he was an organizer of the group; wrote communiques for ALFIELF (Arimal
beration FronUEarth Liberation Front) actons; used coded communicalions during the
‘commission of the offenses; pariicipated i the recruitment ofothers ino the group;
‘sspoused his anii-government befiefs verbally and in writen communications... While
Incarcerated and through social correspondence and aricles witen forracical
publications, inmate McGowan has attempted 1o unite the radical environmental and
‘animal iberation movements.” —Leslie S. Smith, Chief, Counter Terrorism Unit (2008/

“S0 my queston was, what government agency labeled me a ferrris? What terrorist
offense did | commit against the Amercan government or any American cizen? What
evidence demonstrated my guitt? Why was | not afforded my consttutional ight o @ due.

2 Meowan, s n 78
Corar o Caetvions g, s, .74,
= cerran G o i Lot Burmeu o s RagaingCormuricaton Moagamers ks

AT A st oA SO SR OB s (e 2. 2010,

Mo, s 2o
e e T —.
A1 3,12 e e RO R o TN 12 3.
zo

pI0Gess heating?” —A.T. former prisoner in the Communications Management Unii,
Terre Hate, IN (2011).%

¥m being parsecuted and discriminated against, You feel that my afilation with the

Black Liberation Army and the Anarchist Black Cross Foundation poses a problom.

VWhat concerns do (sicl Administration have with my poitical afliaton? in 5002, | was
loased into GP with the same affitation.” — Ojore Lutalo, New Jorsoy State Frisen

“Your radical views
and by 1o infuuence
others poses a threat
1o the orderly
operation of this
nstiution... Your
actions continue to
pose a thea to the
salety and secuity of
any coectional
tacillty" —MCURC,
New Jorsey Stato
Prison (2008)""

e Lk, ot Classaeasn ncisn e e, 2008

e ey Deparimer o Corecion aragamesConet Uk PoviComentio, Nt of Cassicaton Docion
i oo v ot g

L
VIll. Psychological / “No Touch” torture.

US. law incluges a defnion of “orture® accounting or nonphysical acts, such as
“prolonged menialharm caused by o resuling rom...he acministaton orappication,
or threatened admisiraton or applicaton,o...procedures cakulated to disp
protoundy ino senses o tho porsonaly** Prisonors oxperionce s orm of mental
suffring ihough being shackied fo excossive periods of e, siress positons,
exposuro to extrome temperatures and sutjecton (o unrsenting ih! exposure.
Psycnological orturo may notloave visible wounds and scars bul he suffring
experienced s equaly cruel.

I was being extradied from AR™ to WV and locked n the back of a van in a cage for
13 days swalght by a privale vansport company called PTS (Prisoner Transport
Services). 13 days (only 1 time day 8) was [sic] we afowed out th van 1o sleep and
shower. The rest of the time we had L0 urinate, defecate, and vomit on ourselves, 8 0f us:
0 6 M by 4 f cage. Below feezing temps, the waler was freezing inside wih us, no
heater, no medications, they gave everyona cigareties to stay caim- Handcufed,
shackled, bellychained 13 days. 90+ mph the whole time my head was swoln up, il
was 50 Gugh. | about ded.” —.T., Federal Comectons Instituon, E1 Reno, €1 Fino,
ox, 201

“._For atleast the next 67
days...| was iterally chained
10 the metal bed Irame in the
middle of the cel, by a 3-4
oot secion of heavy tow
chain with dofectve shackles.
(no wortking safety locks)
tethering me there for 24
hours a day. | was given
perhaps at best six showers
‘during tis period of ime and
only threo opportunities o
change my clothing... the
room temperature stayed al
near freezing, and thero.
were large fiuorescent ights Girectly over the bed | was tethered 1o, hat naver tured off.
When | complained 1 the Sherif's deputles, | was L0k there was o on/off switch for the

==
= e

Lot o T A e SenveComastios 2014)
22

ighisin my cel and there were likewise no temperalure controls accessile.” —MO.
New Jersey Stato Prison, Trenton, N, 2010

“1was stripped and handoufied 10 a chain link fence in a freezing snow-ice storm for
Soven hours because | was ten minutes late 10 an appoinimen...| was sprayed with
Zhemicats and a chemical fire extinguisher for having a Christian c1oss on the wall of my.
ol was handculied to a wall and sprayed with a high pressure fire hose... was forced
o stand on a foot stool while three offcers handcufied my hands above my head o &
hain ik fence and then the stool was removed to leave me dangling in the a for four
Pours...| was forced (o stand in a telephone [boath sized room for 27 hours without
food, walar, or tolet breaks. .Five imes | suffered a ook up' for arbitrary spiteful
reasons. Th hands are handculfed and | 2m lited up and the chain of the handcufs are
draped over a tall door 5o 1 am dangling with my foet of the floor It takes less than five
minutas to be agonizing. They leave you hooked up unilinconsciousness, then s you
10p 10 the floor by raking you offthe GooT...” —C.P., FMC Devens, Ayer, MD, 2011

[r—ry
o, ipan 23123

23

IX. Reprisals against prisoners for airing grievances

Accountabily or inhumane treatment within canters of confinement i severely limiod
‘despite the prevalance of prisoner abuse. Complaint mechanisms aro the primary.
means through which prisoners are abl 0 air grievances abou their reaiment and o
report abuses commitied by guards. Recurring challenges fo prisoners are facing
Ihreats and rotafation lrom guards tor complaining about misireatment, andr whon
quards believe a prisoner may be incined o do so. This aimsphers of fearis &
‘Significant hindrance o ensuring humane conditions and treatment, while at the same
ime perpetuating a cimato of mpunit for those responsibie or rghis vilations

1 tied to explain the culfs were extremely 100 tight and that my hands were numb, ho
(Sat. Broughion) aughed and stated something akin 10 thought you riggers were used
10 shackles by nowr... He stated something akin 1o “you haven' fet pain yet faggot Wit
‘another grievance against me and the next tme I1 stick my key up your black ass
nigger"... As he locked the cage he again threatened me that “nex! mo 'm going 1o say
“stop resisting' then siam your punkass on your head. So f you even think about wriling
his up or o report me 1o LL Michell again 1 have my boys take Care of your nigger
taggot assr —7.D,, Santa losa Correctional Insttution, Miton, FL, 2014

“Other things mutiple offcers do s roluso Lo feed inmates i they find out a cerlain
inmae filed a compiaint step one grievance agains! them, they thiow out ouigoing mail
o which is really fucked up give a offender anolher person's mal on purpose, pecple
Wwho can't speak English are mostly vicims of this bulshit deny them medical o jacking
them for theirfood...The people here wih rank are out of Cntrol...my point i yeah wee
inprison for breaking the aw, but we're stllhuman beings and deseve (o be respected
a5 one aspecial il we don', —A.Z., Estelle High Security Unit Huntsvile ,TX 2010

“On 6/12/14 Thursday...Hyat took mo 1 the floor and Wartarin stared kicking me i the
face on my It sde and spiting my oye open and blood began 1o spil no the floor. Next
he began on my rightaye hiting me 3 imes and began to sprey my lace with gas whie
Saying, ths wi teach you 1o wrle a grievance on me, e blchr"...On B/13/14 Friday
Wing Officer Wartarin deprived me my lunch... On 6/14/14 Saturday Wartanin doprived
me breakiast and rpped up 2 of my medical kies... Later CIO™ Ciement deprived me
unch... On 6/15/14 Sunday Wartanin deprived me breakiast and lunch and influence
[sic} RN'' Casper to deprive me morning and afternoon meds... On 6/16/14 Monday.

Lot o ..o Amacan Francs Senic Comaaio G014
Ko, sn .53
< Camecions e

24

Wartanin deprived me lunch and uniiuence (si] AN'® to deprive me meds.” —.L.
Baraga Correctional Facity, Baraga, Mi, 2014'

“Other acts o retaliaton and abuse include: being shocked with an electiic body
immobilzer device; being forced into a restraint char...sic and was neglected and left
10 ive on the fioor, and in very fithy and unsanitary conditions for approximately nine
monihs; during this time | was tortured with a bright florescent ight that sayod on for
twenty four hours a day." —S.A. Graterford Correctional Facilty, Grateriord, PA, 2010

“Five very big cowboys - correctional officers ~ 0ok me 10 a speclal conirol uni, placed
me in resiraints and tortured ma for over two hours to punish e for grievances andior
legal action on their friends and coworkers...hey screwed their knuckles inlo my
lemples, bent my wist backwards unti the cartiage popped and cracked, pulled my
nack back s far as they could without breaking anything, made me yoll screar, beg,
Gry, defecatelurinate due to the excruciating pain,for over two hours.” —.E,, Colorado
‘State Penitentiary, Canon iy, CO, 2010

12 et 1. 10 Amacan P S ot 2014)
= Karess. upan 2,25
<
X. Conclusion

I ts 2013 Periocic Report 1o the Comiltoe on Torture, the U.S. govornment
acknowledged s obigation to ban acts of torture, stating “{}he absolute pronbiion of
onure i of fundamental importance to the United States.” A quote from U.S.
Prosident Barak Obama was included [0 further underscore the U.S. comitment to
domesticand ifornational aws on torkre I can stand hero today, a5 Presidentof e
Unitgd States, and say without exception or equivocaton that we do nol toture. .

Despite these assurances AFSC continues 10 have grave concers that the U.S.
governiment violates s CAT obigatons to prevent and address acts oftorlure.
Spacifically, we balieve the folowing Convention Against Torura Aricies have been
breached by the U.S. government whils housing individual in prisons and jas:

Article 10

+ The U.S. breaches its adherence 1o Aricle 10 by permiting guard retallaton or
threats of reprisal agains! prisoners who have or may fl compiaints of inhumane.
‘confinement condiions. This system of intimidation undermines the possiilty of
rectiying prior abuse and securing redress.

Article 16

+ The State practice of delaying health care treatment (0 prisoners, even i the face of
‘symploms suggesting a medical emergency have rasuled in permanent harm to
prisones, vilating s Arice 16 obiigations 1o prevent crueltreatment,

+ Denying prisoners access to clean water, providing inadequately nutiious food,
permiting insect and pest nfestations, failng to protect prisoners agains! isease,
forced nudity and unsanitary conditions of confinement constitte violaions of the
‘Aicle 16 pronibition of inhuman and degrading acts.

+ Prisoners are not shiekded from cruel and degrading acts by guards whie in
confinement, such as excessive and unnecessary uses of foce, being subjected 1
racial and ethnic sius, and unrestrained use of chemical agents. In these ways the
USS. breaches Aricle 16.

+ Failing o keep prisoners sale from degrading acts of sexual violence, especially al
‘such appaling rates, constiutes U.S. noncompliance with s obigatons under
Articlo 16,

+ The use of solation for prolonged periods of ime - that n some cases can span
decades - s a torturous act causing severe mental sulfering and psychological harm

U5 Got . Cammns Agast o Carvrson A T Pososc Rapon o e e Ses o
i, 2 o YR GO 3287 ] GO
z.

ning far beyond the period of time they are i solitary confinemen. The U.S.
embrace of prolongod isolation is cruel and inhuman treatment vioating ts
‘commiment o Artcie 16,

‘The U.S. has violated Aricle 16 by allowing prisoners to be subjected o acis of
peychological harm that ise 10 he level of orture. These Arlcle 16 vioitions include
siress positions, exposure to exireme temperatures, and constant ight exposure.

XI. Questions

Hoath caro

1. Please explin how the State protects and provides for the unique needs of
Vuinorable populations i jas and prisons, partoularly the mentall il

Inhuman, crust and degrading reatment

1. Please explain the complaint procedure and process I place for prisoners.
Wwho exparionco i treatment by prson staf,

2. Doos that process include keeping the prisoner nformed of the status
of thee claim?

b. What remedies have been issued by higher autharities n regard to
claims of abuse?

. How has the State changed its policies n response to claims of il
reatment thatindicate systemic violations of prisoner rights?

2. What are the condiions under which prison and ail personnel are permitied
1o use force against a prisoner? How does the State monfor i force was used
in appropriate stuations and implemented in accordance with domestc and
intematonal laws?

3. How many prison or il staff members have been reprimanded as a result of
complaints fled for prisoner abuse?

Sexual violence
1. What systems are in place 0 prevent sexual violence perpelrated by guards
s well as by other prisoners?
2. What procedures and services exist 1o ensure an effeciive response to

allegations of sexual vioence (inclucing accessibify fo support services for
Victms/survivors)?

Isolation and solitary confinement

1. Does the State antiipate developing and implementing uniorm standards for
the usa, o restictions on the use, of isolation?

2. What actons i the State taking 1o end the overuse of solary confinement?

Political prisoners and control management units

1. Please explin how the State determines which prisoners are 1o be housed n
control management unis, given that thousands of prisoners i the crieria
outined in your guideines for possitie CMU piacement.

2. Control management unit parsonnil monitor the acivites and
communications of prisoners at all imes. Ye extreme limitations on human
ontact are stlin place. What s the rationale for restricting access o others.
given the heightened levels of supenvision?

3. How do you respond o accusasons that the Stale is using control
management units 1o suppress crilisms of he U.S. governmant and
exprossions of free speach?

Psyehological torture

1. Please explain the position of the Stale regarding acts designed to impase
‘mental suffering, including practices that may rise tothe level of
psychological torure.

2. What raining Is provided to Jail and prison personnel regarding non-physical
acts that could resultin mental sulfering?

Reprisals against prisoners for airing grievances

1. What systems are in place 1o proven! and respond o reprisais against
prisoners who make complainis?

2. How 60 the numbers of compaints of reprisal fled compare to the number of
reprimands imposed on personnel?

3 How many prison and jail staf members ware roprimanded for reprisals

against prisoners who filed complains about thei vreatment? What where
their reprisals?
XII. Suggested concluding observations

* Ratly the Optional Protocol 1o the Convention Against Torture.

+ Removing a human being from thefr community, depriving them of human contact,
‘denying them of stimull and subjecting them 10 inhumane conditions i cruel. Treating
others n this manner denios our shared humanity and fails 1o honor the Light present
in each of us. The use of solation/ soliary confinement must be ended immediately.

+ Provide conditions of confinement in jails and prisons that align with U.S. domestic
laws, protect the U.S. Constiutionalrights of prisoners, and are in accordance with
intemational norms and obigations.

* The U.S. must permitintemational absarvers (o enter and evaluate centers of
confinement. For prisonsfails not under the direct control of the federal governmert,
the USS. government must actvely engage states and locailies to aciitate such
access.

+ Ensure that the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 is immediately implemented in
all confinement faciiies nationwide 1o protect those entusted to thei care agains!
sexual violence.

* Prison andijail personnol shoukd only use the least restrctive response to avert harm
1o anciner prisoner or siaf.

* Cnemical agents should never be used in prisons and jails. Limitations on mobifty
and lack of veniiation signiicantly undermine the salety of all exposed o harmful
agents

+ The State shouid honor ts respansbilly to keep those incarcorated safe from harm.
This includes abuses al the hands of staff and guards, as wellas violence
perpetraled among prisoners. A robust monitoring system must be pu ino place to
hanor this obligation that aiso incluces accountabilty mechanisms for all perpetrators
of abuses.

South Chicago ABC
é Zine Distro
P.0.Box721

Homewood, IL 60430