Indiana Prisons

I’ve passed out my copies of ULK, I attempt to raise the consciousness of the women around me any time I get a chance to do so whether it be about eating habits, working out, unity, learning the rules and regulations that govern them or how to fight the pigs without being loud or a stereotype. Because of my efforts I’ve been harassed by the pigs I’ve been written up for “unauthorized gathering” when it was only 3 of us but if I was playing cards that would’ve been okay. I’ve been written up for “inciting a riot.” I’m now currently being housed in lock for “battery” although I never even touched anyone, didn’t have an argument, nothing. I was also written up for “violating a facility rules” because I was doing sit ups on my bunk. These bastards are doing anything to break me and intimidating me.

Even now it took them 6 days to “locate” my state-issued envelopes, so I could send out mail. Funny how they found em 2 days after me writing different administrative staff about this violation of my rights. This is my 7th day in solitary and I haven’t even been formally presented with my charges. The fact they are trying so hard to break me only motivates me. I am the woman they fear will infect those around me, I write grievances and appeals, I work out, I don’t read mood books, I don’t argue with the pigs or kiss ass, I will never snitch, I don’t fear them and I would rather drink rat piss before I ever flirt with one of the red-faced weakass pigs!

Enclosed you should find Under Lock & Key number 14. I am returning it to you because prison staff disallowed it’s delivery to me and confiscated it stating 1)“contains information about performing work stoppages” and 2) “photos of dead klan members (cartoons).”

Apparently the issue was confiscated in May/June 2010 while I was housed at the Pendleton Correctional Facility (PCF). I was not notified of the confiscation until July 12, 2011. I was transferred from PCF in November 2010 to the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility (WVCF). PCF staff forwarded the confiscated mail (almost a year after receipt) to WVCF staff. WVCF staff notified me of the confiscation.

I have attempted to challenge this confiscation via the offender grievance process. However, WVCF case manager Marty Hale refuses to provide me with a grievance form. On August 9 he responded to my request by becoming irate and yelling at me, “fuck your grievance… every time an issue comes up you want to file a grievance, fuck you… you’re just a sniveling complaining bitch”, “you bitch”, and “stick a grievance up your ass.” To date I am still being denied a grievance form.

MIM(Prisons) adds: Prisons in Indiana are blatantly violating what few rights they tell us prisoners have, both with their illegal censorship and failure to notify both MIM(Prisons) and the prisoner of this censorship, and by denying this comrade the ability to file a grievance. By documenting such abusive denials to grieve we can continue to expose their sacred grievance system for what it really is, a sham. Even if the public buys it, all prisoners need to understand what it means to file a grievance and what it takes to change conditions in prison.

This is the inspiration behind the current campaign to Demand Our Grievances Be Addressed, currently active in California, Arizona, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Write to us for a copy for your state, or if one does not yet exist, help create one by researching the citations and policies specific to your state and we will type it up and get it circulated.

These are two prisons that have designated cells where prisoners are in solitary confinement for at least 22 hours a day with no congregate dining, exercise or other services.

1. Wabash Valley Correctional Facility, Secure Confinement Unit, PO Box 111 Carlisle, IN 47838

2. Maximum Control Facility, PO Box 557, Westville, IN 46391

I have been in both and the following statistics apply to both prisons:

There are around 250-330 prisoners
It is around 48% white and 48% Black and 2% Latino
The units opened 15-20 years ago
Prisoners have been abused physically by offers in the past
Prisoners are regularly subject to humiliation and refusal of showers

My comrades and I have just recently won a battle to get out of the SHU unit here in Indiana. We won it through appeals and are now back in the general population. Our release is just a drop in the bucket, though, considering that no one should be subjected to such torments and inhumane treatment. Where some would be happy with gaining their own releases, I will only be happy when the SHUs are abolished. So until that time I must continue to work towards this goal.

Keep in the struggle

I have received the 1/95 issue of your newspaper [MIM Notes]. I love the way it’s written. I enjoyed reading the letters the prisoners wrote and sent in plus your answers. I hope to keep reading your paper and hope you keep sending them to me. I probably will be out of prison by September 1995. I’ve been locked up since October 1992.

This is a Maximum or SuperMax prison. We’re only allowed an hour or half hour out of our cell or closet cellbox a day. Plus they have the goon squad or the extraction team. They come in your cell and beat you up and strap you down to your bed if you act like the man you are or don’t want to make your bed up or kick on the door - little things like that. You can’t get out of your cell unless they let you out. Everything here works by electricity.

If a person caught a heart attack or something serious, he can hang it up because you have to be handcuffed behind your back before you can leave the cell. Plus leg shackles. And they’re so scared of you that they get all suited up before they come get you.

That is just a bit of what’s going on at this concentration camp. If you ever truly want to know what’s going on down here, let me know.