Indiana State Prison - Federal

On today at approx 4 PM as I sit in my cell; my toilet overflows. Mind you I’m a Muslim, in the process of fasting for Ramadan. My afternoon prayer was 4:14 pm. The officer Vannessa Pena did a walk at approx 4:07 pm. I informed her of the feces and urine that came out the toilet when it overflowed onto the floor where I offer my Salah that I need to clean it up so I may be able to practice the religion I practice. I was told by Officer Vanessa Pena that it is Sunday so no inmates are allowed out of their cells for no reason. I would have to figure it out.

Of course I’m supposed to perform Wudu (purity) by the time I have to offer Salah. I was left in my cell with my ring finger on my primary hand in a splint with fecal and urine on my floor. Officer Vanessa Pena then let out of their cell approx 15 non-Islamic prisoners for approx 1/2 an hour. And they all informed Officer V. Pena their was visually from the range turds on my floor and used toilet paper. She told them to tell me maybe I should reconsider the GOD I praise. If I can’t pray to God in my cell then I’m out of luck because it’s not her problem.

I asked to speak with a Sergeant or Lieutenant. V. Pena told me to wait till 6 PM shift comes in. By that time the wetness will be dry and therefore easier for me to pick up since I only have one hand to work with. This woman deliberately left me in a cell contaminated with feces and urine during my fast and I have not been able to purify myself, pray, or break my fast. I’m so weak from not eating since 2 AM.

It is now 8 PM and night shift informed me I would not be able to do anything about it until tomorrow because no one is allowed out of their cells. They let an inmate plumber come into my cell to push the button and say “yea it flushes” and that was their solution to this entire violation of my right to practice my religion, cruel and unusual punishment. Being left in my cell contaminated with feces and urine on the floor in the only space available to use sink to clean myself, perform my obligatory prayers, make food to break my fast.

I am in dire circumstances with absolutely no immediate relief or remedy to this circumstance. All officers involved that denied me any relief are lieutenants Lott, Ball, Castaneda, Ofc. Vanessa Pena, Ofc. Harris, Ofc. Jaden Everidge, Capt. McCormick.

Indiana State Prison’s (I.S.P.) Administration are deliberately indifferent towards B-Cellhouse. B-Cellhouse is the closest (in comparison) to being honor dorm in I.S.P. Very rarely goes on lock down. Most inmates are enrolled in classes of some kind. But yet the administration is set on showing severe deliberate indifference on various levels toward occupants of B-Cellhouse.

In this prison there are 6 cellhouses and 3 dorms. C and A Cellhouses are the cellhouses with the continuous recurring lockdowns, I-Cellhouse is the honor cellhouse, D-Cellhouse is RHU, P-Cellhouse is protective custody, E-Dorm is older adults, F-Dorm is the overflow for NSB-RWI program. Dorms are free flowing at all times except count times and after 6PM. C-Cellhouse and A-Cellhouse are allowed out of cell all day except for count times. B-Cellhouse (the cellhouse that has little to no conflict) we are locked in our cells 24/7 unless we have any class, pass, rec, chow outside of cellhouse. Any time we return to cellhouse we are forced to be locked in cells, which in turn deprives us of use of showers, phones, kiosk, counseling.

If at rec time we don’t go out to gym to play basketball, shoot pool, lift weights, then we are not allowed rec time to be used inside cellhouse to take care of our other much needed, required things such as speaking to the team counselors for any needs such as legal, programs, filing paperwork, etc. We are not allowed to use phones to contact our families, we are not allowed to use showers, we aren’t allowed to just use the time outside to walk, talk, socialize with others. We are basically forced to choose to either go to chow or use the time that chow is being ran to use phone or shower. Anytime we attempt to go to chow or return to cellhouse to use phone, shower, or speak with unit team counselors we are forced to return to our cells to be locked in.

So in reality B-Cellhouse is on administrative segregation for incarcerated individuals that have no disciplinary code violations and are enrolled in constructive personal development programs. Our rights to shower, make phone calls, speak with unit team, any movement that does not involve going to chow or strictly outside rec only, or to classes, we are being forced to be solitary confinement in 1 man cells.

There is this little 22-year-old 105 lb girl that is the officer in charge, Atwood, that enforces this no touch torture, mental anguish, deliberate indifference, violation of our civil rights by way of approval from administration. This cellhouse consists of elderly, educated, religious, goal-oriented, positive, rehabilitative seeking incarcerated individuals striving to make better choices in life, that also avoid conflict and altercations. There are only 22 cells on each range, 10 ranges with a maximum capacity of 222 individual cells. Of the 222 individuals in cellhouse, the only ones allowed to use showers, phones, unit team counselors, are the cellhouse workers that consist of approximately 30 people in total. The only designated times out of cells are chow time, rec (only outside), passes (medical, library, legal mail, DHB, visit), classes, chapel. Yet the cellhouses with problematic occurrences daily – rapes, killings, robberies, etc., are allowed to spend the entire day out of cells with exception of 5:30AM - 6AM, 10AM - 11AM, and 2PM - 3PM.

The administration are taking advantage of the less rowdy, less violent, goal oriented, positive individuals to enforce violation of policy, civil rights, state and federal laws by refusing bare necessities of shower, communication, with family, use of unit team to assist in resources for legal or any other assistance needed by counselors of unit. The cellhouses that are not restricted have approximately 400 inmates in them. Their constitutional rights are being respected. They are allowed full use of shower, phone, unit team access, inside of cellhouses rec with a minimum of approximately 10 disciplinary lock downs a year for anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months lock down each occurrence.

The administration of I.S.P. is enforcing the violation of rights of incarcerated individuals housed in B-Cellhouse only. We have no way of filing grievances due to restriction of contact with unit team to obtain grievance forms, request slips, law library forms, etc. Also denial of use of phone to communicate the deliberate indifferences, discrimination, non-touch torture, etc. Access to outside sources, family, attorneys, etc. is also being prevented. We really need your assistance in sorting this out. To every forum available to expose the illegal abuse of power, and denial of rights aforementioned, violation not only of state and federal laws but also policy and administrative procedures. It’s sending the message as if incarcerated individuals housed in B-Cellhouse don’t go against the rules and continue to strive to better themselves in a rehabilitative manner. Then B-Cellhouse will be will be treated unjustly and unfairly, being denied rights and discriminated against, tortured, confined, etc. Only violence, chaos, uncontrolled, unethical behavior will be rewarded with adherence to rights and policy and administrative procedures. Here at Indiana State Prison, the warden will not allow anyone who tries to make a positive change to eat, shower, use phone, or talk to unit teams.