South Central Correctional Center - Federal

I was placed in administration segregation and stripped of my privileges (contact visits, phone calls, canteen, personal property, etc.) for the reason of investigation. A violation of my “due process” rights, as I am punished before being found guilty of anything. Other prisoners under investigation are stripped of their privileges as well. Investigation can last up to 6 months or longer. The investigator most usually takes as long as they want to speak to us. I was placed in housing unit 2 and the conditions are extremely hostile and cruel.

There is a rodent infestation due to trash not being cleaned and food, juice, coffee and milk cover the floor most of the day or longer. The mice live in the hall and the utility closest between cells. (This rodent infestation is rampant in all housing units and the chow hall).

We are forced to live in cells with individuals who many times do not get along with each other, mostly on purpose. As of 8-17-18, many convicts request protective custody (PC) to get out of these hostile cell arrangements, but due to the overcrowdedness of the administration segregational housing units, these is no where else the inmate can be placed. If an inmate refuses the same cell he came out of, he is punished with a conduct violation and disciplined.

Convicts, including myself, are forced to sit on an iron bench with our hands handcuffed behind our backs, attached to the bench, as well as our legs shackled to the bench with no alternative. The handcuffs and shackles are so tight that our hands and ankles result in bloody incisions and bruises. Mostly, medical refuse to check on the prisoner’s health and well-being. By policy, medical is supposed to check prisoners in handcuffs and shackles to make sure they’re not in pain. They refuse to comply or look past the fact our wrists are bleeding. We are refused all meals and water as well while on the bench, and are limited bathroom breaks, sometimes resulting with inmates urinating or defecating on themselves.

Once inmates per unit request PC, the correctional officers refuse to pull other inmates, in possible danger, out or they maliciously pepper spray them. This is a denial of our rights to PC and 8th Amendment, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. These units hold 72 inmates each and there are 3 of them in 2 houses.

Convicts in need of PC were determined not to live in cells 24 hours a day with people who may cause them problems or harm. Prisoners “rode” the bench for over 144 hours (handcuffed and shackled). August 23, 2018 seemed to break convict’s spirits.

On 8-23-18, around 3:00 p.m., up to about 6:00 p.m., the Correctional Emergency Response Team (CERT) came and proceeded to brutally assault inmates. All this is on cameras in housing unit 2 A, B and C wing at above time. Benches, holding cages and some showers were full of convicts awaiting compatible cells.

I was standing in a holding cage, 2C, face and chest exposed (due to the designs and patterns on cage) under PC awaiting a compatible cell. SCCC Correctional Officer (CO) Benevitez and Jefferson City Correctional Center (JCCC) CO Ousley told me that the JCCC officers “had something for me”. (I had been convicted of 1st degree assault on correctional officer in JCCC; received 20 years; currently appealing) JCCC Officer Talest (referred to as Bull) then came to my cage and maliciously emptied about 3 small cans and 2 big cans of pepper spray directly into my face. JCCC, SCCC, Ozark Correctional Center, as well as other correctional officers take me to the ground, handcuffed me and proceeded to brutally assault me. About 10 officers or more, all of them 180 to 250 pounds, struck me with closed fists in the facial and body area, stomped and kicked me, elbowed me, twisted my toes and ankles, twisted my fingers back tearing ligaments, choked me and drove their knees into my back. CO Davis ran from nowhere to join the assault.

Inmates claim the officers were screaming, “This is what you get when you fuck with JCCC”. Officers then “hog tied” me, picked me up by my throat and ankles and carried me to Housing Unit 2A (H.U. 2A was flooded with sewage water due to broken toilets and sprinklers). Officers then threw me on the ground by cell 106, pulled the inmates out of 106 and picked me up and threw me to the concrete floor in 106. They then proceeded to beat me and shove my face and nose in water where I could not breathe. They punched, kicked, and stomped all parts of my body, especially my facial area. They twisted my finger and emptied a can of mace into my buttocks area. One officer urinated on me, they took my restraints off and left, whooping and hollering, “That was for Officer Post” and “don’t fuck with JCCC”. They then left me in a pool of bloody sewage water. I was denied any medical assessment. Nurse Courtney, who was working, told me, “Fuck your medical assessment, I hope you die”. I did not receive a conduct violation to support their use of force assault.

Officers then came and put my enemy (who I had requested PC from) into the cell with me. I then declared PC and they refused to pull me out. My enemy then held the food port, stuck his head out with my PC note at med pass to get me pulled out. I then went to “ride” the bench. During a restraint check, nurse Christine G. refused to check my restraints, denied me medical attention, and quoted from the “Bible” Romans 13:4 “It is the servant of God to inflict wrath on the evil doer”. When nurse Barker came in, I declared a medical emergency for broken nose and broken fingers. She claimed, “Broken bones is not a medical emergency”. My face was drenched in blood. Later, I declared a medical emergency for chest pains. I can’t remember what nurse seen me, but she checked my vitals and said I was “OK”. I told her about my injuries and she said, “So what”. I was finally placed in cell 113 with a guy named Ben.

My injuries include possible broken nose, torn ligaments in my hands and finger, and I’m extremely traumatized. Prisoner [X] was standing in a holding cage in 2C (his whole body and face exposed due to design and pattern of cage) maliciously maced intravenously, pulled out the cage and beat ruthlessly by about 10 officers. His injury included a broken toe.

Prisoner [Y] was in 2C-240 and was maliciously pepper sprayed, pulled out the cell and his legal materials twisted.

Prisoner [Z] was in 2A-202 maliciously pepper sprayed and ruthlessly beat by about 10 officers. The main instigator was CO Applegate of SCCC. Not sure of his injuries, but when I seen him he looked like the “Walking Dead”. Face, arm, and elbows black and purple.

These attacks were organized by Warden Jeff Norman, Michelle Buckner and Conrad Sutton. Other prisoners were attacked as well.

After these brutal assaults, some inmates were bullied into living with incompatible prisoners. The pigs have 3 TV’s in the wings and are turned on if we are “good”. The same movie is played over and over all day long. The movies usually portray the imperialists oppressing and slaughtering the proletariat. It was used as a brainwash mechanism to control the feeble.

On a bathroom break, I was slammed to the ground on my jaw by CO Callhoun. I was then written up for a 19.1 (Creating a Disturbance). Everyone under PC felt there was nothing they could do and went back to their cells. I stayed on the bench. On 9-1-18, I was taken to Housing Unit 1B-122 for 2 2’s (guard assaults). The violations claim I slipped a handcuff and assaulted 2 officers by striking them numerous times in face and body with closed fists and knees. When in actual reality COI Riggs, COI Karr and Serge Herndon assaulted me. COI Riggs striking me in face with closed fist. I went one week in nothing but boxers and socks. No mattress. By the grace of Yaweh one convict got a sheet to me. Mail room staff Keli Ann Burton has been confiscating all his outgoing and incoming mail. I’m under “Security Orders” and denied medicals sick cell essentials, cleaning supplies, and told at all meals to lay face down on my bunk with arms behind my back and legs crossed to receive a “Suicide Bag” of food, while I’m not suicidal.

Us convicts ask for the administration to resolve certain issues as follows:

1. Relief of overcrowding in administration segregation (Ad-Seg) units by:
   –limiting investigation to 45 days.
   –letting individuals out of Ad-Seg after their disciplinary segregation terms are
   –Ending long erm Ad-Seg (which is used in Missouri as punitive in addition to disciplinary segregation).
   

2. Access to incentives found in other Missouri Prisons for those assigned to long-term indeterminate Ad-Seg confinement and those placed under investigation.
   –Possession of personal property (appliances, books, clothes, etc.).
   –Ability to buy food items from canteen and all hygiene products.
   

3. Access to privileges to those placed under investigation
   –Ability to use the phone at least 3 times a week.
   –Allowed contact visits at least twice a month.
   

If you would please support us convicts by expressing these claims to the Missouri Department of Corrections, we would greatly appreciate it. Also, expose our sufferings and 8-23-18 to the media, Fox 2 News, Channel 5 News, WNBC, CNN, ABC, NBC and mainstream newspapers. Myself, as well as others, will keep pushing. Some of us are litigating 1983’s.

On Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at or around 7:50 a.m. COII Cara Brashers said, “You can only wear one pair of boxers to the showers”. I became agitated telling her that I have been going to the shower with 2 pairs of boxers and a towel underneath tied around my waist since my arrival in housing unit #1 a year prior, as a way to protect my modesty from the gawking eyes of sick, twisted and demented voyeurs (staff as well as residents) who stand in their doors body lusting. I stepped back into my cell getting nowhere and complied. I began to walk quickly to the shower cell and they began to yank the tether (i.e. leash) attached to the handcuffs, “You need to slow down”. I explained that it was no reason to stop in the middle of the wing and could we process to the shower. “You can go back to your cell, mister”, and attempted to man handle me and force me to the ground. I wasn’t going to allow them to slam me on my face, so I politely walked them back up the stairs and asked, “So you’re going to treat me like this? You want to play games? We can play them.” They attempted to manhandle me again but weren’t successful.

I walked into my cell and placed my hands through the feeding port and one of the guards began to twist my hands and wrists violently. I snatched back and with my uncuffed hand held the tether and asked, “So ignorance is the only way to get some attention?”, and demanded to see the shift commander. While this was occurring the handcuff key was broken and lost, so they were in disarray. CO Postelwait attempted to swindle me into coming out of my cell. I agreed to give him the cuffs back. I took a 15 minute wash up in my sink. Afterwards I made Taubah, and prayer. The Functional Unit Manager, Troy Wade, began to bang on my door which has written on it, “In Prayer” and ruffed up without incident. All of my belongings were taken from me. To make matters worse, everything had mace on it.

I was made to stand naked in the strip cage while they contacted medical about me having my athletic supporter for my swollen groin and to be assessed. A contracted nurse came by the name of Jessica Williams who works for Corizon. I began to tell her that I was having an adverse effect to the gas and show the peeling skin and blisters on my hands and arms. I was refused medical treatment, boy oh boy, I had to smile to quell the anger because I was in no position to strike.

I was placed back in cell without it being cleaned. Gas and more was everywhere. Sink, toilet, walls, floor and my only place of salvation; the bunk.

Thirty minutes later I had an attorney visit. I was escorted up to the visiting room, smelling of mace and wheezing. My hand and arm felt weak for some reason too. I told my public defender, Brandon Swartz, whom I have already reported to the Office of the Chief of Disciplinary Council for providing ineffective assistance of counsel just sneering he said, “Yeah, I hear you just had a use of force.” I began to explain what occurred was unjustified, I was ignored.

So here I sit. I have a pad and pen courtesy of my young Kiwe comrade, and with the assistance of a person affiliated with the blood street tribe giving me toothpaste and toothbrush. Also a European brother, who’s the complete opposite of me gave brand new socks. All of this and more after countless hours of moving 3 twelve foot sandbags and a mattress from in front of my door, coupled with eluding the pigs.

As I sat, I looked past skin color, lightening bolts, tattoo blue and read flags, I seen something: UNITY. Despite of our differences, we had one thing in common. We were resistant to oppression in one way, shape or fashion. This was enough.

I don’t know if I’ll make it out of the hole, let along prison. One thing I do know is, I will not be treated like a slave and not resist. I will not be happily paraded around in nearly transparent underwear. I will not cower nor accept defeat. I will not, I will NOT!

I’m still alive and pushing. Kicking cuz I can’t stop, won’t stop. Even if I could, I wouldn’t. They’re attempting to break me. I may bend in the wind but I will never fold. Mojo of a simba. I am for the struggle, our struggle. Pumaja sisi Shinta! I shall not refuse my hand nor break my stride, this oath shall kill me. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Chulewa!

South Central Correctional Center is now trying to implement a phase up program similar to those discussed in Aug/July issue of ULK “Get down or lay down.” If one is not with the movements of coming together to get these pigs in line to better our circumstances, then get them the fuck off the yard. There’s power in numbers, force in power and eradication and rectification in force. Although the system is the root of the problem, our peers are what’s worsening our conditions. A prison is what its captives allow it to be. If there is no border line drawn then the opposition will continue to get away with murder (literally). We have to stop reaping the consequences of each other’s choices and start benefitting from our decisions. By any means necessary! And this is necessary by every means.

Today is September 9th, 2012. My comrade (my celly) and I are participating in the mass stoppage of work and fast for our comrades who fell in Attica. Although we are in Ad-Seg we have chosen to sacrifice. No food, no petty stuff, no arguing out the door, only working out four times for 1 hour each time, reading, studying and talking politics. For me fasting is something I do once a month, but today is the first time I’ve worked out during my fast. My comrade is pushing me and I’m not stopping. From midnight to midnight is how we’re moving.

I’m writing this to not only inform you of this movement, but how things are going in these human warehouses here in Missouri. It’s still hard to find unity here. No one wants to miss a meal or two to make a stand, but they’ll continue to talk about how bad things are. It’s not strange.

I want to raise an issue concerning your paper. My comrade who is Black just had your July/August issue of ULK censored. The reason for this censorship was the article about the mass work stoppage on September 9th. I am Caucasian and fully dedicated to the struggle. I have received your July/August issue of ULK. This discrimination towards my comrade is not strange.

My comrade has filed his grievance on this censorship. This state doesn’t even want us to learn and that is just one thing wrong with this state. They would rather close down schools and build new prisons.

I have been incarcerated in the Missouri Department of Corruption since 1997. Over these many years I have been confined to seven different “camps” within the state of “Missery.”

I have seen prisoners maced and beat severely at Potosi Correctional Center in the late 90s. Officers there would routinely chain prisoners up “hog tied” like and leave them lying in their cells. Rather than move prisoners that didn’t get along or otherwise weren’t compatible they would make them fight and in two instances I know of, prisoners were murdered by their cellmates.

All over the state it is common practice to place completely incompatible people in a cell together. Guys with life without parole being celled with prisoners with only a matter of months left in their sentence.

At Crossroads Correctional Center I saw a sergeant kick a “chuck-hole” closed on one prisoner’s arm. Another sergeant grabbed a prisoner in a reverse headlock and dropped said prisoner on his face using all his own body weight. Prisoners with asthma or other health problems are sprayed with pepper spray.

All over the state it is common for prisoners to be “free-cased” for violations or crimes they had nothing to do with because a scape-goat was needed in a hurry to save face or out of animosity issues between staff and prisoners.

At South Central Correctional Center prisoners were “free-cased” for another prisoner’s murder because the institution needed scape-goats to cover up their own incompetency in running a safe and secure ‘camp’ and insufficient security equipment.

All over the state there are prisoners on a status termed “long term mandated single-cell confinement.” This security status has no set end, no guidelines and no governing policies or any unit set aside for such a special security status. There are men on this status who have been confined solidarity for over ten years.

At South East Correctional Center things are to a point where at the time of this writing there are prisoners eating foreign objects such as ink pens, screws, and any item obtainable (in one case the ear stem of a pair of eye glasses) to express the need to be transferred away from the tyrannical oppression found in this backward run facility.

All over the state prisoners are housed in single-man cell units with prisoners with severe mental illness so they are subjected to round the clock beating on walls and sinks, yelling and screaming, smearing and throwing feces, urine, etc. Lights are left on or shut off per the whim of the officers.

In [uel=https://www.prisoncensorship.info/ulk/15]ULK 15 is an article on Black August, it was suggested that we eat only one meal a day throughout the month of August and fast completely August 7 in honor of Jonathan Jackson, on August 21 in honor of George Jackson, and on August 31 in honor of Hasan Shakur.

I was in AdSeg and I was doing 5 days for creating a disturbance rule 19.1. I decided to fast on August 21 and I decided to refuse my tray in honor of Black August. Well I was written up, and given a year more to do in AdSeg. The violation report read like this: “[X] refused his tray and declared a hunger strike along with 16 other offenders.” And so from my understanding we all were given a conduct violation and now we fight the IRR system we were denied. I explained that I was practicing my faith and now it’s in the hands of the corrupt grievance procedure. We were all written up for “organized disobedience.”