Just Another Problem.

June 14, 2008

I've come to the conclusion that Director Schriro's "new" AZ Department of Corrections amounts to the same old coporate, money-hungry, predatory correctional institution. Schriro's ADOC appears to be interested only in making prisoners and their friends and family PAY, PAY, PAY, financially, emotionally and physically.

Since Schriro began transforming ADOC, some legislation was passed which contributes to the hardship... but MOST can be attributed to the ADOC Director.

New Phone System: Schriro asserted would be less expensive. A LIE. Inmate calls are now MORE expensive! More billing options, but more ridiculous prices. Same predatory corporations bilking prisoners and their friends and families... AND ADOC!

Inmate Labor pay has been decreased in hours and wages paid. Inmates averaged between .30 and .40 cents an hour and 80 hours a pay period. Now, it's between .15 and .30 cents per hour and 60 hours. Yet, inmates still WORK 80 hours. 20 hours unpaid. Refusing to Work is a disciplinary rule violation, as is Refusing to Obey a Direct Order to Work.

Contract Commissary Vendor: was hired to supply commissary to the inmate population. Keefe Commissary; a corporation with a long history of preying on prisoners and their family's pocket books, charge inflated and taxed prices, and have piss-poor business ethics bordering on illegal.

ADOC, in cahoots with Canteen Corp., has dramatically reduced the meals inmates are offered. Both in calories and quality. Conveniently, this menu change occurred around the same time ADOC approved Keefe Commissary to increase their food item selection, price increase, lift the quantity limit and increase inmate spending limits.

ADOC changed their indigent, state-issued health and welfare supplies policy. ADOC used to provide it's impoverished inmates with a monthly health and welfare package. Soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc. including 3 one ounce postage provide letters a week. All free to any prisoner with less than $12.00 on their account in the past 30 days. NOW, not only have they down-sized these packages, the indigent are only allowed 5 letters per month. This is a dramatic and oppressive money saving act against the poor.

Sanitation Supplies are not being purchased and regularly provided to clean housing areas, bathrooms, dining rooms, food preparation areas, etc. What little supply is provided amounts to water as they've been diluted so much. It's no wonder inmates and staff in ADOC have been suffering illnes, infections so often and without reprieve. Especially in the Tucson Complex.

State Issued Clothing is becoming only an "intake thing". Clothing is issued upon entering ADOC and it MUST last. New clothing is not being issued much less ordered. Nearly all clothing exchanged after intake is in very poor condition and not the proper size. I've had the same worn out clothing since 2004. This includes: boxers, socks, t-shirts, pants and sheets. The majority of ADOC do not have a full state-issue of clothing and linen.

However, ADOC inmates with money can purchase the same CLOTHING FROM KEEFE COMMISSARY! How convenient. This is why families and friends see their loved-ones during visitation wearing bright orange, crisp and clean, fitted clothes. We want to look good for those who count, so we BUY one outfit and hand-wash it to keep it looking nice.

Health Hazards are innumerable and health care is truly an oxymoron in ADOC. Sever roach and rodent infestations in all areas within the prison are over shadowed only by Hepatitis, MRSA, and deliberately indifferent, incompetent and uncaring medical staff. Inmates are suffering permanent injuries, pain and death!

Yeah, ADOC Director Dora Schriro has truly "changed" the Arizona prison system. In my opinion, she has changed it for the worse.

Schriro's ideals have proven to be a HOAX. She's padding pockets, oppressing the errants and their family and friends and dividing prisoners from their loved ones.

Am I angry? Yes. Am I surprised? No. Schriro's history in corrections in Missouri was documented when Governor Napolitano appointed her. A federal court there found her testimony not credible in one of her many civil right's violation lawsuits because she lied under oath to a federal judge.

Schriro has joined the ranks of Joe Arpaio, Sam Lewis, Terry Stewart, Charles Ryan and their ilk. All part of the PROBLEM, not the SOLUTION!

Amber's Uncle

June 13, 2008

I called my sister, Kim today. I can only call every few months. Calls from me are far too expensive for my sister. She lives in the Payson, Arizona area. She's a single mom of a 16 year old girl.

I learned that Amber, my niece is 16, instead of 14, as I had thought. Never was good at counting. She's 16 and eligible to graduate from high school this year. She plans to go to Northern Arizona University and is smart as a whip.

Sadly, I don't know her. I chose to spend her whole life locked-up or high and avoiding her. I met her a couple of times when she was a youngster and wrote her numerous times, but I failed to be there for her and be her uncle. I've never even spoken to her on the phone.

I want to get to know her. Be there for her. Be her uncle. I want to see her graduate from college, start her own family and I want her to be a part of my life and my own family.

Did I mention I have a very smart, beautiful niece who I love? I certainly do! Her name is Amber and I hope that she knows she does have an uncle...

My Writings (dated 06.08.08)

For a few years, I have been writing two manuscripts. Due to ADOC policy, I cannot have a type writer or PC, so I have literally been "writing" an autobiography and a fictional account of a young boys experience at "tough love" wilderness camp (based on my own personal experiences at one in my early teens).

Although my autobiography is pretty graphic and easily R-rated, it is chock-full of adventure, heartache and excitement. I lived a wild and sad life. Pain, drugs, abuses, thrill seeking, sex, tragedy, violence, crime, jail and prison... and all sorts of emotional turmoil. It's raw and tells it like it is.

My fiction-based-on-fact manuscript is kind of a tear jerker, with lots of wilderness adventure, and the sadness of child-abuse as well as an adolescent romance and youthful indiscretions.

Both writings are still in progress and continue to improve and grow. Some readers of my blog have read small portions of each of my works. I hope that my stories will be best-sellers some day.

Do I need a literary agent, typist, editor or proof-reader?

Is it expensive to publish a book?

Is this sort of writing popular?

Where do I start?

Copyright?

These are all questions I have.

Any advise or answers?

Tony's Surprise

Today, out of nowhere, Tony received a letter from a friend he hadn't heard from or seen in more than 10 years. A best friend he'd purposely left behind when he entered the Meth-world. Before meth sent him spiraling into the void.

Tony began meth in 1998 and crashed and burned in 2005. From the first day, he had cut all ties between him and his former life, including his best friends. He was embarrassed, ashamed, and didn't want his true friends to know about or become victims of the meth world.

To his complete astonishment and still embarrassment, his friend from so many years ago found him and wrote. In prison. (We still have no idea how he found him!)

With embarrassment, shame and overwhelming joy, Tony is at this very moment, writing a response explaining, reconnecting, apologizing and mending.

In 13 months, Tony will be released. He will leave behind 10 years of nightmares and continue on to success. He will also reunite with those he chose to leave behind. A fresh start.

This is GREAT news!

Viral threat returns (dated: 06.04.08)

Today the Manzanita unit kitchen i shut down and sack lunches are being fed to the orangemen.

"They are bleaching the entire kitchen" we've been told.

I suspect, as do many others, that it's because of the sickness that has been running rampant for the past three weeks on this unit. AGAIN.

Both prisoners and ADOC have been suffering some sort of 'stomach flu' (ed note: perhaps Salmonella from the Tomatoes?) Complete with: vomitting and diarrhea. In my housing area alone, at least twenty guys out of approximately 90 are sick and other areas have many falling ill also.

A week or so ago, orangemen kitchen workers in the dishes area were told by Canteen (Contract Food Service for ADOC) workers that they couldn't use soap or bleach to clean food trays, cups, etc. because they had none and everything was being quickly rinsed off. They'd been doing this for weeks when reported to ADOC guards, the health hazard was rectified. Supposedly.

ADOC medical staff have been of ZERO assistance. Simply charging ill prisoners the statutory $3.00 medical fee and telling them to let the virus run it' course. "Nothing we can do", they say.

Is it any wonder that this unit and most others at the Tucson Complex have been sick, so often, for so long? SEVERE rodent and roach infestations complex wide / mold growing in living and eating areas complex wide / contagious people working in all areas complex wide / unsanitary living and eating areas complex wide / lack of adequate cleaning supplies / inadequately healthy diet / and deliberately indifferent, uncaring medical and administrative departments.

I welcome and encourage EVERYONE to demand answers about what is going on at Manzanita unit and Tucson complex. Call the health department. Snail mail ADOC Director Schriro. Email the Warden. Contact the ACLU or Middleground Prison reform. Ask a media outlest. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED!

Not more than a minute ago, an orangeman sprinted past me, hunched over, hand over mouth and is violently vommitting in the bathroom...

Librarian Disappearance

The Manzanita unit lost a good librarian this week. Why? It's a mystery to the prison population, but we have a couple of ideas. Tired of the ADOC environment and better employment opportunities elsewhere are the two that came to my mind. It was unexpected by the population.

A friendly, professional and no-nonsense lady who tried to do right by prisoners, despite constraints and headaches galore (imposed by the powers that be). She will be missed!

Thank you, Ms. Library Lady!

Until a new Librarian can be hired, maybe the Manzanita unit will be blessed with the Singing Yoga Librarian from Santa Rita unit. Another good librarian, human being and infinite well spring of useless but quite incredibly entertaining information.

Reader comment response: Anonymous

(June 3'08)

Dear Anonymous,

Thank you for your comment on "Searching for a Price". I can't say all screws are the same the world over, but I know what you mean. We are all human and no matter how hard ANYONE tries to assimilate, we are ALL individuals. Whether you're Canadian, Iraqi or Arizonan. We're ALL human beings.

I agree that some COs are good and some are bad, but I write more about the ones who behave badly. They can't be allowed to behave badly with impunity and covertly. Writing about the good ones and their deeds is a delicate task. Good deeds seldom go unpunished when it involves compassion and goodness shown by COs towards inmates.

As for Arpaio... he's America's most suable sheriff for a reason. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio rules the county with fear and the REAL threat of torture, pain, degradation, injury and death. Isn't that how terrorists do it too?

New blog entries.

I just received 5 new blog entries for Shannon's blog. I will post them here this evening after work. Thank you for your patience.

~ed.