Food Visit Announced

March 15, 2009

Manzanita unit visitation has announced that the next Food Visit for the Mothers Day holiday will be held on May 2nd and 3rd for orangemen who are Phase 2 or 3. Due to over-crowding here, a large turn-out is expected, so Deputy Warden Aguilar chose to limit the visits to 4 hour blocks instead of the 8 hours we've earned and are authorized by policy. The 4 hour blocks are assigned by the inmates' Last name's first letter as follows:

A - C
May 2, 2009
8:00AM til 12PM

D - K
May 2, 2009
1:00PM til 5PM

L - Q
May 3, 2009
8:00AM til 12PM

R - Z
May 3, 2009
1:00PM til 5PM

Although I've never had one, and am not expecting one, I'm told visitors should arrive early. A line of visitors can always be expected for food visits.

Those readers who've experienced a food visit at Manzanita are welcomed to share any tips, advice, etc. with others planning a visit. Car-pooling could be very helpful too, for those near each other.

Reply time

Shannon's Reply to Jeff Green's comments: In no way are my accounts of the "bad apples" and bad incidents/conditions within "The Department" intended to take away from the "good apples" and positive. Nor am I in the slightest concerned with how anybody may perceive me. Ten years ago? Sure. Today...I strive to tell it like it is. Often times my accounts, stories, etc. focus on the negative, and it does bother me. Not because I worry that I'll be seen as simply a "complainer"-Don't care-but because the negative is so much that it tends to blind me to the good. It's hard to smell the roses when you're neck-deep in shit...

Manzanita Unit has it's share of "good apples" employed by ADOC. Ones who treat us with dignity, compassion, respect, and decency. Ones who are here to do their jobs...nothing more-nothing less...and provide for their families. Ones I wouldn't hesitate to even befriend outside the prison, and stand up for inside.

Prisons are necessary in a civilized society. But if those imprisoned are not treated civilly by those from the civilized society, prisons are simply encouraging the same attitudes and behaviors.

Finally...your suggestion (to Aguilar) that my words should used as "a bellweather about what staff may actually be doing," is brilliant. I'm sure it may be being used by HIS superiors and/or the countless media outlets, attornies, prisoner rights organizations, and AZ legislators I have alerted about certain postings. Did you know legislators' e-mail addresses are simply first names initial and last name@azleg.gov. Hmmm. LOL Shannon Clark

Tony's pain in the...

March 14, 2009

Once again, another ADOC Health Care Provider at Manzanita unit shows exactly what quality of physician tends to migrate to the correctional health care field in Arizona.

In 1992, Tony was stabbed in the back. The six inch blade penetrating his lower back caused damage to his spinal column. Two ruptured disks. Both L-5 and S-1 were damaged.

Over the years, his back has caused him pain, which for the most part he's learned to live with it. He's not one to complain. Nor is he a fan of taking pain meds. However occassionally the pain becomes far too intense and he needs something.

About ten days ago the pain began worsening. So much so that it hindered his ability to walk, sit in a chair and sleep. He was obviously in distress to all who saw him. Yet, he continued to resist asking for medical help until March 10th, when he submitted a Health Needs Request Form.

Amazingly, he was seen by a nurse on March 11th. - Usually it takes weeks, if not months, to get to see anybody at ADOC's medical dept. The nurse told Tony that he'd get a shot of Nubane, but Dr. Lewis would have to sign-off on it. The nurse was to put Tony's medical chart in front of him and Tony would be called back up for the shot later that day. He was never called back for the shot.

The crippling pain continued to worsen. On March 12th, Tony asked the housing unit C.O.II to call medical about the shot, which was done multiple times. The COII was told that Tony's chart was before Dr. Lewis and they'd call him up later that day when he signs off on the shot. Tony was never called for the shot before Dr. Lewis went home that afternoon.

On March 13th, yesterday, Tony had the H.U. COII call medical, again, in the afternoon to get the shot for him but once again Dr. Lewis had not done his job and signed off on the shot.

Recognizing the extreme pain and futility of continuing to request medical attention for Tony, in a superb show of compassion and professionalism, two COII chose to initiate a Medical Emergency (Medical ICS) broadcast.

After a Sgt (Shift Supervisor) and a half dozen COII's arrives - NO medical staff responded! - Tony was gingerly helped into a wheelchair and moved towards the health unit.

While being wheeled towards the gate, Dr. Jeffrey Lewis, the ADOC Health Care Provider at Manzanita, was passing Tony in his bee-line for the unit's exit. When the Sgt. asked him if he was going to respond to the Medical ICS, which was now right in front of him at this point, he responded that he was not. Now livid, the Sgt. asked again. This time Dr. Lewis said that they could transport him off-site to another unit where the nurse there would give him the shot he needed. Dr. Lewis then hurried off.

After Tony was transported to the Rincon unit health unit, he and the transporting security staff from Manzanita unit were astonished to learn that Dr. Lewis had ordered Tony to give a urine sample for some sort of "litmus" test, before he got the Nubane shot and some other shot. Maybe a drug test??? Tony got both shots and has "less" pain now. Meanwhile, because a Manzanita security staff had to transport Tony, the entire unit was put under lockdown due to being short staffed.

Instead of simply giving Tony the shot, this taxpayer-paid quack decided to pass the buck and get the entire unit locked down and waste more of YOUR tax-dollars, not to mention was deliberately indifferent to Tony's serious medical condition and pain and suffering. THIS is your tax dollars at work, folks!

On a good note, Manzanita unit security staff acted on this superbly and the Sgt. supposedly wrote an Incident Report detailing Dr. Lewis'' inactions. - See...I write the good things too! Dr Lewis' callous disregard for an orangeman was made even more reprehensible when "security staff" were appalled by HIS inactions. LOL.

Shaun Attwood: Props to success

March 10, 2009

I'd like to take the time to give props to my good friend Shaun. A survivor of Maricopa Count Sheriff Joe Arpaio's draconian brand of justice and a former orangeman whose hermit-like tendencies and vampire appearance defies his eagerness to help others and want to better himself and all that surrounds him. Like a macabre do-gooder.

Shaun Attwood came to the United States from England and made a life for himself as a successful stockbroker. With only student credit cards and determination, Shaun built his kingdom from the dust of the Arizona desert up. Millions of dollars later, his life gravitated to Arizona's infant rave-scene. Partying, investing and organizing raves, Shaun's life grew larger and larger, and more and more out of control, as did the rave-scene in Arizona.

In a turbulant cloud of drugs, women, wire-taps, multiple state, county and federal law-enforcement raids, arrests and indictments, Shaun's kingdom fell and his life as he knew it ended. That was in 2002.

Now, having been back in Widnes, England, with his family, for more than a year, Shaun has been a vocal, ever-present ally against the oppression of errants around the world, has kept in touch with his friends in orange, is reaching out to local youths with his drug, crime and incarceration experiences as a public speaker and has relocated to London to pursue this further. In addition, Shaun seems to have found a lovely Nosferatu(ish) fraulein and is enjoying himself. - She's a keeper!

Shaun has been and continues to be an inspiration to those of us still behind bars not stuck on stupid and is making a difference in a world full of indifference.

Thank you, Shaun! You have the love, respect, and support of all of your AZ orangemen friends. You can and will accomplish whatever you set your mind to accomplish. Just as you've said to me for the past four years we've known each other...

Confronted with the Facts

February 25, 2009

Shortly after 4pm today, (we had been locked down AGAIN for awhile due to Manzanita unit being short staffed, or so I heard a guard say) the COII in my housing unit told me that I needed to immediately report to Deputy Warden Aguilar's Office in the administration building. "What for?" I asked. "Because he wants to talk to you," the guard explained. "I want to bring a witness because of how it'll look," I responded. "No. He wants to talk to only you," he replied.

In prison, it's an unwritten code that you don't have private meetings or conversations with "The Man", so as it doesn't get misunderstood as "snitching". Thus, my wanting to bring a witness.

"You call and tell him I have nothing to say to him and won't talk to him if I can't bring a witness," I informed the now frustrated COII. He called and I was allowed to bring my witness. Tony.

As I arrived at the gate to the admin. building, I was met by COII Salazar (The unit's internal investigations officer "S.S.U."). Sgt. Brown, who had been sitting at a table next to the admin gate, told Tony to go back to the housing unit. Tony, not wanting trouble, left me and went back.

For a brief moment, I tried to oppose the private meeting, but concluded it was a pointless resistance. I was going to attend the meeting or end up in the hole. I followed COII Salazar into the admin. building and into an office. Deputy Warden Aguilar's office.

Deputy Warden Aguilar was recently transferred from Cimmeron unit to Manzanita, after a brutal murder and other violent inmate outbursts occurred on Cimmeron.

Inside Aguilar's office was Aguilar, Sgt. Abelowitz (the unit SSU Sgt, COII Salazar's supervisor and the former Disciplinary Coordinator), COII Salazar and me. Yeah, it felt a bit intimidating but I remained calm, composed and polite.

I immediately raised my objection to being called out to a private meeting, but my point was missed by all. Lucky for me, I have a good reputation and rapport with my fellow orangemen for minding my own and not involving myself in the nonsense that many here do daily.

I'm not sure what the purpose of the dejection-style inquisition was, but I'm certain it centered around this blog site.

D.W. Aguilar asked most of the questions, copies of my most recent entries in his hands, which mainly focused on whether I had "direct" internet access; how I was able to post; who and where I got my facts from; whether I was the author of the posts; and why I was posting. He was professional, composed and seemed impartial.

However, Sgt. Abelowitz seemed to take my writing a bit more personal. Despite his questions focusing mainly on the same questions as D.W. Aguilars, he made a point in asking whether I write anything positive about "The Department" and its staff and the positive things they do. I sensed he felt that they are portrayed as incompetent, unprofessional, rednecks who beat helpless prisoners. Like they're always getting a bum rap.

COII Salazar didn't really have much to say or ask, and if not for his presence between me and the office door, I'd likely have forgotten he was there.

I'm not sure what was accomplished for ADOC through this inquiry or for whomever initiated this, but it was certainly an informative and positive sign for me.

D.W. Aguilar shows excellent signs that he's willing to personally get involved in what's going on on Manzanita unit; isn't afraid to open a dialog with his staff and the orangemen and seems fair.
COII Salazar has never done me wrong in any manner, although I've rarely spoken to him other than mutual greetings while passing. He's always been polite, professional and fair in what I've heard and seen of him.

Sgt. Abelowitz...well...I haven't "personally" had contact with him, so I'm undecided on my opinion of him but I welcome him and "The Department" to show me the "positive" things. I will very much enjoy sharing them, just as I have on occassion when I've experienced, seen or heard about them for the past few years.

If nothing more, three or more of "The Departments" employees know that there are intelligent orangemen with something to say, the ability/skill to say it and who won't allow their First Amendment RIGHT guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution to be infringed upon.


For prisoners, the standard of review in First Amendment violations of Free Speech is whether a "legitimate penological interest" exists to warrant censorship. Turner v. Safely, 482 U.S. 78, 89 (1987). An "attempt to immunize oneself from public scrutiny is not a legitimate penological interest" and "criticism of government is at the very center of the constitutionally protected area of free discussion." Johnson v. Raemisch, 557 F. Supp. 2d 964 (W.D. Wis., 2008)