After 9 years at Unit 32, Steven Farris was transferred to Wilkinson County Correctional Facility on October 29, 2010. We are hoping the move is to an environment where he will be given an opportunity to work and earn his way out of lockdown and to a less restrictive housing unit. As with anything else, we've heard good and bad about it. If it's possible though, he wants to avoid getting involved in another prolonged legal battle.
We have news to post, and we'll be updating you -where we can- on what has happened at Unit 32 and in general at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. If you have any info you would like to pass along to us, or if you have questions, comments, or whatever else -give us some feedback and don't hesitate to contact us.
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Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Blog Archive - November 17, 2007 "State Sanctioned Murder"
How, as a judge or governor, do you decide who it's okay to kill? How do you justify it? Does personal bias come into play during trial and later appeals? Do political agents factor in? We are a supposed civilized society...with the highest prisoner population in the world, and still advocating state sanctioned murder. Hell, we just decided it's wrong to execute juveniles and the mentally retarded.
Can you vote? Then, whether or not you say you are supportive of the death penalty, if you aren't speaking out against it then you're condoning it. Harsh? Not within reason, I assure you.
I've been housed in C-building with Death Row prisoners for six years now. I know these guys; some in passing, and some are friends. I spent a year on the tier with Earl Berry who, on October 30th, was given a stay of execution minutes before lethal injection was to be administered. Imagine for a second that your choices in life have been limited to whether or not you want to wear a "harness" when you're executed so that, as you're dying and your bowels and bladder evacuate, you'll be spared the indignity of visibly soiling yourself. That's the position Earl was in. Civilized? Not in my opinion, but I'm just a prisoner.
In the case of Atkins v. Virginia, 122 S.Ct. 2242 (2002) the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that it is unconstitutional to execute mentally retarded individuals. Here it is, 2007, and after 20 years the people elected to govern Mississippi are attempting to rush Earl Berry to his execution. Speaking from my own observations, Earl is both mentally and emotionally retarded. Anyone who has spent any amount of time around him can see the truth of this for themselves.
One incident that stands out in my mind was related to me by Earl. He and a friend, just kids at the time, were playing hide & seek and it was Earl's turn to hide. He thinks it'd be fun to play a trick on his little friend, but how? The shed was nearby and there's no way his friend would spot him up there...Wait! Even better! He runs for the water-hose, drops trou and, well - he gives himself an enema. With not much time left, he rushes to the shed and climbs up on the tin roof to wait. Not long after he gets in place his friend comes in sight searching for him. It seems to take forever for him to make it to the shed and, when he does, Earl eases to the edge of the roof and waits until he walks beneath his hiding spot. Just as he walks beneath him, Earl strains fit to burst a blood vessel and sprays his friend with the enema he'd been holding all this time. Of course, Earl's friend didn't find this funny in the least, and ran home crying and screaming. (I wonder how he explained that to his Momma.) In telling this story, even after all these years, Earl doesn't understand why his friend wasn't allowed to come over and play with him anymore.
I'm not a psychiatrist or a psychologist, I don't have any degrees and I sure don't have a doctorate. Despite this lack, I can use common sense and say with certainty that Earl is retarded. Do I trust him? No. Do I even like him? Not in particular. That doesn't change the facts though. As my grandma would say, bless his heart.
So, how do you decide who it's okay to execute? Why is it okay to execute a man who murders a woman on her way home from church, and not execute the woman who drowns her babies in the bathtub? Why is it okay to sentence a man to death who shoots a police officer that has illegally raided his home unannounced, and it's not okay to sentence-or even charge-a cop who illegally raids a home and kills the occupant who is only protecting their-self from what seems to be a burglar? How do you judge and place the value of one life above another?
What's ironic to me is who the proponents of the death penalty are. They are people who proclaim to be Christians. Governor Haley Barbour, for one. Ask them about this and more often than not they'll quote the old saw about an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. However, even Rabbis don't interpret this literally. That's neither here nor there. The point is, these are Christians with Christian values, supposedly. Jesus taught His disciples that the law had been misapplied and distorted into a license for revenge, and He set about correcting their thoughts on this. He said, "Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!" That's rather clear to me, so how did this teaching revert once again to an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth? Plainly, it didn't. Especially not for Christians.
Public opinion is a power all it's own, so if you want the people you elect to know you're against the death penalty - tell them. If they won't listen, then replace them with someone who will. You are far from powerless. That's just one of the great things about this nation.
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Can you vote? Then, whether or not you say you are supportive of the death penalty, if you aren't speaking out against it then you're condoning it. Harsh? Not within reason, I assure you.
I've been housed in C-building with Death Row prisoners for six years now. I know these guys; some in passing, and some are friends. I spent a year on the tier with Earl Berry who, on October 30th, was given a stay of execution minutes before lethal injection was to be administered. Imagine for a second that your choices in life have been limited to whether or not you want to wear a "harness" when you're executed so that, as you're dying and your bowels and bladder evacuate, you'll be spared the indignity of visibly soiling yourself. That's the position Earl was in. Civilized? Not in my opinion, but I'm just a prisoner.
In the case of Atkins v. Virginia, 122 S.Ct. 2242 (2002) the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that it is unconstitutional to execute mentally retarded individuals. Here it is, 2007, and after 20 years the people elected to govern Mississippi are attempting to rush Earl Berry to his execution. Speaking from my own observations, Earl is both mentally and emotionally retarded. Anyone who has spent any amount of time around him can see the truth of this for themselves.
One incident that stands out in my mind was related to me by Earl. He and a friend, just kids at the time, were playing hide & seek and it was Earl's turn to hide. He thinks it'd be fun to play a trick on his little friend, but how? The shed was nearby and there's no way his friend would spot him up there...Wait! Even better! He runs for the water-hose, drops trou and, well - he gives himself an enema. With not much time left, he rushes to the shed and climbs up on the tin roof to wait. Not long after he gets in place his friend comes in sight searching for him. It seems to take forever for him to make it to the shed and, when he does, Earl eases to the edge of the roof and waits until he walks beneath his hiding spot. Just as he walks beneath him, Earl strains fit to burst a blood vessel and sprays his friend with the enema he'd been holding all this time. Of course, Earl's friend didn't find this funny in the least, and ran home crying and screaming. (I wonder how he explained that to his Momma.) In telling this story, even after all these years, Earl doesn't understand why his friend wasn't allowed to come over and play with him anymore.
I'm not a psychiatrist or a psychologist, I don't have any degrees and I sure don't have a doctorate. Despite this lack, I can use common sense and say with certainty that Earl is retarded. Do I trust him? No. Do I even like him? Not in particular. That doesn't change the facts though. As my grandma would say, bless his heart.
So, how do you decide who it's okay to execute? Why is it okay to execute a man who murders a woman on her way home from church, and not execute the woman who drowns her babies in the bathtub? Why is it okay to sentence a man to death who shoots a police officer that has illegally raided his home unannounced, and it's not okay to sentence-or even charge-a cop who illegally raids a home and kills the occupant who is only protecting their-self from what seems to be a burglar? How do you judge and place the value of one life above another?
What's ironic to me is who the proponents of the death penalty are. They are people who proclaim to be Christians. Governor Haley Barbour, for one. Ask them about this and more often than not they'll quote the old saw about an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. However, even Rabbis don't interpret this literally. That's neither here nor there. The point is, these are Christians with Christian values, supposedly. Jesus taught His disciples that the law had been misapplied and distorted into a license for revenge, and He set about correcting their thoughts on this. He said, "Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!" That's rather clear to me, so how did this teaching revert once again to an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth? Plainly, it didn't. Especially not for Christians.
Public opinion is a power all it's own, so if you want the people you elect to know you're against the death penalty - tell them. If they won't listen, then replace them with someone who will. You are far from powerless. That's just one of the great things about this nation.
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Sunday, August 22, 2010
Blog Archive - November 16, 2007 "The Beating of Kevin King "
I've noticed that when it comes to acts perpetrated by guards against prisoners, corporate media refers to these incidents as "alleged". Conversely, if a prisoner is accused of anything, the accusation is accepted as the gospel truth and repeated as such. So much for "Innocent until proven guilty."
An example of this is the beating of inmate Kevin King by corrections officer Takeo Clark, reported in the June 10th, 2007 issue of the Mississippi Clarion-Ledger. According to MDOC Corrections Investigation Division : Report of Investigation 07-MSP-025, the beating of Kevin King occurred on February 13, 2007, the day following his discharge from the Mississippi State Penitentiary Psychiatric Hospital. Kevin King was locked in one of the shower stalls in Unit 32 A-Building when officer Clark, without handcuffing or restraining King, radioed the control tower to open the shower door. After the door was opened, Officer Clark stood in the doorway for a moment and then lunged toward King in the shower. When they both came out of the stall, King's upper torso and head were covered with blood from lacerations to his scalp that were so deep that the crown of of his head appeared deformed. In spite of this, the report concluded that, "Since there are no cameras in the showers, investigators were unable to determine what actually occurred inside."
Let's, as we say in the Pen, flip the script. Had Officer Clark came out of the shower stall with his head beaten to a bloody pulp, MDOC Investigators would have had no problem determining what actually occurred inside, regardless of whether or not cameras were there to record it. While the report made no findings as to whether excessive force was used, and in accordance with MDOC's brand of justice, King was still found guilty of a Rule Violation Report (RVR) for assaulting Officer Clark, despite Clark repeatedly lying about the incident and the photographic proof Clark had beaten King without any form of justification. Clark resigned and will be eligible for future re-employment by MDOC. MDOC-true to tradition.
In the June 10th, 2007 article, Commissioner Christopher Epps said "We investigated, and the Investigators reported to me. We found the officer didn't do his job, and the officer resigned. We policed ourself and got rid of that bad apple." But what is Mr. Epps' definition of a bad apple? An officer that beats a prisoner? An officer that uses excessive force? Or maybe, just probably, an officer that gets caught doing these things, crosses the line and becomes a bad apple.
Since MDOC is policing itself and getting rid of bad apples, maybe it's time Mr. Epps' involvement in a similar incident - the beating of inmate Larry Floyd while Mr. Epps was still a Corrections Officer - should be brought out and reexamined. This would facilitate a top-down approach to correcting the problem, as well as serving as an example that no one - not even the Commissioner - is above the law. Maybe Mr. Epps should tender his resignation, in the interest of MDOC and the public. It's a fact that one bad apple will spoil the whole barrel.
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An example of this is the beating of inmate Kevin King by corrections officer Takeo Clark, reported in the June 10th, 2007 issue of the Mississippi Clarion-Ledger. According to MDOC Corrections Investigation Division : Report of Investigation 07-MSP-025, the beating of Kevin King occurred on February 13, 2007, the day following his discharge from the Mississippi State Penitentiary Psychiatric Hospital. Kevin King was locked in one of the shower stalls in Unit 32 A-Building when officer Clark, without handcuffing or restraining King, radioed the control tower to open the shower door. After the door was opened, Officer Clark stood in the doorway for a moment and then lunged toward King in the shower. When they both came out of the stall, King's upper torso and head were covered with blood from lacerations to his scalp that were so deep that the crown of of his head appeared deformed. In spite of this, the report concluded that, "Since there are no cameras in the showers, investigators were unable to determine what actually occurred inside."
Let's, as we say in the Pen, flip the script. Had Officer Clark came out of the shower stall with his head beaten to a bloody pulp, MDOC Investigators would have had no problem determining what actually occurred inside, regardless of whether or not cameras were there to record it. While the report made no findings as to whether excessive force was used, and in accordance with MDOC's brand of justice, King was still found guilty of a Rule Violation Report (RVR) for assaulting Officer Clark, despite Clark repeatedly lying about the incident and the photographic proof Clark had beaten King without any form of justification. Clark resigned and will be eligible for future re-employment by MDOC. MDOC-true to tradition.
In the June 10th, 2007 article, Commissioner Christopher Epps said "We investigated, and the Investigators reported to me. We found the officer didn't do his job, and the officer resigned. We policed ourself and got rid of that bad apple." But what is Mr. Epps' definition of a bad apple? An officer that beats a prisoner? An officer that uses excessive force? Or maybe, just probably, an officer that gets caught doing these things, crosses the line and becomes a bad apple.
Since MDOC is policing itself and getting rid of bad apples, maybe it's time Mr. Epps' involvement in a similar incident - the beating of inmate Larry Floyd while Mr. Epps was still a Corrections Officer - should be brought out and reexamined. This would facilitate a top-down approach to correcting the problem, as well as serving as an example that no one - not even the Commissioner - is above the law. Maybe Mr. Epps should tender his resignation, in the interest of MDOC and the public. It's a fact that one bad apple will spoil the whole barrel.
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Blog Archive - September 02, 2007 "Conditions at Unit 32"
Though most people are just learning of them, the conditions at Unit 32 of Mississippi's State Penitentiary at Parchman and the problems that are making it into the news didn't crop up recently. They aren't going to be cured quickly, either. Violations of Constitutional Rights can be considered a tradition at Parchman. A tradition that is alive and well.
In the June 10th, 2007 issue of Mississippi's Clarion-Ledger, Commissioner Christopher Epps made the comment that "the ACLU hasn't got a clue about running a prison." Unfortunately, neither does the Mississippi Department of Corrections. The difference is that the ACLU hires experts to advise them on matters outside their experience. MDOC should follow their example.
From GATES v. COLLIER in 1971, to GATES v. COOK in 2000, to RUSSELL v. JOHNSON in 2002, to the current case of PRESLEY v. EPPS, MDOC has a longstanding history in requiring the courts to step in and direct them in how to run their prisons. Specifically, Parchman. I think it's quite clear who doesn't have a clue about running a prison.
In the GATES v. COLLIER case, the Courts held that the conditions and practices in the maintenance, operation, and administration of Parchman deprived inmates of rights secured by the First, Eighth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Amendments. A consultant committee engaged by the Mississippi State Planning Agency, the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration and the American Correctional Association concluded that the conditions during the case were "Philosophically, Psychologically, Physically, Racially, and Morally Intolerable." This sounds to me, from seven years experience, to be an accurate description of current conditions. Same place, same problem, same mindset.
Take a moment to consider this. The prisoners in Unit 32 are labeled the worst in the system, and nearly half will be released in the next seven years. The "Watermelon Heads" , "Fruitcakes", and "Parasites" as Mr. Epps refers to us, are no laughing matter. That the Commissioner of MDOC would thus refer to his wards gives an eye-opening glimpse into the attitude of MDOC as a whole. In seven years these prisoners won't be Mr. Epps' problem anymore. They'll be yours--the public's. And since Mr. Epps said that teaching prisoners is part of his job, you'll get to see just how well he's doing that job and what it is they're learning.
Speaking before the Commission on Safety and Abuse In America's Prison's in April of 2005, Dr. Donald Cabana, Chair of the Criminal Justice Department at the University of Southern Mississippi, said that recruitment and retention of better paid, better educated, and better trained staff, with a greater emphasis on effective classification are just some of the things that need to be addressed if substantial improvements are to be made. I agree with Dr. Cabana in what he states as the most important issue in addressing these concerns: Administrative Accountability. Dr. Cabana said, "There simply must be an effective way to hold prison officials accountable for the actions of staff."
In the meantime, incidents like the stabbing deaths of Boris Harper and Donald Reed Jr. will continue to be the rule and not the exception. These are my examples of a system that has failed miserably. Seven years and counting...
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In the June 10th, 2007 issue of Mississippi's Clarion-Ledger, Commissioner Christopher Epps made the comment that "the ACLU hasn't got a clue about running a prison." Unfortunately, neither does the Mississippi Department of Corrections. The difference is that the ACLU hires experts to advise them on matters outside their experience. MDOC should follow their example.
From GATES v. COLLIER in 1971, to GATES v. COOK in 2000, to RUSSELL v. JOHNSON in 2002, to the current case of PRESLEY v. EPPS, MDOC has a longstanding history in requiring the courts to step in and direct them in how to run their prisons. Specifically, Parchman. I think it's quite clear who doesn't have a clue about running a prison.
In the GATES v. COLLIER case, the Courts held that the conditions and practices in the maintenance, operation, and administration of Parchman deprived inmates of rights secured by the First, Eighth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Amendments. A consultant committee engaged by the Mississippi State Planning Agency, the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration and the American Correctional Association concluded that the conditions during the case were "Philosophically, Psychologically, Physically, Racially, and Morally Intolerable." This sounds to me, from seven years experience, to be an accurate description of current conditions. Same place, same problem, same mindset.
Take a moment to consider this. The prisoners in Unit 32 are labeled the worst in the system, and nearly half will be released in the next seven years. The "Watermelon Heads" , "Fruitcakes", and "Parasites" as Mr. Epps refers to us, are no laughing matter. That the Commissioner of MDOC would thus refer to his wards gives an eye-opening glimpse into the attitude of MDOC as a whole. In seven years these prisoners won't be Mr. Epps' problem anymore. They'll be yours--the public's. And since Mr. Epps said that teaching prisoners is part of his job, you'll get to see just how well he's doing that job and what it is they're learning.
Speaking before the Commission on Safety and Abuse In America's Prison's in April of 2005, Dr. Donald Cabana, Chair of the Criminal Justice Department at the University of Southern Mississippi, said that recruitment and retention of better paid, better educated, and better trained staff, with a greater emphasis on effective classification are just some of the things that need to be addressed if substantial improvements are to be made. I agree with Dr. Cabana in what he states as the most important issue in addressing these concerns: Administrative Accountability. Dr. Cabana said, "There simply must be an effective way to hold prison officials accountable for the actions of staff."
In the meantime, incidents like the stabbing deaths of Boris Harper and Donald Reed Jr. will continue to be the rule and not the exception. These are my examples of a system that has failed miserably. Seven years and counting...
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