View Full Version : Complaining and getting results


mrsdragoness
04-11-2003, 09:12 PM
I posted a few weeks ago about the dirty visiting room where my hubby is. Well...I didn't do anything about it THEN...but after we had to deal with ants, ants, ants on Wednesday, I did do something.

I started a letter yesterday about the dirty conditions. I also addressed some getting into the visiting room timely issues and the fact that the vending machines are constantly cheating us out of money or are broken half the time.

This morning, I called the WArdens office and expressed my concern about the dirt. The woman I spoke to ask me to put it in writing and drop it off at the desk when I visited today.

I walked into the lobby at 2:03 pm and dropped my letter off at the desk. By 2:10 I was in the Assistant to the WArdens office. He told me that after I called, he and the Warden checked the visiting room and were absolutely embarrassed at how dirty it was. HE told me that a cleaning crew was in the room at that moment and he had left orders for the midnight cleaning crews to scrub the room from ceiling to floor, including the furniture, over the weekend.

He ask me to inspect it on Monday when I visit again and if I found any problems to tell the C/O at the desk and he would come to talk to me immediately, but he also assured me that HE and the warden would be checking themselves on Monday morning.

He also addressed my other issues and promised answers in writing as soon as possible. It was plain that he truly was embarrassed about how dirty the room was and I left his office feeling positive that some changes will be made.

And then I spent a WONDERFUL afternoon with my hubby.....no mud, no crumbs all over and no ants!!!!!

MRs. D

DENIMBLUE
04-11-2003, 09:32 PM
WAY TO GO, MRS. D! GIVE 'EM HELL, DOC DESERVES IT AND MORE.... :)

deb
04-11-2003, 09:53 PM
Good for you!!

Deb

LilPinkWitch
04-11-2003, 11:15 PM
Woo-Whoooo Good for you... I'm so happy someone at the DOC knows how to listen...

Ken
04-12-2003, 05:30 AM
Go Mrs. D!!!!!!!

Good for you and Iam glad that they are listening.

I am happy that change is coming but I am disappointed that it ever got the way that it is/was.

More POWER to YOU!

cepora
04-12-2003, 06:33 AM
Wow.....someone actually listened!!!!!!! I am glad that the visiting area will now hopefully stay clean. Good job Mrs D!!!

Phil in Paris
04-12-2003, 07:30 AM
You're the greatest Mrs D !!!! The biggest fear of wardens and ants, but with a golden heart !! :)

Congrats
Phil xoxo

lulu
04-12-2003, 08:13 AM
You go Mrs. D :) People can make a diffrence.

mrsdragoness
04-12-2003, 09:29 AM
Wow!! THanks everyone!

I'm not afraid to speak out when it needs to be done. Some are afraid to because they think there will be reprecussions on their loved one. I figure that if I make a legitimate complaint and its taken out on my husband, I have even more ground to stand on when I take my issues further to my state rep, the newspapers and prison advocates!!!! I always send a copy of my letters to the MDOC offices in Lansing, my state rep, MI-Cure and a few other places just in case my issues are NOT listened to! I think that helps.

The Asst. I spoke to was very friendly and talked to me as an equal. He expressed to me that this particular prison was built for 675 prisoners......but they have almost 1500! He almost fell out of his chair laughing when I immediately said, "Well, let me take my husband home today, you'll have one less."

Sally:D

leonsgrl
04-12-2003, 11:10 AM
Way to Mrs D! I'm so glad to hear that there are still people in the system that actually care. I think this gives the rest of us hope.

Amy

Lysbeth
04-12-2003, 11:21 AM
Woohoo, Mrs. D! That is SO cool!!! It's a victory of sorts for sure, so congratulations! :)

Valerie
04-12-2003, 12:15 PM
That was one happy ending, Good for you Mrs.D!

roro
04-12-2003, 01:50 PM
I was about to post a "way to go!" post until I got to what you said he could do about overcrowding! I had to pick myself off the floor from laughing so hard! That was good, you're quick!

PS: WAY TO GO!

lulu
04-12-2003, 03:35 PM
You know Mrs. D, I was afraid of that myself, stepping out or speaking out when I was afraid of what might happen to one of the guys. Then I wondered, what if we never said anything at all, how would that change things?
I am glad that you stood up for what is right. :)

sodaigakko
04-12-2003, 04:32 PM
There are a lot of lessons in Sally's account of this:
1. Pick your battles carefully so you are self-evidently right.
2. Document in writing, copying those with the power to publicize and embarrass, but without publicizing or embarrassing. (I suspect the letter was very diplomatic as well as direct.)
3. Be business-like but friendly, witty, reasonable, and non-confrontational in making the case, not whiney or angry.
4. Negotiate follow-up so the other party can do right and be acknowledged for it.
Am I right? I think I got them all.
sodaigakko

mrsdragoness
04-14-2003, 08:43 PM
When I went to visit my hubby today (Monday) the room was SPOTLESS!!!!! You could almost eat off the floor! THe tables and chairs had been cleaned as well as the floor, walls and fixtures.

Word has it that the c/o's who are in charge of the midnight cleaning crews for the adminstrative area really got their asses reamed!!!!!!!

I'm not bragging.......BUT.........SEE WHAT ONE VOICE CAN DO!!!!! Imagine a WHOLE bunch of voices.

Sally