Hello all,
I am wondering what other prisons in KS are like. My man is @ Lansing in MIN. The food is horrable to say the least and they have no AC , he says they wake up every morning in a pool of sweat. So I am wanting anyone who has a loved one in another prison to post the name of the prison where your loved one is, what they say about the condistions, the food and do they have AC or not. I am wanting to raise some noise about the KDOC but I need some in put from people who know about other prisons. Thank You for your help!

Greens_Sweetie

Kerry

Ok 16 views and no replys, I am not looking to invlove anyone or there loved one in my plans, its more for research to know what other Kansas prisons are like so I know what I am talking about when addressing they way things are run. Hopeing to hear from you soon!

Greens_Sweetie

Kerry

I just asked my penpal in Lansing Med if they have air conditioning. I bought him a fan for his birthday. He was in MAX and is so happy to be where he is. He says it doesn't even look like a prison where he is. I also think he's trying to sugarcoat things for me. He loves to eat and the food is a big hardship for him. But he participates in the times when they can order a meal from a local restaurant. He called me on the phone and the reception was awful--it kept cutting out. He is frustrated because he doesn't have a job but keeps busy with baseball, choir practice and helping inmates read and write letters--so many are illiterate. Compared to the prison systems of my other penpals, Lansing is a country club. He has mentioned corrupt guards and the political atmosphere and was really upset about the recent CO's rape and severe beating. There was also a young man's suicide last year that seemed to be kept quiet.

Donald only told me that the food is HORRIBLE. I will ask him in my next letter how the AC is. I dont see why they would have it with 1000's of men there. ALl that b.o. from sweat..ewwww I wouldnt wanna be a prisoner there or guard there with all that sweat. pee-u Maybe the AC broke. Well, thats my 2 cents.

Kerry, both Larned and El Dorado have central air and heat.

Larned is a much smaller facility, and the staff's attitude reflects the more "manageable" atmosphere....much higher staff-to-inmate ratio than regular facilities.

El Dorado is a snakepit, similar to Lansing. The worst of the worst are housed there, and the staff is tougher than at Larned. Writeups are frequent, and often unwarranted. Whereas Larned is a somewhat tame facility (mainly due to the high number of inmates on a "medication vacation"), El Dorado is violent and ominous.

My first visit there was when the whole "prison" situation hit me hard...the facility is dark and foreboding, with gun towers in the parking lot. Security is very high.

Food in both places is pretty nasty, from what I understand....but Shawn tells me Larned is a little better than average.

Hope that helps!

thank you so much for your replies, I am so upset with the whole system, as I am sure all of you are. Accoding to Chris there is no AC @ Lansing. There is AC in "reception" where we go in to visit, and the visiting room has AC but only during visitation, and I think the Church might have AC but no where else. Chris told be they just came thru and took all they "kool aid" containers and peanut butter jars they guys were useing as water cups, also if they had taken the cover off there fan , to make more air blow, they took those too. Of cource the food is horrable, I keep as much money as I can sent to him so I know he can eat off the commisery. I am wanting to get the whole system looked at. Just because someone is in prison does not mean they should eat crap, and suffer heat stroke. I hope I can get my voice heard somewhere.

Greens_Sweetie
Kerry

My dh is in Norton CF. He thinks the food is good and he has AC too. The visit are good. The co don't bother you. Th only problem is that the machines are not filled for specile holidays. I think it is nice there at Norton.

I guess I got the best prison the way you guys are talking.

Hey Kerry~
Bryan is at Winfield (did RDU @ ElDorado). Neither place has AC. At least, RDU had no AC. At Winfield, there is only AC in the visitation room. Not in the dorms. He said it is so hot, it is unbearable at times. The screens are torn and the mosquitos get in and just eat the guys alive. The food is horrible. Bryan was a chef before being incarcerated so he knows his food...and he uses the term "food" loosley there! As far as prisons go, I suppose...he could be in a worse place. They can go outside (it's minimum security). They are out in the country on a hill so they do get a pretty good breeze most of the time, although it is hot air blowing all around. I just can't believe with all we pay in taxes in Kansas that the prisons aren't air conditioned and don't have better food service. I realize, it is a punishment but still, they deserve the basic comfort levels. He has been very sick and the heat is not helping him at all. Makes me worry all the more...Anyway, Kerry, I am with ya. let me know if I can sign a petition or help you in some way.
Kel

As far as prisons go, I suppose...he could be in a worse place. They can go outside (it's minimum security). They are out in the country on a hill so they do get a pretty good breeze most of the time, although it is hot air blowing all around. I just can't believe with all we pay in taxes in Kansas that the prisons aren't air conditioned and don't have better food service. I realize, it is a punishment but still, they deserve the basic comfort levels.Good breeze is 30 mph wind, which is the constant. In the summer it is refered to the blast furnace effect. Wind is normal in Kansas.

As to the AC, some of the schools systems are just having ac installed. Think the correctional instatutions are futher down the lists. I know it is horrible to be in the heat 24/7. Worked out in it and the cold for many years. We also need to remember there are many people who do not even have ac in their homes in this state.

On the food - :angry: do not get me started!!!!

Newer buildings probably have central air. Older buildings don't have it. It isn't just prisons - it's schools and homes also. The school here often closes because of the heat (just like northern schools are closed for snow days). If the powers that be aren't going to air condition schools, they sure aren't going to spend big bucks to air condition prisons, are they?

Can't he buy his own fan? That won't blow cold air, but at least it would circulate air so maybe he can sleep a bit better. If he has medical problems that are made worse from excessive heat, he needs to see the doctor. The medical units probably have cool air or at least have large shop type fans.

Meals are pretty blah in OH also. I always make sure to keep enough money in Doc's account so he can buy what he wants at Commissary. In his pod is a microwave and an ice machine. The food is eatable, but is very blah and not terribly appetizing.

FYI: The only thing that prisons can not take away from inmates is their right to receive first class mail. That's it! Inmates have no other rights and do not have any privileges. They should be given medical treatment when needed and enough food so they won't starve. Be glad it's 2005 and not 1905 when prisoners were confined to cells all the time and, if they were lucky, got bread and water once a day and had to work on chain gangs....

I was incarcerate at nearly every facility, except ElDorado. Lansing is by far the best facility in the state. While the food at Min isn't great, it is worse in the med and max. What Lansing offers is private industry employment if you stay out of trouble. A man can help support his family and save some money while he is down. If he think LCF is bad, let him do somewhere like hutch, hellsworth or norton.

Peace.


Hello all,
I am wondering what other prisons in KS are like. My man is @ Lansing in MIN. The food is horrable to say the least and they have no AC , he says they wake up every morning in a pool of sweat. So I am wanting anyone who has a loved one in another prison to post the name of the prison where your loved one is, what they say about the condistions, the food and do they have AC or not. I am wanting to raise some noise about the KDOC but I need some in put from people who know about other prisons. Thank You for your help!

Greens_Sweetie

Kerry

My man is at Hutch and is trying to get to Lanard on hardship. His mom can't travel to Hutch for visits. He will be glad to hear that Lanard is better overall. The food there is okay he says better then what it was at county and at El Dorado RDU. His mom and I send money so he can get food at commisary. There is no air conditioning at all.

Anything else you are curious about, let me know and I will ask, just pm me.

My "A" is at Ellsworth. No AC, although the visitation has AC, but with all those people in there together its still warm, but "A" says much better than in his house. I know he eats mainly off the commisary. Mosquitos are an issue there as well.

:cool:

I just wanted t o thank everyone who has responded. Gathering info still to see if anything can be done to improve any of the conditions our guys are faceing. If anyone has any complaints to add feel free to post them.

Greens_Sweetie
Kerry

My sweetie is at Norton and he says the food sucks. He wants to know how they can mess up canned green beans. Haha. He says there's A.C. but in visiting, they turn it off at like 2 so it gets hot. I don't have anything to compare this to cuz Norton is the only place we've been so far.