:pissed: Check this out!!! I just spoke to my boyfriend and he told me that they got a bunch of new guards a few days ago. When they line up for chow...if anyone is smiling at any point on the way, or during chow....they get sent back...no food. NO SMILING ALLOWED!! Can they actually do that??? I guess they can cause they are. Maybe its because they are new and trying to be tough. I sure hope it doesnt continue. Its so wrong. annie

That is not just wrong it's totally outrageous! I can't believe they'd do that! :(

THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST ASSININE THINGS I HAVE EVER HEARD

That is outrageous. Why would they punish them for smiling? You would think that the guards would rather the inmates be in a "good" mood.

It is highly illeagal to deny food for any reason.You cannot deny food as punishment. That is a clear cut violation of the constitution. It won't last long. As soon as someone in charge hears of it it will stop, or they will end up in court, & they will lose. Someone needs to contact the administration & bring it to their attention. I can't believe even a screwed up warden would be foolish enough to do something so stupid.

Kconner is right. They cannot deny prisoners food for punishment. They may be new CO's but they are stupid.

I agree with Ken. Annie, do you have the address of the warden? We should write him!!!

You would think that the guards would rather the inmates be in a "good" mood.

I think, because these guards are new, they are told not to accept anything. and maybe some guards take it that the inmates are laughing at them(or with them) and they just wanna show that they (the guards) have the power to do whatever. this is really stupid because if they will keep this up, the inmates will protest against it, I think

When I was doing time at Chuckawalla (chuckys house), it's way out in the desert & the closest city is Blyth which is a small town. When they built the prison there they promised they would hire 40% of their staff from the local community. That put such a drain on labor so that they were hiring box boys from Ralphs (a grocery store), & women on welfare, giving them a few weeks training, & putting them in as prison as guards. The old school, regular (experianced) CO's hated it cause these new guards caused a lot of stress on the yard, which makes it dangerous for guards & prisoners. It makes it hard on everyone. It got to the point where I actually saw guards go to blows with each other, & witnessed many shouting matches between guards. One guard was pushing so hard there were negotiations going on between the gangs as to putting a hit on him. I left before anything happened so I don't know what the outcome was. New guards left without a good training officer can be a real pain in everyones butt.

Annie, have you heard any more if this is still going on? I think Soraya is right, if this is still going on, maybe a letter campaign would be a good idea. We here at PTO just LOVE to write letters...:D

Keep us posted ok?

AND.... THE DOC PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING AT OUR POSTS CONSISTANTLY, WANT TO KNOW WHY WE ARE SO BITTER AT THE SYSTEM.... THIS IS WHY... NO LIVING HUMAN BEING OR ANIMAL AS FAR AS THAT GOES SHOULD BE DENIED FOOD AND WATER FOR ANY REASON. I AM SURPRISED THERE HAS NOT BEEN A PRISON RIOT AT THAT UNIT.


DONNA

That is just totally outrageous!!
I wouldn't mind sending something out for a letter writing campaign to wake some people up over there!!

Thats the craziest thing I ever heard! Some guards take so much advantage of their authority. Is there anything that you can do about that?

That's ridiculous....no food just because you smile! To me it sounds like these guards are just trying to create a bad situation!

This is ridiculous, I cannot believe this is happening! Is there anything we can do to help? Let me know, I'm completely appalled by this kind of treatment.

Colleen

Just a suggestion.................
Whenever you have news like this and would like a response to the system please list the Corrections center, web addy, phone number, names, and any other inofrmation for us.

I will respond as I read the post. If I have to research or ask for the information I will forget my immediate anger and may not send off a complaint with the same gusto!

I think a lot of CO's are decent people, but new ones, especially, see their job as a way to take a power trip and control people.

If it continues, you should protest to the warden.

This should be addressed. I'd be willing to sign a letter drafted up against this, or to bring this to the warden's attention, if it wouldn't get the prisoner in trouble who's there.

Annie,

This warrants an immediate call to Sacramento (916)445-7682. You need to give them the facility and the yard. They will definately follow-up on a complaint of this nature! Raise Hell!!

Torrey has a very good point. I too might not be able to address my immediate anger if I need to look up the information.

Raise Hell indeed LOL

I will be talking to BF again today....I will find out what is the status on the food/smile situation now. They have been on lock down and had a power outage this week, so communication has been limited....makes me wonder if they ARE protesting this situation and being punished for it now.....I will let you know ASAP Annie

Group:
All prisons don't operate in this fashion. When trainees arrived at our facilities, they are assigned with a seasoned officer of four years or better. Food was never denied to anyone for denial of food causes severe grief for all involved. Prisoners are incarcerated for their crimes not for punishment. There is a difference in the two. This statement is drilled in the trainee's head from day one of assignment. The only thing that our system required was a trainee frisk (pat) and strip search ten prisoners a day during their 90 day training period. This requirement was satisfied during prisoner's return from work.
Cell searches were taught when the trainee was on the evening shift (1400-2300). No cells were searched during sleeping hours unless something very important occured.
Turning prisoners away from the dining hall is not allowed by law. This is a civil rights violation that can be corrected by one phone call to one of four different places: the FBI, ACLU, Federal Marshall's office, or the press (television station in the area). A crazy practice as this, especially during the summer is institutional suicide. "A powder keg loads and explodes."
Trainees, staff, and prisoners lives are placed in jeporady everyday when violation such as these occur. If the Warden is aware of this practice and does not stop this violation, he can be prosecuted and placed with criminal and civil liability awards. Someone please call the Federal Marshall's office in that area with report. Don't let innocent non-violent prisoners and guards be harmed or killed because of someone's "Want-on negligence" and "Deliberate Intent". Someone please call the ACLU, the media, and the FBI. Write down the person whom you converse with and tell him/her that you will check back @ ______ on ______ date before taking legal actions.
Non-housed prisoner's families should make these calls. Your name and phone number will be requested and usually required for the matter being taken seriously. Sorry this type practice occurs. It gives true professionals and retired professionals a bad name and image. Call today before someone lights the fuse .

MOST PRONE TIME IN AN INSTITUTION FOR PROBLEMS OF THE VIOLENT NATURE IS BETWEEN APRIL AND SEPTEMBER.

.............SERIOUSLY CONCERNED, .......38 Special...........

I agree with 38 special.... I have seen a lot of N.C. Prisons and one thing they have never done is deny food for any reason.... Even in the hole, they receive food... This should be reported immediately to someone other than the unit he is at.... This could really cause problems among the inmates and guards.... Do report it immediately..

Sincerely
Donna

I think that denying food is a horrible thing. I don't think that a prison can get away with it for too long. I'm sure there is something to be done even if you have to bring the media into it.

I just spoke to BF and he says that now if you smile in chow line you get sent back, but then they give you a bag dinner. Sounds like there was some trouble with some inmates over this, so they had to give them the food, but the no smile rule still stands. BF really didnt want to discuss this with me in much length. Also, he said that at chow you dnt get enough time to eat anyway, so having the bag food is probly a blessing. Maybe they should all start smiling............Also, these are not brand new trainee guards, they are guards transferred in from other jails, and other areas, due to jails closing and re-organization of inmates etc....and I guess they are not too happy about it.

It would be interesting to see how it would be handled if EVERYONE in the chow line would smile.... :D

me too Joy

WONDER WHAT THEY WOULD GET FOR A FROWN OR A SCOWL?

I wonder too Sherri--would they give them double the chow for a frown?

Thats one of the craziest things I've heard....why would it matter if they smiled in chow line...

I think they should all smile :) anyway!

I think most of it comes back to what ken was saying without proper training they create a bad situation for not only the guards but the inmates as well.. You can not exspect to have a good flow when you have a 20 yr on a power trip. It is sad but the lack of training and preperation for the new fish (guards) is a cause of most of the tention..

BF says that they are only required to give them 2 meals a day anyway...........so they cant complain if they miss one of three, Sounds pretty strange to me. Annie

Annie,
Could you tell us the name of the prison this is occuring at. (I may have missed it but I don't think so) We won't use any names but it needs to be addressed. This is no joke.. Games like these cause the proverbial powder keg to explode.. Just because they are "nice enough" to hand out paper bags now doesn't mean this is a good practice.. Sounds like games to me.

I agree with you David, this has to be reported

ANNIE:

DAVID AND SORARYA ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.... THIS IS INHUMANE..... ALL INMATES ARE REQUIRED TO BE GIVEN 3 MEALS OF SOME SORT DAILY...... IF THIS IS NOT HAPPENING, THEN WE NEED TO INSURE THIS PRISON UNIT IS REPORTED..... LET US KNOW WHERE THE PRISON IS.... YOU DO NOT NEED TO LET US KNOW ANY MORE THAN THAT....

MY LOVE AND PRAYERS
DONNA

LA County Mens Central Jail- Annie

I never did time in LA county jail, only Orange County Jail. OCJ was bad, but we heard all kinds of horror stories about LA County Jail. So I'm not surprised. Although if they tried that in OCJ the inmates (at least most), would all smile & force'm to feed everyone bag lunches or in our cells.