~cheenna~
07-23-2002, 06:11 PM
I wasn't aware that the public could address the board in the following manner. God willing...I'd like to be there next year!
From: "luisa brehm" <lubrehm@clix.pt>
To: <prisonact-list@prisonactivist.org>
Date: Sun, 21 Jul 2002 01:46:36 +0100
Subject: [PRISONACT] Offering ideas on inmates - TX
Esta é uma mensagem com várias partes em formato MIME.
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From: Rick Halperin=20
July 20
TEXAS:
Offering ideas on inmates -- State board hears pleas for humane death row policies
Concerns about conditions for death row inmates dominated a once-a-year opportunity for the public to make presentations to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice.
Earlier this year, a new policy was adopted allowing Texans to speak on issues that are not on the board's agenda. Such public comment ordinarily will be permitted annually at the board's July meeting. Eight speakers took advantage of the new policy Friday at a regularly scheduled meeting.
Presentations are limited to 3 minutes and must cover topics under the board's jurisdiction.
Board chairman Mac Stringfellow said Friday that he welcomed the comments.
"This is a state agency, and we do want to make sure that we are sensitive to the needs of the public," he said In addition to the public presentations, complaints, for example, can be made to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's ombudsman and to the office of inspector general.
Peggy Connally, representing Amnesty International, told the board that death row inmates must endure "an incredibly sensory-deprived environment" and suggested that the state should do better. And she advocated a grievance system that would address legitimate complaints.
"...We need to basically offer some humanity in our death row," she said.
Nancy Bailey, another speaker, asked the board to reconsider
allowing death row inmates access to televisions.
"Death row inmates are in isolation cells 23 hours a day, and on some days, 24 hours a day," Ms. Bailey said. "Some can't read or write. Some don't have people write to them from the outside world, letting them know what's going on. ... Most of them have psychological conseq uences from sensory deprivation of being in those isolation cells, in addition to the
psychological problems that many of them already had."
Allowing the death row inmates access to television, she said,
"would have a calming effect resulting in a quieter, more manageable environment for both the inmates and the staff."
The department's concerns about death row security were heightened by a 1998, the first death row escape since 1934. Martin Gurule and 6 others attempted to climb over fences at the Ellis Unit near Huntsville. Only Mr. Gurule made it. Shot in the shoulder, he drowned in a creek nearby.
Prison officials instituted a series of security measures, including cutting work programs for the male death row inmates and televisions.
The small number of female death row inmates at the Mountain View Unit in Gatesville can participate in a work program and have limited viewing of a single television outside their cells.
Alison Dieter, representing the Texas Moratorium Network, also complained about death row conditions: "We must never rest as long as people are making decisions about the operation of our prisons who think it is a good policy to make it impossible for men to communicate with each other without screaming through walls, and think it's their duty to the public to deprive men of the ability to watch TV or listen to the radio or observe their religion."
Prison officials say that death row inmates may talk with spiritualadvisers but can not p articipate in group religious services. Death row inmates withgood disciplinary records can be allowed a radio.
Department executive director Gary Johnson said the agency is studying the viability of a work program as well as some television access.
"But I can't emphasize enough that they're on death row," he said. "The number-one priority has got to be security."
(source: Dallas Morning News)
From: "luisa brehm" <lubrehm@clix.pt>
To: <prisonact-list@prisonactivist.org>
Date: Sun, 21 Jul 2002 01:46:36 +0100
Subject: [PRISONACT] Offering ideas on inmates - TX
Esta é uma mensagem com várias partes em formato MIME.
------=_NextPart_000_000E_01C23058.72D7DD40
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
From: Rick Halperin=20
July 20
TEXAS:
Offering ideas on inmates -- State board hears pleas for humane death row policies
Concerns about conditions for death row inmates dominated a once-a-year opportunity for the public to make presentations to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice.
Earlier this year, a new policy was adopted allowing Texans to speak on issues that are not on the board's agenda. Such public comment ordinarily will be permitted annually at the board's July meeting. Eight speakers took advantage of the new policy Friday at a regularly scheduled meeting.
Presentations are limited to 3 minutes and must cover topics under the board's jurisdiction.
Board chairman Mac Stringfellow said Friday that he welcomed the comments.
"This is a state agency, and we do want to make sure that we are sensitive to the needs of the public," he said In addition to the public presentations, complaints, for example, can be made to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's ombudsman and to the office of inspector general.
Peggy Connally, representing Amnesty International, told the board that death row inmates must endure "an incredibly sensory-deprived environment" and suggested that the state should do better. And she advocated a grievance system that would address legitimate complaints.
"...We need to basically offer some humanity in our death row," she said.
Nancy Bailey, another speaker, asked the board to reconsider
allowing death row inmates access to televisions.
"Death row inmates are in isolation cells 23 hours a day, and on some days, 24 hours a day," Ms. Bailey said. "Some can't read or write. Some don't have people write to them from the outside world, letting them know what's going on. ... Most of them have psychological conseq uences from sensory deprivation of being in those isolation cells, in addition to the
psychological problems that many of them already had."
Allowing the death row inmates access to television, she said,
"would have a calming effect resulting in a quieter, more manageable environment for both the inmates and the staff."
The department's concerns about death row security were heightened by a 1998, the first death row escape since 1934. Martin Gurule and 6 others attempted to climb over fences at the Ellis Unit near Huntsville. Only Mr. Gurule made it. Shot in the shoulder, he drowned in a creek nearby.
Prison officials instituted a series of security measures, including cutting work programs for the male death row inmates and televisions.
The small number of female death row inmates at the Mountain View Unit in Gatesville can participate in a work program and have limited viewing of a single television outside their cells.
Alison Dieter, representing the Texas Moratorium Network, also complained about death row conditions: "We must never rest as long as people are making decisions about the operation of our prisons who think it is a good policy to make it impossible for men to communicate with each other without screaming through walls, and think it's their duty to the public to deprive men of the ability to watch TV or listen to the radio or observe their religion."
Prison officials say that death row inmates may talk with spiritualadvisers but can not p articipate in group religious services. Death row inmates withgood disciplinary records can be allowed a radio.
Department executive director Gary Johnson said the agency is studying the viability of a work program as well as some television access.
"But I can't emphasize enough that they're on death row," he said. "The number-one priority has got to be security."
(source: Dallas Morning News)