I was wondering who i would write to file a complaint against a CO in the visiting room at Gowanda. This CO for some reason is harrasing me and my BF at every visit, this last saturday (11/22) was the worst, had me crying during the visit. He is the only CO that ever bothers us, and it only happens on the Saturday visits (Sunday must be his day off). He stood at my table this time and LOUDLY accused my BF of fondling me (which he wasnt and would never do, or i wouldnt be so angry). Made me move my chair and threatened to end the visit. My BF went to speak to the supervisor, but it only made it worse, i guess they all stick together. Then the supervisor came over later in the visit and berated my BF for playing with the zipper on his shirt (petty BS), made us move up to the front of the room, threatened to either cut off visits or make them non-contact. Also told my BF he could start a paper war over this, but he wouldn't win. After the visit when he was in the search room another CO told him he should know better than to rat on a CO. I don't want things to get harder on him, but i want to bring this to the attention of someone so that if it happens again they will see the pattern. So if any one knows who i can write to please let me know.

I understand your situation fully, being a former inmate the only ticket I received was in the visting room. Mu gfriend came up every week, shes very pretty and carries herself well. Most of the co were cool, but there was one who was always on our case ...watching, actually staring just to see if he could find something. Anyway, he wrote us up one time b/c my hand was on her leg and he said I was fondling her. It was bs but whatever. The punishment was that if I got another ticket in the vist room within the next 30 days, she'd be banned from visiting me for 2 months. Needless to say for the next month we just played cards with our hands well in view so they couldnt even thimk anything. It was actually nice we laughed and talked etc...I never said anything because I realize it would not do any good. Since your bf didnt get a ticket, my suggestion would be to totally ignore this idiot, u and your bf both. Dont even look in this co's direction. If either one of u need to interact with him be as courteous as possible. Your bf should not approach him at all if he doesnt have to sinc that would make matters worse. One last bit of advice, you should be the one to speak to the supervisors, never your bf, b/c they respect the civilians much more. As far as what to do now...I wouldn't report it and act like nothing happened. But I would if I were you, I would write down everything that happened; dates , times , names etc... then mail it to yourself in a sealed envelope, and not open it. This way if something happens in the future ( I really dont think it will) you will have a record of it and it will prove you didnt write it after the fact. Again this happened to me and a few others at my facility, it's just jealousy, the co got what he wanted, a reaction, and I'm sure he has forgotten about it if u r willing to. If u have other questions feel free to pm me. Take care.

Oh yeah, most importantly...for the next few visits, keep the contact to a minimum, even if the whole visit room is naked, stay cool, b/c they will be watching for a little. Trust me it takes discipline but it is well worth the headache.

May I ask if the CO was short with blondish hair and glasses? I go to visit at Gowanda as well.

-Tanya

OHHHHHH boy another CO acting a damn fool at Gowanda!!! When they have it in for some one, they really have it in for them, what the !@#$. I am sooo thankful that Tito is no longer there.

As far as what you should do, my 1st response would be to file a complaint, but Jaxtraw gave u some pretty good advice so i would have to 2nd that. Play it cool for awhile and see what happens, and if that same CO is stilling being a prick i would report it then.

I am also curious to know which CO it was.

Tanya - yes he is kinda short, with very short blonde hair and glasses. i'll pm you his name.
My bf thinks he is singling us out because i am "pretty", and may be jealous of us. we are always laughing and happy to be together during our visits, i guess some CO's don't like to see an inmate happy. My bf only been there a little over a month, and that CO has been working on all 3 of the saturdays that i have been there, and has given us a problem each time. I just don't want it to get worse.

From my observations on Gowanda visits.... some CO's appear to target all new inmates. The best advice I can give you is.... don't take this personally. I have watched this happen regularly. We have even experienced this ourselves... and I have to be THE most conservative person on the planet. LOL. We were fuming and humiliated, but we recognized it for what it was.... they want to show you who's in charge. We held our tongues and went out of our way to show them we know how to behave and present ourselves. It didn't take long before they left us alone and moved onto the next new inmate. They are now actually respectful of us, and leave us alone.

PLEASE don't file a complaint, Luneant. It will produce the opposite affect of what you had intended, and may even lead to repercussions for the rest of us... not to mention your boyfriend. You just have to realize that there are some CO's who need to assert their authority.

If you don't mind losing an hour or two of visitation, come a bit later and get into the overflow visit room. It's a little more laid back, and less noisy, than the regular visit room.... though you take your chances on whether there will be any food in the vending machine. :-)

Keep a cool head and be respectful, Luneant. Even to those who don't respect you. Eventually, it will be returned. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Gilly

thanks for the input. i decided not to file a complaint yet, but i did write a letter (ill send it to myself as per jaxtraw's suggestion) so i have proof if this keeps happening. I just can't believe the bullsh** that this CO is pulling, why can't he just leave us alone? I am normally a quiet, shy person, but when backed into a corner I can become evil. If I wasn't worried about my bf, I would have snapped on the idiot. But i'll just have to bite my tongue for now I guess.
If anybody comes to visit on "even" days at Gowanda, you'll be able to pick me out in the visiting room, just look for the couple getting harrassed every "even" Saturday :-)
Annette

It is the same officer and he just started working in the visiting room about a month ago, if that. It's not that he targets anyone in particular, he does it to everyone. And I say file a complaint, because it really is harrasment. It doesn't matter if the complaint comes from the visitor or the inmate, if reprecussions happen, then they happen. That mind sound cold and callus, but what he doesn't isn't right. I know on odd days, there have been 3 inmates that have written him up that I know about.

Even another officer complained about him to the Sargeant two weeks ago. He calmed down for about an hour and then was right back to doing it again. He interrupts visits so that he can bring inmates up to the board and point out the directive to them.

Trust me when I say, it's not just you. I have complained about him. As I said before, one of the benefits of living in Albany is that I can call DOCS everyday without having to worry about long distance charges. I have no problem with doing it. If you're quiet about things, you give them the impression that it's okay to treat people how they want. It's not okay and they need to know that.

-Tanya

hi. i am sorry you are going through this. i know how it is there. my brother sent us a letter about how this one guard on his block was always threatening him... and that he was known to beat up inmates over nothing. my brother always stays out of trouble, and has never had problems before. he was scared to get tickets and/or to being beat up. so, he sent this letter, begging us not to complain to anyone.. or to turn the guy in. he said it would just make matters worse. he wanted us to have the letter just in case something did happen so we could then turn him in. but this guard has since left him alone. so, if you do anything... as in reporting the co... let me know how it works out. i want to know what i can actually do. if it were me in your situation i would just put up with it. i know it is horrible, but it is better than having your boyfriend get tickets (which could mean no parole)... or getting hurt. please let me know though, if you do say something and how it turns out. thanks!