The ODC's latest 'policy' is now to deny all non-American citizens the opportunity to visit an inmate. I have just spoken to the warden's secretary of OSP and she told me that they cannot run interpol checks on each of us and she does not understand why anyone would want to waste money on visiting an inmate anyway. According to OSP, all foreigners have now been taken off the visiting lists of every inmate. Has anyone heard of this latest policy and have any of you fellow foreigners heard this from your friend/loved one?

Sorry to hear that hun!

That's horrible.... I hope you guys are able to do something to get it changed...

Deb

Thanks Momma Hen and Deb - we won't give up on this and are currently trying to find out if this is actually a new policy or just another of the many games OSP plays with us.....

liltoomean I will give OSP a call tomorrow and also check into it with OKCURE and see if I can find anything K?

Thank you so much - maybe they will give you more information, as I am just one of these 'love-sick foreigners' as the secretary put it! I got in touch with Lynn from OKCURE and she advised me to contact Debbie Mahaffey - deputy director of ODC, so I will do that too. Your help is much appreciated.

Does anyone know of any United States Citizen living abroad who has been removed from a prisoner's visiting list? We have an attorney who wants to take this issue of the removal of visitors from prisoners' visiting lists and file a lawsuit against the DOC. Also any foreigner who wants to get involved in this and help stop this latest DOC decision, get in touch or PM me!

liltoomean

I asked Terry about it and he said that he has heard rumors about it and that he knew a gentlemen that was a US citizen and went to spain when he came back they said he couldn't visit anymore. It is supposed to be a safety factor after the terrorist attaks.

Surely that must violate the prisoner's civil rights, doesn't it? Good luck to the lawyers in fighting this.

Yes, toi ama, this is what we are looking into because we are certain that the prisoner's civil rights are being violated. A denial of a class of visitors without legitimate reason, violates the rights of the prisoner. We think that ACLU might also get involved.

If you contact the Oklahoma branch of the ACLU and nothing happens, go higher. Our branch is pretty weak. We just now hired our FIRST attorney. This latest game of DISCRIMINATION really stinks and needs to be brought out into the light of day and aired out! It just so happens that my son has grandparents that would be considered foreigners. They have been here in the US since 1958. Worked their butts off to make a life here. It angers me greatly to know that if they were physically able to travel (they are in their late 80's) to see their grandson the almighty Oklahoma Department of Corrections would prevent it!

Hi Bev
The latest news is that OSP reckons that this policy about foreigners has always been in place but that only now are they going to enforce it..... Their argument is that no background checks can be done on us, and yet Interpol have said they have no problem in running checks on us, so basically this is just another example of OSP doing all they can to hurt prisoners and their loved ones.... Makes me laugh that the ODC has all these grand mission statements on their website and on the walls in the jails of how they have responsibilities to 'promote law-abiding behaviour' and to 'offer a climate of safety, helpfulness and courtesy' and 'serve as a postive role model' when me and others have been lied to, shouted at and accused of all kinds of things by senior staff in OSP!!

Perhaps somebody needs to put a bug in Charlie Rangle's ear. I think he is a democrat senator from some other state but is hot on hispanic issues. I know for a fact we have Mexicans incarcerated whose parents only have their green card. What do you think?

I emailed Charlie Rangel. Correction, he is in the house of representatives, not a senator. He is from New York. His website is: www.house.gov/rangel I had to give a New York zip code to get to his email site or else they channel you to Oklahoma's representatives. Once I got to his email site I told him I had to lie to get in, and told him where I really am from. If he can't stir the pot, he will find someone like himself who will! If you email him, a good zip code to use is: 10027-0123

Hi Bev
Good work! I am not sure, but think the real issue here is about foreign women coming from UK as several of us do and wanting to visit with friends/husbands in OSP. I am not sure if the situation applies to people living in the USA who just have a green card or are not originally from the States, I think it is more the fact that Lee Mann has decided that we are a nuisance and she doesn't like the fact that we care enough about these men to travel over 5000 miles to see them. There are a lot of personal grudges at play here, but me and a few others over here in the UK are certainly not scared of these people or going to back down. Let me know if you hear back from Charlie.

Liltoomean, Discrimination is discrimination. If they will refuse visitation to you, what is to stop them from telling the little old Mexican mama's they can't either? I have taken up the battle cry of Reverent Martin Niemoller, a German Lutheran Pastor arrested by the Gestapo in 1937. I quote him, "In Germany, they first came for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew....Then they came for the Catholics. I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak up.

Have You Talked To Mike Mullin ,the Warden At O.s.p.? From My Experience He's Allways Been Very Fair And Willing To Listen To People. It Might Be Worth A Shot.

Thanks guage, but Mike Mullin won't acknowlege us at all. I have just written him a long letter and all I'm asking for is to be treated fairly. He has said the only reason we can't visit is becuase Interpol can't do checks on us and yet Interpol has said they can and will??? Lee Mann has called us a bunch of love-sick foreigners wasting our money....I think a lot of it has to do with personal grudges against my friend. Any other ideas are always welcome!

hi...is this for all states??? never heard of it , and my BF does keep track of things there of new laws and so on...hope it won't come to this...what will be next???? I only visit like 1 time a year....if I can't do that, oh god, then what will I do???I will keep reading this post....and ask my BF what he heard...he is in Virginia

Hi Hilde

All I can tell you is that when I spoke to the Warden's assistant, there at OSP, she proudly announced that Oklahoma was the only state to impose this ban on foreigners, so I wouldn't worry too much. Let me know if your guy hears anything.

YEA!!!!!! for ya'll if there ANYTHING I can do to help just give me a YELL I'll help with this.........Lets get them this is so UNFAIR for our inmates and Families

Hi Idysirois! Well, at this point, any ideas or suggestions would be great. It is frustrating as they are just lying to us, plain and simple and yet doc can pretty much do what they want...... Like you, I am determined to get them on this and all the other injustices that go on in their prisons. I would love to get some media exposure on this, but I don't know if anyone would be interested in a bunch of British women who can't see their loved ones....

Maybe all us okie ladies need to ban together and rise the roof on this LIKE A PICKET At OSP?? What could they do if we keep it orderly and PEACEFUL! NOTHING anyone up for this and then well get some coveage>> SMILE<<<

Maybe we'd have to get on a plane and help you out with this one :-)

Hi
Just to let you know, I today received a letter from the Warden there at OSP, in reply to mine asking why we were being told we cannot visit because Interpol can't run checks on us, when I am enclosing an email from Interpol to say they can run checks.... So guess what - I've been sent a visitor's request form to fill out! Shows what perseverence can do! I know this is only step one but it has taken us months of work to get this far. Let's hope we can get to visit soon.

liltoomean.... That is GREAT. I am so happy for you. Get that form mailed in soon and let us know if they give you any more trouble. Hope you enjoy your visit (when you get it). Keep us informed. God Bless

HOORAY hope all goes well keep us updated Hugs to ya'll

When I first saw this thread, I was so mad. I am glad that you got that straightened out. It is amazing the things that can be accomplished when you don't give up. Good for you liltoomean.

Thank you everyone. I'm sending my forms off today, so I'll keep you updated.

Good for you! I hope that things go smoothly from here on out. If they still give you trouble, have Interpol contact the warden directly.

Hello liltoomean Have you sent the forms back yet? LOL. Have you received approval? Have you got to go visit yet? Yes I'm nosey. LOL.
Wishing & praying for the best. :)

Hi
Just to let you know, I today received a letter from the Warden there at OSP, in reply to mine asking why we were being told we cannot visit because Interpol can't run checks on us, when I am enclosing an email from Interpol to say they can run checks.... So guess what - I've been sent a visitor's request form to fill out! Shows what perseverence can do! I know this is only step one but it has taken us months of work to get this far. Let's hope we can get to visit soon.

Hey Skunkette

Don't worry, I'll be back to tell you when I hear anything! I read it can take 6 weeks for Interpol to run the checks. I sent the forms back the day after I got them and sent them by recorded delivery, so they should have got there ok. I'll keep you posted :-)

Thank You liltoomean

Ok, I said I'd keep you posted on this visiting issue and we seem to take one step forward and 3 steps back..... My friend also from UK who writes to the same guy that I do, sent in the application to visit him on a special visit and several weeks passed and she didn't hear anything, so Friday she called up the unit manager who said that while he was unit manager, he would never ever allow our friend in OSP to get a special visit. She has just now called to try to speak to either the deputy warden or warden and as soon as she said who she wanted to visit, the deputy warden's secretary's voice changed completely and she was told she cannot help. So my friend just called visiting control in OSP and the woman was friendly until she again mentioned the prisoner's name and her tone changed and she said she had no information to give out...... The Warden told both of us that we are not being discriminated against and neither is our friend, but I would call this discrimination, wouldn't you? I don't know now how we will proceed, it is like OSP has closed ranks and me and this other woman are on their black list big time for speaking up against this situation. Anyway, just thought I'd let you know what is going on.
Oh yeah, one question maybe someone can help me with - is there anywhere in your US Constitution which covers discrimination? I am trying to find some kind of legal stance to come at them with to show how it is unlawful to discriminate as they are.......any ideas welcome!