Correctional Reception Center - CRC "don't drink the water"...

MsChiku · #1 06-14-2008, 10:52 PM

The below message was PM'd to me ANONYMOUSLY...I am wondering are there any other inmates at CRC and or family members of that Institution aware of the water issue...or LACK OF WATER!?

Please pray for the guys @ CRC (cadre and reception).
I have to vent before I explode. I am one of the blessed ones who gets 1-2 calls a day. Yesterday I got 0. That was a little unnerving. As I walk up to the facility today I notice a couple rows of porta-johns on the yard. I know he told me he'd been "showering" out of the sink for a couple days. This morning there were signs on the drinking fountains "don't drink the water". The staff gets bottled water, the inmates get bags of water. And just where are the bags of water coming from? To top it off the electric has been out a couple times - 4 hours yesterday. And the guys were telling us the phones were shut off so they couldn't call out and complain (aka/alert media)

My husband was recently released from LaECI and said that sometimes the water would come out GREEN and the CO's would let the water run from the sinks all day til' it came out clear... BUT it's best to ALERT the media. I, FOR ONE, BELIEVE WE MUST CHOOSE OUR BATTLES WISELY. Sanitation/HEALTH, is a no brainer... If the above is taking place in the weather we've been having, "HELL HOT!" THEN WHY IS THAT BEING KEPT A SECRET?! Don't EVER be afraid to tell about the INHUMANE activities at prisons...It's IMPORTANT Keep a paper trail...IF no one complains, NO one stands accountable or feels the need to correct the problems... the squeakiest wheel gets the most attention!

dorothygullett · #2 06-14-2008, 11:44 PM

i went there yesterday for my all day visit and there were plastic bags over the water fountains, the toilets didn't flush- before they processed use in they said there was a water problem- then they announced that there was a water main break that happened on thursday and all visits were cancelled. i tried to call the visiting line to set up another visit, but they were closed due to no visiting. i drove 2 hours each way, plus lost money because i also had to take off work. i haven't seen my b/f in almost 4 weeks.
also- this has nothing to with the water problem but there was another visiter telling me sometime last week they had to have hasmat come and clean up a blood mess that an inmate made. He had hep.C . There are rumors going around that there is alot of hep. C and aids running wild @ this facility.
I'm wondering what the prison is doing to protect those inmates from getting these deseases?

thanks for letting me vent
dorothy

Raebear · #3 06-15-2008, 02:01 PM

You mentioned callingthe visiting line and visiting yesterday. Were you @PCI?

ThirdStreet · #4 06-15-2008, 05:03 PM

I visited my boyfriend Saturday. He had not bathed in three days. He told me water had been unavailable to them since Wednesday. He had come in from being hot and sweaty during a softball game (he's a cadre) and it was off. He was told it was punishment and phones, visits, mail were all unallowed Thursday and Friday. (He tried to call and to send me a letter to warn not to visit in case it was a wasted drive, but he was not allowed to get a message to me.) He thought water was restored Saturday morning but was unsure since we were visiting. He was not feeling well from heat in cell plus not having showered. He did not get to brush his teeth. He did not say if toilets were flushable or not.

I also saw signs on water fountains in lobby and in visitation room. I was able to wash hands in bathroom and flush toilet; not sure if this restriction in pods was punishment or caused by power outages/flooding earlier in week but the area looked unaffected by weather.

CRC, please stop treating our loved ones so inhumanely. They are already imprisoned for crimes. Do not let them get sick and risk severe health/death because of this rare form of punishment. Not every criminal has committed a crime so heinous that it would warrant being treated this way. They are all enduring the punishments they were sentenced, why go to the extreme?

On a side note, I recently saw county inmates cleaning garbage on the side of a highway as part of a chain gang. It was pouring down rain and they had been transported in a horse trailer.

Aren't the ones who deserve that kind of torture supposed to be in maximum security prisons, sentenced to death? These inmates on our roads and in our weekend visitation rooms are not the animals you have made them out to be. These are our loved ones. Anyone else read the Bible, which speaks of forgiveness? There's such a thing as "eye for an eye," but then there's our own backwards system of "eye for an eye and then some."

And we wonder why they come out so much more hardened then when they entered.

rottn · #5 06-16-2008, 05:23 AM

Even inmates in maximum security prisons and sentenced to death are living, breathing humans and don't deserve that type of treatment either.
The sanatation area of the health department for that county needs to be alerted, as well as the media.

ThirdStreet · #6 06-16-2008, 03:22 PM

... I would say that I believe in fairness, and if someone has hurt another human being, he should be punished appropriately. God forgives but He still punishes.

Does someone who couldn't pay child support or committed theft deserve similar punishment to those who have taken the lives of others? Being in prison, removed from real life is punishment enough for many of today's criminals. We lock people up for all sorts of crimes, whereas a long time ago it took something harder, such as murder, to be imprisoned. Judges rely on prison to get people in and out of courtrooms and to end their days by 5 p.m. The restrictions inside prisons are just additional pain, and sometimes it is simply because a prison staffer decided to do it out of boredom, or evilness, or whatever cause spurs the additional punishments.

My boyfriend sold some drugs in high school five years ago. He was warned to pay fines or do time, and he failed to pay. He knew the cost of the crime and he did it anyway. He should be where he is and serving it as expected. But he has missed seeing his daughter grow up, being with me on holidays, using the restroom in private, seeing the leaves change, shoveling snow, etc. In my opinion, that's enough of a price. Had he taken someone else's life or removed a loved one from someone's family, I would think the punishment should be more harsh. Their crimes are simply not equal. Yet the system is treating them as equals.

my <3 hurts · #7 06-16-2008, 05:53 PM

PCI which is located behind CRC was without water also. Toilets were full of waste because the inmates couldn't flush them. Porta potties weren't brought in until Friday, with lines more than an hour long. They were given two 8oz bags of water per meal, if you were thirsty between meals (heat) tough. They were locked down part of the time & phones were off. My son was told it was so no one could tell their families what was going on so that the media could be alerted. They are still on boil alert, yet no water was given with breakfast today. My son was so thirsty, he drank it. He said a Co told him he wasn't supposed to drink that, but had nothing to say when my son asked what WAS he supposed to drink when they weren't given any water. I understand that my son commited a crime, but isn't his punishment suppose to be loosing his freedom? I didn't here the judge tell him he would have to give up basic needs, (like water) be treated like he was less than human by whatever CO was having ego issues or not have access to proper medical treatment. I'm so shocked & frustrated. Nobody seems to care unless they have a loved one who is incarcerated.

rottn · #8 06-16-2008, 06:05 PM

Once again, no matter what the crime, inmates are human and don't deserve to be treated worse than animals.
My husband killed a man and is remorseful. He has been for the past 10 years. Just because he made a mistake dosen't mean he isn't worthy of being treated humane.
We all have opinions and are welcome to express them. We also have to keep in mind that everyone has someone they love that may have been a bad person or done a bad thing at some point in their lives, and has or can change. This site is for support and won't be used for anything other than that.

MsChiku · #9 06-16-2008, 08:38 PM

Ok, I need to chime in... PTO is for "supporting" ALL inmates, REGARDLESS of the title of their conviction (murder, rape, drug dealer, robbery, etc... ) The Prison's of Ohio, including CRC, mission is to:"The mission of the Correctional Reception Center is to maintain a secure and humane environment for staff, inmates and to provide for protection for the community...

I love the Bible with all my heart and soul... BUT "an eye for an eye" has NOTHING to do with the rules, law, & safety, requirements behind those prison walls... HUMANITY, is for every single inmate/loved one behind bars.

Please don't be so quick to assume that a conviction of "murder" makes a prisoner less worthy of water or life... The Bible also says, "Judge not, that you not be judged..." All sins are worthy of Forgiveness...not just the ones we tend to justify.

No man or woman has the right to refuse our inmates/loved ones Water, Food, Clothing, & maintaining good Health.

Lastly, tread lightly on the subject of which prisoner is most worthy of humanity... BECAUSE according to the Laws in Ohio, ALL Ohio Inmates are worthy of it.

justus1 · #10 06-17-2008, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MsChiku

Ok, I need to chime in... PTO is for "supporting" ALL inmates, REGARDLESS of the title of their conviction (murder, rape, drug dealer, robbery, etc... ) The Prison's of Ohio, including CRC, mission is to:"The mission of the Correctional Reception Center is to maintain a secure and humane environment for staff, inmates and to provide for protection for the community...

I love the Bible with all my heart and soul... BUT "an eye for an eye" has NOTHING to do with the rules, law, & safety, requirements behind those prison walls... HUMANITY, is for every single inmate/loved one behind bars.

Please don't be so quick to assume that a conviction of "murder" makes a prisoner less worthy of water or life... The Bible also says, "Judge not, that you not be judged..." All sins are worthy of Forgiveness...not just the ones we tend to justify.

No man or woman has the right to refuse our inmates/loved ones Water, Food, Clothing, & maintaining good Health.

Lastly, tread lightly on the subject of which prisoner is most worthy of humanity... BECAUSE according to the Laws in Ohio, ALL Ohio Inmates are worthy of it.

I completely concur. People always quote the "eye for an eye" as God's way of saying it's ok to kill someone who took someone else's life. The problem is, they don't read the WHOLE chapter and all of the verses. They read the first one, and that's it. If you read all of it, it's the same chapter where Jesus talks and says, "if someone takes your shirt, give them your cloak." and "if someone slaps you on one cheek, Turn the other cheek". Those words might not be exact, but that's exactly what He says.

I understand the poster being upset about all of this. If my loved one were being treated like that you better believe my hair would be up and I would be doing whatever I COULD do to get that situation changed. I would be barraging DRC with letters, I would be informing the local health department because a situation like that is totally unhealthy and worthy of some serious fines, I would imagine. This goes beyond cruel and unusal punishment. I worked in the system in the state of Ohio for 11 years, and I never once heard of anything so disgusting going on...but believe me, I know that time has passed and things have changed. Search the local paper for this particular facility. Research the reporters for that paper and look for the one who does the "human interest" stories and contact them about this situation. Talk to, or better yet see your state representatives about this issue. This is the only way you can even have a chance of making sure this doesn't happen again.

What I find astonishing is that the CO's would want to be subjected to the odor. I mean there would be no mistaking the kind of odor that would come from all of the unflushed toilets. Yet if they didn't incapacitate them as well the guys would have access to water from the tanks. I shudder to think what kind of person could tolerate that just to "punish" some inmates.

The poster is right. The punishment her loved one was handed down by the judge, which is the time he must spend incarcerated, locked up and away from his family and friends, IS his punishment. CO's are not supposed to add to that, unless the inmate does things that makes them have to act by segregating the inmate, etc. What is being described here is way beyond going overboard and I do have to say, that this sounds like some issues that have arised due to flooding/weather issues...not as any form of punishment. HOWEVER, that doesn't mean they shouldn't be providing the very best and most sanitary alternatives for the inmates bathroom and other water needs.

**ALiferzWife** · #11 06-17-2008, 08:52 AM

I'm going to let my Siggy quote (which is a quote from a DOC Director, btw) speak for me on this thread's topic.

my <3 hurts · #12 06-17-2008, 09:49 AM

I can tell you first hand that at least two Columbus TV news stations were alerted by more than one person as soon as we were aware of the situation. One seemed uninterested, the other knew of the situation but wanted to interview a "live person" on air to confirm the story. Who's willing to risk retaliation against their loved one when chances are it won't change a thing? I came into this experience blindfolded, but trust me, Alice is getting her fill of Wonderland. I am a perfect example of nieve! I T-voed both channels at 5,6 &11pm, not the slightest mention of the water problem. I worry about my son 24/7 as I'm sure most of you also experience. Getting sick from drinking contaminated water hadn't entered my list of what could happen to him, until now. If I offended anyone by venting in my previous post, it wasn't my intention. I care about everyone, great or small & I was greatly upset over this. I understand, things happen. That being said, safe drinking water & porta potties should have been priority one. I was also told, many people were put in the hole over their reaction to the situation. Anger poses a threat to everyone, including CO's, why let it get to that point?

Raebear · #13 06-25-2008, 05:02 PM

They're at it again!!

CRC is under water restriction again (no showers) and the inmate I got my info from said he heard the COs talking and the inmates aren't supposed to know not to drink the water.Hmmmmmm

worriedmama · #14 06-25-2008, 07:54 PM

Does anyone know if Pickaway is on water restriction too. The last time since they are across the street from each other they were on water restricion too.

my <3 hurts · #15 06-25-2008, 10:26 PM

I spoke to my son who's in PCI, at 1pm today. He didn't mention any problems. But, the call goes too quickly to get everything said. If this is true, how can they hide the fact that the water is unsafe to drink? Is it going to take our loved ones getting really sick to get someone to pay attention to the situation? This is ludicous!