My Husband Had to Drink Toilet Water

**a_coleman** · #1 07-13-2005, 08:07 PM

Hey Guys,

Okay, Im not really sure what to do, or who I should talk to, but I got a letter from my husband today, and he was telling me that the sink/water fountain in his cell is broken, and him and his celly cant get any water. They said that the guards made them go to the showers a couple of times and fill up some bowls to drink out of, but they said they would come back to take them again, and they never did so he said that he had to drink water from the toilet a couple of times. I called the warden's office today, and the secretary told me that she called over to his building, and they told her that it was fixed, but somehow thats hard for me to believe, because they lie alot. I guess I just have to wait until I get another letter from my husband, and see what he tells me, but when I read that, my blood started to boil

He said that it had been like that since last Thursday. Its 100 degrees where he is, and no water in his cell. They are on lockdown, so he cant go anywhere to get water. What do yall think I should do?

dizzulsgirl · #2 07-13-2005, 08:09 PM

UNBELIEVABLE! I'm not sure what to tell you to do, but call anyone that you can to get that taken care of. He could get terribly ill from the toilet

vim1946 · #3 07-13-2005, 08:16 PM

Call the ombudsman -- there are limits to how badly they can treat prisoners and that goes beyond!

**MoMo** · #4 07-13-2005, 08:18 PM

I don't blame you for being upset!! I would call the obudsmans office and tell them of the situation going on there and that they don't have adequote drinking water. This is really low and if their fountain was broken they should have been supplied with drinking water of some sort not a toilet!!!!!

**a_coleman** · #5 07-13-2005, 08:21 PM

I was actually going to call the ombudsman, but I was thinking that they were going to make me submit a letter, and go through all of that stuff, which I will do to make everything official, but I think this qualifies as an emergency, and Im not sure how they handle those. Ill call first thing in the morning. I just couldnt believe what I was reading when I read that.

LAT · #6 07-13-2005, 08:24 PM

What unit is he in?

Tell us what we can do to help.

I agree this is an emergency.

**a_coleman** · #7 07-13-2005, 08:29 PM

He's on the Connally unit, and I dont really think that there is anything that anyone else can do without being a family member, but thank you very much for offering. Im going to call the Ombudsman, and see what they say. The bad thing is, I just have to go by her(wardens sec)word right now. She told me that it was fixed, and until I hear otherwise, I cant really call her back. So Im going to call the ombudsman, and see what they tell me.

shortyncute · #8 07-13-2005, 08:42 PM

That is really sad they cant fix a sink with it being a 100 degrees. I bet they have water to drink. (cold at that)

mlynnm · #9 07-13-2005, 09:47 PM

That is messed up, just reading that makes me both mad and sad at the same time. I hope they really did fix it because that just ain't right. Let us know what happens. God Bless!

DavesMrs · #10 07-14-2005, 12:32 AM

I can't believe this, it's sounds like something straight out of a movie, it's so wrong! Looks like the obudsman is the only way to go with this. I hope it gets sorted and someone somewhere has to explain their in-action.

Good luck and definitely let us know what happens?

JustTami · #11 07-14-2005, 12:44 AM

Oh man. I bet you're mad- I was mad MYSELF. Please do let us know how things go.
I'm so sorry about this...

**a_coleman** · #12 07-14-2005, 07:19 AM

I will. Thanks guys!

Houston5304 · #13 07-14-2005, 07:49 AM

I suggest that you first send a WRITTEN FAX to the Wardens office IMMEDIATELY, asking for confirmation of the secretary's "assurance" that all is fixed and back to normal. Use her name in the letter, the approx time and date you called. Little corporate trick, you send the letter or better yet in memo form to WARDEN's office, with BOTH names as recipients. This way it looks like you are accusing, rather than just properly following up.

The point is NOT to kiss up, but rather by sending it in writing and to them directly, you avoid any further resistence for assistance. I always request that they reply via email or return fax asap so that you don't need to take the matter further. If no result, then take your copy and send it DIRECTLY to the om "person", don't know who that is. THAT will get them hopping.

There is nothing worse to these people than being proved to being negligent in their duties. And things in writing with a telepathic means of substanciating its receipt can't be disputed. My prayers that this digusting situation is reversed immediately.

Blessings, Lois in DFW

**a_coleman** · #14 07-14-2005, 02:04 PM

Well, I called the Ombudsman, and she got my number and told me that she would call me back in a few minutes. Well, she called me back...it was Janie somebody, I cant remember her last name. She said that she called the unit, and they told her that a work order had been put in to fix all of the cells that were having "plumbing" problems, and that it would be taken care of shortly. I got a letter from my husband today, and he told me that they fixed it on Monday morning. I guess the wardens secretary was telling the truth, and it makes me wonder if the ombudsmans office even called the unit like she said she did, because if she did, then she would have told me that it was already fixed. Well, Im just glad that its fixed and he has fresh water to drink!

**MoMo** · #15 07-14-2005, 02:13 PM

I am glad it has gotten worked out!