Commission hears evidence of U.S. prison brutality (In America)

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N19713316.htm

TAMPA, April 19 (Reuters) - A new independent commission on abuse within the U.S. prison system heard on Tuesday that guards used electronic stun guns, rubber bullets and pepper spray as ways of abusing rather than controlling prisoners in the world's largest penal system.

Former corrections officer Steve Martin, an expert on the use of force in prisons, said that use of physical force against inmates was a daily event in U.S. prisons, with guards resorting to so-called "nonlethal" weapons as a form of punishment.

"All too often in American corrections, such weaponry is used as a first strike response before other, less painful and injurious tactics are exhausted," Martin said in written testimony submitted to the commission.

He said he had personal knowledge of 20 inmates who died as a result of the use of force.

"It is difficult to know how often this happens in American corrections as there is no central repository for specific reporting on such deaths," Martin said.

more

[meganmonkey]

1. I'm sure it's just a few 'bad apples'

just like Abu Ghraib :eyes:

[saigon68]

9. You mean a Few "Frat Pranks"

Saigon posts picture of Graner Grinning over Corpse.

[MountainLaurel]

2. No shit Sherlock

Look at Charles Graner's record -- where do they think he started abusing inmates?

[Solly Mack]

6. Exactly

[pnutchuck]

3. The prison system only creates better criminals. eom

[pnutchuck]

4. The Prison Industrial Complex

http://www.criticalresistance.org/

[thecai]

5. American Jails And Prisons RIFE With Abuse/Neglect

I did not appreciate Bush LYING when Abu Ghraib abuse was exposed, claiming "that's not the American way!" and "we didn't know anything about it!" While Texas is ONE of the WORST States for inmate abuse/neglect/murder. It has been reported for decades, but ignored, denied, encouraged, enabled, and even rewarded.
Visit links on this website for horrifying photos and articles...
http://hometown.aol.com/sonrisepark/myhomepage/politics.html

[thecai]

7. It Could Happen To Any One Of Us

all that is neccesary to convict an innocent person is a false accusation and a false witness, or coercion...
Don't think it can't happen, it DOES.

[DoYouEverWonder]

11. Tell me about it

My family knows first hand that it happens. Even when you are totally innocent it can happen. Most of the time it happens to poor blacks and immigrants, people who don't have family or resources to get themselves good lawyers. But once in a while they screw up and do it to someone with the resources to fight back. We fought back and actually 'won' if you call what we went through winning.

[Judi Lynn]

8. This is unbearable. How could it have exploded like this?

Will anything ever be done about it? Also in the article:

Ron McAndrew, a retired Florida prison warden, said prisoner abuse in his state was "systematically chronic" with large prisons plagued by prison guard "goon squads."

"The horrifying part of this story is there are not enough correctional professionals who are willing to go after the goons," he said in an appearance before the commission.

HUGE GROWTH

The U.S. prison system has grown by over 400 percent in the past 25 years and now holds around 2.2 million inmates total in local jails and maximum security prisons. In the course of a year, 13.5 million people pass through the system. As a proportion of the population, the United States incarcerates seven to 10 times as many people as most other democracies.
(snip)

Thanks for the news. Hope a lot of people will take it upon themselves to read it.

[thecai]

10. Kick w/link

Also visit "The Rock" link on this website;
http://hometown.aol.com/sonrisepark/myhomepage/index.html

[laylah]

12. "It is difficult to know...

"It is difficult to know how often this happens in American corrections as there is no central repository for specific reporting on such deaths," Martin said.

Of course there is no central repository. If other state's corrections departments are as crooked, reprehensible, and SLEAZY as the Illinois DOC, anyone that would even try to gather that information would be blocked.

Here in Illinois, the governor, media, and elected officials ignore any and all irrefutable evidence/information regarding anything related to DOC. I have personally known elected officials who have been threatened if they pursue a constituent's complaint regarding the DOC and others in the Gov's office who have faced job loss for advocating on behalf of inmates here in Illinois.

I cannot speak for other states, but here in Illinois, corrections is not overseen by ANYONE, nor held accountable for their reprehensible behaviors!

Jenn