Today it's back to business

The impressive, historic day in our country has come and gone. Now it's back to brass tacks. Here are just a few of the problems on our desk this morning.

Natalia was referred to us by our representative in the Netherlands. Her husband is in prison in the State of Nevada.

Hello. My husband is at ESP. He is the one who was beaten by officers while handcuffed and shackled at NSP. His case was mentioned in the SF Bayview letter. I was told that you may be someone who can help. I hope so.Rickey has blocked arteries and high blood pressure, all caused by his initial problem of severely herniated discs in his back, causing constant excruciating pain. This problem has been ongoing since 2004. In addition, because of my family's advocacy on the part of Rickey, they took his visits away in 2005. We're still fighting that on the legal level.Yesterday his lawyer gave me news that he was being transferred back to Ely State Prison from NSP, without any treatment either for his blocked arteries or his herniated discs.

Ely is a hell hole! We have similar requests from Nevada. If you're in our office, and this woman asks for help, what is your reply?


In Arizona, we haven't even been able to get someone to visit a suicidal prisoner from Canada who has been abandoned by family and friends. In the daytime he's tormented by demons , and at night he sleeps with cockroaches. He's completely alone. Everyone knows of a church or an agency who will do something. There are all kinds of suggestions. For two years we've been knocking on those doors, and for two years there's always some excuse why someone cannot visit this man. We agree that it won't be a pleasant visit, but he's a human being!


Here in Michigan, a prisoner who got arrested for drunken driving too many times after he rolled over his SUV, cannot seem to get follow-up treatment for his shattered leg. The screws are coming loose, he says. What we DO know is that one of our favorite doctors in the MDOC took away the man's cane! That should help.


Perhaps, in our country's new era, we will also recognize that inhumane treatment is rampant in our prisons and must come to a screeching halt.

Thanks for caring and for encouraging us to keep on during this critical financial crunch! We cannot do it without you.

Doug Tjapkes
HUMANITY FOR PRISONERS
20 W. Muskegon Avenue
Muskegon, MI 49440

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