Shouldn't happen to a dog, let alone model prisoners!

Some of Michigan’s 29 prisons that just seem to be “hot spots” for trouble. When prisoner reports come in from some of those facilities, eyebrows are hardly raised. We don’t like it, but we sort of expect it. 

Not so, however, for the R.A. Handlon CF in Ionia. That’s where wardens and MDOC officials have proudly trotted out the college credit program offered by Calvin University, and the job training Vocational Village. Exceptional programs. Exceptional prisoners. 

Let me be clear about why I’m focused on this today. I’m NOT saying it’s bad because exemplary inmates shouldn’t be treated this way. What you are about to read here should not happen to any Michigan prisoner...not the worst of the gang-bangers, not the trouble-makers in Level Five! 

OK. Now the words from our whistle-blower:

 

I want to let you know about what is happening here at R.A. Handlon. 

Following a spate of drug overdoses, administration has chosen to respond by locking down the entire compound. It is no mystery who the real culprits are here, yet this issue has been met with derision and the usual ineptitude: punitive measures imposed upon all, effectively dispensing "kindergarten justice." 

Worth noting is the fact that drugs are NOT entering the facility by family or friends of prisoners because visitation was cancelled statewide effective Friday, 3/13/2020. Anything illegal coming into MTU through regular U.S. mail suggests either dereliction of duty or complicity of mailroom personnel to allow contraband into the facility. If not them, who else is left? 

In D-Unit, one of two housing units shared by students and graduates of two programs: Calvin University's CPI and the Vocational Village skilled trades, we have been locked in our rooms since 1:10 PM Tuesday, 10/6. Please note, these are where level 1 and level 2 prisoners peacefully cohabitate together to lead positive programming. 

Given that we are keyed-in our rooms all day and all night, there's no ability to use restrooms when most necessary, no access to showers, no laundry, and little-to-no effort made by shift command or unit officers to accommodate the most basic or fundamental human needs. Men are being forced to throw human waste outside their windows because it is the only option during many hours! This is not only disgusting, it merits public disclosure. Further, normal access to outside communication is denied. 

Someone in Lansing should know about this inhumane treatment we are being subjected to. Access to restrooms, showers, and drinking water are basic human needs and a must! 

Grievance forms are unavailable. Even if we could gain access to forms, we do not have the ability to file it because we cannot get past the desk to unit mailboxes. 

 

Shameful! Here is the slogan for the Michigan Department of Corrections: Committed to Protect, Dedicated to Success. Years ago, the old slogan was, Seeking Excellence Every Day. To which my friend Ronnie used to add, and never finding it! 

Indeed.

 

 

 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Half-a-race!

The HFP Drag-Racing Fund-Raiser had the potential of being extremely successful, and could have raised several thousand dollars. Let's just say it was partly successful. For background purposes I'll explain that I was racing a 1963 supercharged Studebaker Lark that has a reputation of being one of the fastest stock Studebakers in drag racing today. The engine was built by one of the finest Studebaker engine mechanics in the country, and the car many times has achieved quarter-mile runs in less than 14 seconds! We promised to make at least ten passes in the Pure Stock Muscle Car Drags at Mid-Michigan Motorplex in Stanton, Michigan, this past weekend, and we asked for pledges ONLY ON THOSE RUNS REACHED IN LESS THAN 14 SECONDS. On Friday, here's how we fared: Run #1 13.936 @ 101.24 mph Run #2 14.027 @ 101.30 mph Run #3 14.091 @ 100.88 mph Run #4 13.805 @ 102.84 mph Run #5 14.058 @ 101.26 mph By the 5th run we discovered that ...
Read more

Gregory John McCormick: 1964-2008

Itchy is dead. The lifeless body of this talented rock musician, whose band Shock Therapy was a popular group especially in Europe, was found in a field in Detroit last Wednesday, November 5. The Wayne County Coroner's office informed father Glenn McCormick that the body of his son Gregory, better known to all of us as Itchy, bore no signs of trauma. Glenn said that Itchy, who had been living at his father's dental lab in Detroit, had been drinking to excess for some time. While the toxicology report has not been released yet, the general consensus seems to be that he drank himself to death. Our agency, while still named INNOCENT, first got involved with Itchy in 2005. The Detroit native, who called Germany his home, got involved in some unfortunate activity that placed him in the Michigan State prison system on a charge of arson of a dwelling. It was really just a bonfire in an alley, but an alleged parole violation placed him in prison for 1-20 years. I personally sat w...
Read more

Three lives, connected by a divine thread

My kids say it should be a book! The Doug, Pat and Mark story is a doozie!   About 25 years ago, while fighting to free Maurice Carter from prison, I read a newspaper column written by Pat Shellenbarger of the Grand Rapids Press on the topic of eyewitness identification. I contacted Pat re that story. That led to a friendship between Doug and Pat that continues to this day.   In subsequent months, Pat would go on to assist me in an investigation into the Maurice Carter case that eventually led to solving the crime.  That particular episode became a chapter in my book about the Carter case, SWEET FREEDOM, published in 2006.   Fast forward to 2009, A New York businessman claims wrongful conviction, and while serving time in a Michigan prison is handed a copy of my book. Mark Hartman, who was also convicted in Berrien County, was amazed at the similarity of these two stories and tried to reach out to me. His letters bounced.   Persisting in his efforts to c...
Read more