To: Governor Jeb Bush Florida
Help the
women of Homestead Correctional Institution Florida.
We ask for your
support in seeking relief for the inmates of Homestead Correctional
Institution, who are being subjected to unfair treatment, harassment, denial
of their rights, due process, medical neglect, and in some cases physical and
mental torture, for no justifiable reasons. We have included as many details
as possible, however the facts are clear, and we need your support to right a
great wrong. Please join us and sign our petition.
Homestead
Correctional Institution was previously known as The Dade Correctional
Institution, and is situated in the hot, humid, tropical region of Southern
Florida. Originally designed for male inmates, it was changed to a women's
prison some years ago, and presently houses several hundred female inmates.
When it was Dade Correctional Institution it had a reasonably good
reputation, as far as southern prisons go, and the majority of the inmates
found it at least tolerable. Then everything changed. In 2003 a reorganization
occurred, the senior administration was removed and the name changed to
Homestead Correctional Institution The new warden Ms Pichado, who is known for
her extreme severity, was transferred from Broward Correctional Institution to
assume command of the "reborn" Homestead C I. Since then it has been down hill
all the way, and many of the inmates have been complaining to family and
friends about the appalling treatment they are being subjected to, for no
valid reason. Working hours have been extended, and the inmates forbidden to
wash until they have had their evening meal. Supposedly they are allowed
twenty minutes for this meal, but rarely are allowed more than seven or eight
before being shouted at by abusive guards, and ordered to "get out".All this
time they must sit in a sweaty, dirty condition which is unhygienic and
personally degrading. Some inmates have become so traumatized by this that
they have given up going to the evening meal altogether. There are other
changes for the worse:-
The working hours have been unnecessarily
extended, making it impossible for the inmates to attend any recreational
activities or classes during the week. Technically they are on duty twenty
four hours per day, and are not permitted to involve themselves in
recreational or educational activities while on duty. They are restricted to
the weekends for education, recreation, visitation and the library
One
of each inmate's cotton blankets have been confiscated. Should they require
another blanket they must apply for an old, dirty wool blanket which has
caused a surge in allergic reactions. Despite the hot tropical conditions
throughout most of the year, they are only allowed to wash the blankets every
six months.
Other changes have been introduced including the painting
of blue lines across yards and walk ways. The inmates must now walk on one
side of these in single file, preventing them from talking or enjoying normal
human contact. It is simply another way of applying psychological pressure,
demeaning the individual, and creating new excuses to punish and humiliate the
inmates. This seems to be an obsession of a Pichado dominated regime.
Educational opportunities have been cancelled, and access to literacy
courses reduced. The gasoline powered lawn mowers have been removed and
replaced with old fashioned hand mowers. Has anyone tried to cut damp tropical
grass with a hand mower recently? Five separate sources have reported that a
woman is taken in shackles to the kitchen at 3 AM to bake biscuits for
breakfast. As she is guarded in an enclosed flood lit yard, surrounded by
razor wire, what could Justify that? It's just another way to torture and
degrade the inmate. And remember, these are women we are talking about, not
300 pound male serial killers.
Recently the prison authorities changed
the regulations relating to inter-prison mail. Shortly after an inmate was
thrown into confinement for receiving an unsolicited letter from another
prison. She had not asked for it, or expected it, but she was punished for it.
The medical services are almost non existent. There are reports of
wrong diagnosis and lack of follow up treatment, some of which have resulted
in death. One case involved a 35 year old inmate who reported dizziness and
chest pains. She was refused treatment, told she was malingering and ordered
back to work. A short time later she died of a massive heart attack before
Para-medics could reach her.
We could go on and on, but we have said
enough. We insist that changes are made to stamp out this barbarity, and
blatant evil which prevails at Homestead Correctional Institution. Please
place your name with ours and help us stop this inhuman, barbaric situation,
which is more akin to the eighteenth century than modern day America."The land
of the free".
Sincerely,
The
Undersigned
