Nevada Prisoners Newsletter # 5 (July-August- Sept.

2010) [The Nevada Key]

Knowledge is power The Nevada Key (NPN) is made by volunteers for and with prisoners in NV prisons so that they are more informed about prisons, about new ideas and initiatives, articles by prisoners published in other media, and it gives a few handy addresses and reading ideas. The idea was handed to us by a prisoner at a Nevada prison, who wants the best for all those imprisoned. We hope this newsletter is respecting his wishes. The contents are taken from weblogs and other media outlets. We cooperate with Nevada Prison Watch and the Prison Watch Community Center (PWCC). Although we intend to publish in the Nevada Key what you are missing on the Nevada Prisonwatch weblog, we also consider publishing writings you would like to share in here. Let us know if you give us permission to publish it and if you also want it on our weblog online. We do not have a lot of room, but we will do our best to post what you send us to share. We reserve stories of abuse of a person for the weblog, but your reflections are welcome here. If you want to receive this Newsletter and have some stamps left, please help us send this out to you by sending us a few stamps! Thank you. We pay for this newsletter ourselves; if anyone out there has relatives or friends who want to help with copying and sending, or even donating a little for growing costs of copying and sending, please let us know, thank you. Please share this copy with those around you, we are not sure how many copies we can get made if our address-list keeps growing! The Nevada Key C/o PWCC Email: Prisonwatchnetwork@gmail.com Nevadaprisonwatch@gmail.com

Website: Nevadaprisonwatch.org Art: Banksy.co.uk (a British graffiti artist), Ricardo Levins Morales From the editors: This issue of the NPN-Nevada Key is a mixed bag. Some motivational words, the results of the long awaited ACLU class action lawsuit (will we ever see these recommendations in practise? We hope) and also the report by Vera, as requested by NDOC (and paid for by us all). Will these result in better care, more possibilities for rehabilitation, redemption and better futures for us all? We can do things ourselves too, without having to wait for big organizations to start moving. We hope this issue brings you things to think about and ideas to help you, inspiration for more creative ways of handling your situation. In solidarity, The Nevada Prisoners Newsletter/Key Team. Sayings to think about Recognition is the greatest motivator. (Gerard C. Eakedale) Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it. (Dwight D Eisenhower) Instruction does much, but encouragement does everything. (Johann von Goethe) You are what you think. You are what you go for. You are what you do! (Bob Richards) Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. (Martin Luther King, Jr. ) Never idealize others. They will never live up to your expectations. (Leo Buscaglia) A master can tell you what he expects of you. A teacher, though awakens your own expectations. (Patricia Neal) [ill. taken out]

Keep the Struggle Up By Coyote We have been slammed down, oppressed and confined to these prisons, ghettos and graveyards. Our stories and our lessons are manicured by the epidemics of pain, poverty, discrimination and struggle. We get poorer and the rich get richer as the story goes. There's no justice, no rehabilitation, no freedom. We are taken to court on trumped up, bogus shit, given 20 charges for one incident, bullied into taking a 'deal', and then we are appointed a public defender 'cuz we don't have the money to acquire a more sufficient attorney, and one year the person who is supposed to be representing us is a public defender, and then the next year that same person is a district attorney! So how could we really trust these people? How could we trust them with our lives? How could we be so willing to put our freedom in their hands? It doesn't make sense to repetitively place our lives and our freedom into the malefic hands of people who actually despise us. Will there ever come a time when we can start taking control of our own lives? When we can stop depending on the same people that oppress us, to help us? Is there any legitimate, respectable way to get ourselves out of the deleterious grips of this death machine? Is there any way to end these sentences of perpetual suffering? All the questions that come to me while I marinate in this lonely world of darkness, reflecting on the many sorrows I've seen. So many questions, but hardly enough answers. The frustration leads me to sit up on my bunk and start strategizing on different ways that I can possibly try to encourage my comrades in here to start taking the initiative to study and learn the law. I have a Xerox copy of Mumia Abu Jamal's new book, "Jailhouse Lawyers" and I pass it out to others, trying to use it as a tool to inspire prisoners to learn how to become attorneys for the poor and oppressed. I sit here and wonder, "What else can I do? What clever ways are there to inspire people to study, to get them to learn?". Wouldn't it be great if we could become our own attorneys, or would it even matter? I've held study groups and had many one-on-one study sessions with comrades in here, where we've sat around for hours talking and debating, searching for tangible ways to represent ourselves and to learn how to bring ourselves out of this state of oppression, and to eliminate oppression and poverty altogether. To break through the barriers, to rise above the tragedies. Right now it's just talk, but later who knows what it will be? Everything starts in the mind, one thing leads to another. In this graveyard, it's so hard to get books sent in and literature, because the administration has deliberately set so many obstacles and put so many restrictions and limits on things when it comes to receiving books that so many people in here have become discouraged and ended up giving up on trying to get books sent in. But I've been on an adamant missions for years to acquire all the literature I can get sent in to me, and to pass it out to as many people as I can, trying to turn this graveyard into a revolutionary university, so people in here can take all this time they have on their hands and use it to elevate their minds, reaching for higher degrees of learning, finding liberation through books. I love to be involved in all of these various acts of raising consciousness, I feel it's so necessary in these times and situations. Not to mention that I've seen the lengths these pigs will go to make sure they're keeping us confined to ignorance and stagnation. Books and reading materials are so important for us here, we who dwell in this gloomy world of degeneration. I pass out literature on philosophy, politics, psychology, science, spirituality and I'm always passing out revolutionary materials too, and whatever else I can get, having study sessions when I can, discussing things with my neighbors for long hours into the night, all the way until my breakfast tray arrives, and sometimes, if the conversation is really good, I'll eat and talk at the same time, every once in a while setting the tray down to pick up a book, or an article, so that I can read a passage, sentence, or paragraph out loud to my neighbor, to reinforce the stance I'm taking on certain subjects, or to help get my point across more clearly. I love to learn, I love to teach and I love to engage others. I crave the intellectual stimulation, and I can tell they crave it too. We are here, confined to these cells, but we've found ways to communicate and express ourselves, to soak up knowledge and pass it on to others who we've deemed worthy of receiving such valuable gems. It's miserable and depressing in here, so much atrocity and deterioration, but we've found ways to make the best out of a bad situation. We understand that we should never just lay down and accept this. We understand that we have to keep the spirit of resistance going strong inside of us, seeking

solutions, striving for freedom, making sacrifices when the situation requires us to do so, and never giving up, never breaking down. Everybody that I consider a comrade understands this, and with this understanding we try to reach those that don't understand, but who really need to understand. With understanding things are made clear, and when that happens, change happens. You'll find some of the most brilliant, most creative, most intelligent, most resourceful and most innovative individuals right here, confined to these hellholes. That's what happens when we have all this time on our hands, with the fire of resistance burning in our hearts. We've been discarded by society and caged like animals, left to rot and decay, to deteriorate and fade away into a black abyss, to disintegrate into tiny fragments of nothingness. But we are here, alive and fighting to maintain our existence, going strong, with love beating in our chests. Revolutionary love. We keep that warrior spirit alive, and these pigs fear it, they hate it, and they envy it and that's why they're always trying everything they can to try to crush it, break it, tame it and destroy it, but no matter how hard they try, or what they do, there's not much they can do to take that away from us. Books and knowledge give us breath, it pumps life into our veins and activate our brains. With knowledge we are invigorated, rejuvenated and made worthy. Knowledge gets us going, knowledge is what sets us free. We use these books to quench our thirst and to feed our hunger. Through these trials and painful situations I've come to learn the lessons of struggle and the importance of a revolutionary, underground education. I've learned how vital it is to my survival to be able to keep the fire of resistance burning in my heart. I've come to learn about sacrifice, solidarity and fortitude. I've got little baby cousins, nephews and nieces that I haven't even met yet, I've fucked off my release date many times already, catching more time on my prison sentence for taking stands against these pigs and their injustices done to us. It's hard for me to turn my back on the struggle. I've recently participated in a brutal riot here on my unit and I've got 2 years left before I go home, and now I've getting letters from my moms and my brother, asking me what the hell am I doing, don't I want to come home? They've made sacrifices for me, to help get me out of here, spending money on attorneys for me and everything, and yet I'm still in here caught up in the struggle and I'm conflicted, I want to go home, but I just can't sit back as my fellow comrades stand up and make sacrifices to make important changes for everybody else. My family doesn't understand my commitment to the struggle and it breaks my heart just as I know it breaks their heart to watch me do things that will jeopardize my release date. But now I realize that the struggle is going to continue whether I'm in here or out there, and after all that I've been through and all that I've done, I am so lucky to still have the chance to get out of here. And now it's time to go home. It's for me to get out of here and do this from the other side of the razor wire.

VERA: Oversight Status Report Regarding the Nevada Department of Corrections

(from NPW blog) VERA, Institute of Justice, produced this 52 page report recently, after a year of researching what could be improved within the prisons in Nevada (which would mean: a lot has to be improved, otherwise we would not exist). Title: Oversight Status Report Regarding the Nevada Department of Corrections: A Report of the Corrections Support and Accountability Project JULY 2010 The report can be read online by your loved ones here: http://www.doc.nv.gov/Vera_Oversight_Status_Report_for_NDOC_July_2010.pdf The executive summary: The Vera Institute of Justice is pleased to present this report of the Corrections Support and Accountability Project. The Project partners us with five jurisdictions two states and three counties to help each partner jurisdiction develop meaningful oversight of its prisons or jails specifically tailored to its needs.

This report, and the recommendations summarized below, is the result of partnership with and the dedication of several Nevada State agencies, including the Nevada Department of Corrections and the Nevada Board of State Prison Commissioners, as well as the participation of other individuals and agencies, including the Nevada Legislature, the Governors Office, the Attorney Generals Office, the Secretary of States Office, United States District Court for the District of Nevada, American Federation of State and Municipal Employees, Nevada Corrections Association and individual inmate advocates. In particular, this work would not have been possible without the leadership of Director Skolnik, who was incredibly accommodating and willing to open up his Department to this review. With the help of these participants we investigated the current mechanisms of correctional accountability and transparency already in place in the NDOC. This process included visits to prison facilities, numerous interviews, research, and meetings with NDOC staff and administrators and stakeholders to determine the most pressing oversight needs of Nevadas corr ectional system. At the time of this report, NDOC has made progress implementing several of these recommendations. We believe that, with time and the cooperation of other Nevada stakeholders, implementing the remaining recommendations will enable the state to better evaluate the use of resources to support NDOC, identify inefficiencies, manage risk, measure the success and failures of programs and policies in order to guide future decision-making, build public confidence and public interest in NDOC, and promote good governance and professionalism. While we recognize that some of the recommendations may be aspirational during these economic times, many are costeffective and may lead to long-term savings. Others should be considered for implementation when it is financially feasible. The recommendations are provided in summary below for convenience. We encourage a full review of the report to understand the context and reasoning behind each of the recommendations. 1. Conduct more formal and regular audits of both southern and northern facilities. 2. Create formal follow-up for problems identified during internal audits. 3. Improve tracking system for inmate grievances and generate regular reports. 4. Resolve more inmate grievances at the facility level. 5. Consider creating a citizens review board for the inmate grievance process. 6. Implement a staff survey. 7. Provide pro bono attorneys for inmates in the Inmate Early Mediation Program. 8. Keep more investigations at the facility level. 9. Provide additional training on NOTIS for staff at all levels. 10. Train select staff to run reports in NOTIS. 11. Set internal performance measures and formalize internal data sharing. 12. Provide more information to Board of State Prison Commission members and in a timely manner. 13. Clarify the role of the Board. 14. Develop system for following up on concerns received at public meetings. 15. Create an ombudsman to handle complaints by inmates, staff and the public. 16. Make certain reports and evaluations available to the public. 17. Develop a publicly available data dashboard. 18. Create a dedicated Public Information Officer position. Innocence Project The Rocky Mountain Innocence Center (RMIC) works to correct and prevent the conviction of innocent people in Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. RMIC also conducts education and advocacy about the causes and consequences of wrongful convictions.

Prisoners seeking assistance should write to RMIC at: 358 South 700 East, B235, Salt Lake City, UT 84102. From each prisoners letter, we will determine whether his or her case fits our criteria: (1) Convicted in Nevada, Utah, or Wyoming; (2) Serving a death sentence or a lengthy sentence for a serious felony, with more than seven years left on that sentence; (3) Claims that he or she is entirely innocent of the crime; (4) Claims there exists substantial new evidence to prove innocence; and (5) Is no longer represented by an attorney. If the prisoners case meets these criteria, we will send a questionnaire asking for details about the crime, investigation, conviction, appeals, and evidence of innocence. RMICs Case Oversight Committee screens completed questionnaires and decides whether the case presents a provable claim of actual innocence and should be investigated. Trained and supervised law students conduct the factual investigations into those cases that meet RMICs criteria and are accepted for investigation. These investigations include reconstructing and analyzing the case record, cataloging and locating key physical evidence and witnesses, conducting in-depth prisoner and witness interviews of the prisoner, and developing litigation strategies and documents. Students meet weekly as part of the Innocence Clinic to determine the best course of action on particular cases. If the student investigation uncovers substantial new evidence of innocence, RMICs Case Oversight Committee votes to move the case into litigation and recruits a volunteer attorney to assist in a postconviction action for exoneration and release. Contact Information: The Rocky Mountain Innocence Center 385 South 700 East B235, Salt Lake City, UT 84102 Phone: 801-355-1888, E-mail: RMIC@Qwest.net http://www.rminnocence.org/ Info for your loved ones and yourself about local phonecalls This is a good idea to save money on calling your loved ones who are far away. They do need internet to buy the number. Please tell them this: 1. Go to: .tollfreeforwarding.com 2. Pick your new phone nr: select USA, in the second box, select Nevada. You can choose either for a nr in Las Vegas (702) or Reno (775). 3. In the lowest box, you see a nr you can choose, or follow the little arrow to see more choice of available nrs. 4. `Enter your existing number`: enter here your phone nr to which this number should go. Activate now: you can activate and de-activate just with a click, no extra charges for de-activating. . Pricing: it changed recently, but it looks like a nr is now from 9 usd a month, and then per call you pay a few cents, that you can upload wiht paypal or a credit card.. For pricing visit their website. Other option: Go to skype.com. There is a way to buy a local nr there. It is not difficult but you have to make an account and then buy an "online number". Select the USA for the number there. Choose the state (NV). Chose area code (or city, town). Buy the number. You need to upload credit (like 10 or 15 usd) to have the nr work, because when you are called on this nr, it will charge you also. Via cellphone it is a little more expensive than via a landline. You can have the nr forwarded, follow the instructions online.

A nr costs 17.50 per 3 months, or 55 for a year., plus the extra cost for the calls being forwarded, Via skype you can buy a nr locally. The nr can be forwarded to your phone at home or cell. For exact prices go to the website. Education notes In our newsletter to the prisoners, we featured the College Guild as one of the small organizations that makes free non-traditional correspondence courses for prisoner students. Unfortunately, although this was not written on their website (visited again today, July 15 2010), they are not sending out courses anymore at this moment. We are sorry to hear that! Here is the email we received: To the Nevada Prison Watch: College Guild provides free non-traditional correspondence courses to prisoners throughout the United States and feature on your web site. We are getting many inquiries from prisoners in the State of Nevada. Unfortunately at the present time we are unable to accept any more students into our program and would be grateful if you could publish a note stating this. We hope the position might change in the new year. Second email: We are running out of funds. Everything we do is dependent on fund raising. We have a long wait list and hope to be able to accommodate those already on it. Maybe in the new year we will be able to take on more students. We would love to be able to expand College Guild to cover everyone who would like to participate. We are looking for some major funding and have a few contacts out there. Any help or ideas you can offer would be gratefully received. Third email: We are still operating just trying to get everyone off our current wait list and then if all is well by the end of the year we will take on students directly with no waiting list. Thank you. CG Admin. Request for help with class-action lawsuit about grievance process ESP This is an issue with a request that has a deadline November 20 , 2010 (all must th be received at the court house on Nov 27 ) On May 11, 2010, Jeremy Allen Crozier filed a lawsuit against Defendants Jim Gibbons, Catherine Cortez-Masto, Ross Miller, Howard Skolnik, James Cox, E.K. McDaniel, Debra Brooks, Renee Baker and several caseworkers at Ely State Prison for Deficiencies in the Inmate Grievance Procedure, known as Administrative Regulation #740. Furthermore, Plaintiff Crozier filed motion to treat this lawsuit as a class-action on behalf of all inmates at Ely State Prison. However, the Nevada Attorney Generals Office, on behalf of the Defendants, argues that this case cannot be treated as a class-action lawsuit, because no other inmate filed grievances, but Plaintiff Crozier. As a result, the court will not treat this civil suit as a class-action unless numerous inmates immediately file Grievances, and Affidavits upon the Deficiencies in the Inmate Grievance procedure, and the practices thereof by the Defendants. Some issues to consider regarding any possible deficiencies regarding the Grievance procedure include, but are not limited to: - Staff do not bring the grievance box around - Staff reading and responding to grievances before grievances are logged
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- Grievances not date-stamped - No investigations into inmate grievance claims regardless of merits - All grievances are denied regardless of merit - Grievance system used as either a sword, or shield against inmates depending on what benefits staff most - Inmates have no to short time limits to file original grievance and appeals - No criminal investigations unless approval by staff during the Inmate Grievance Process - No definition, nor standard, for emergency grievances - Untrained staff related to the grievance issue respond to grievances - Retaliation by staff - Grievances are sent to staff - Attached evidence to grievances destroyed by staff and never returned to the inmate - Same staff member who responded to original grievance will also respond to inmate grievance appeals. If any of the above apply to Grievances you may have previously filed, or others you know, please file a new grievance listing each error, or injury, caused to you. You should always read Administrative Regulation #740 before filing any Grievance. Also, please take a few minutes to write an Affidavit to Plaintiff Crozier, or on his behalf, listing each Grievance error as so he can attach them to his motion for class-action, and appointment of class counsel. The NDOC loves to play games, and make the grievance process an insurmountable hurdle for inmates as we all know. In addition, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that inmates and prisoners must completely comply with all grievance policies for the grievance to meet exhaustion requirements, which is mandated by the Nevada Revised Statutes for everyone. As a result, everyone should state in their grievance as a first sentence: "My one grievable issue is that the NDOC and staff thereof do not follow department policies. Then go forth to list each error. Otherwise your grievance will be thrown out, or rejected for filing, upon too many issues. Most important: be sure to list any, and all injuries that you suffered, such as delayed medical treatment, deny in First Amendment Right to access the court, denial of legal material and so on, and so forth. Issues to file on the Grievance are: NDOC does not adhere to AR # 740 as my grievance issue (that must be their first sentence as Grievance). Then state: Staff do not follow grievance response times, grievances are not date-stamped, staff retaliation for inmates filing grievances, evidence inmates attach to their grievances are destroyed by staff and never returned to the inmate, inconsistent grievance responses, no investigation into inmate grievance claims, all grievances are denied regardless of grievance claims and merit, unqualified staff respond to inmate grievances, no emergency grievance definition, nor standard, grievance forms do not state instructions for filing an appeal, inmates do not receive staff responses, grievance files are kept confidential, grievance policies are unconstitutionally vague, grievance policies are not followed by staff, too many inmate grievances per responding staff to adequately and meaningfully handle, staff who answer original grievance also respond to inmate grievance appeals (any other reason also list). All claims cause undue risk of life, limb, property of the inmates. Affidavits must state the same. Inmates can send all affidavits to address below (White Pine County Clerk) before August 31st 2010! So the deadline will be August 25th, to be safe. Plaintiff Crozier filed his lawsuit in White Pine County Court, and he requested money damages for every inmate at Ely State Prison. This does not mean the court will award money damages, and the courts are not required to do so. However, the ACLU allowed the Defendants off easy and with no punishment for their actions in their Riker v. Gibbons civil lawsuit. Yet, all inmates have opportunity to keep the momentum against the defendants for every mis-step they took regarding the inmate

Grievances, especially, upon all our medical Grievances. Remember, we need all the Grievances and Affidavits possible, and encourage other inmates to take an hour to file both. Be sure to keep a copy of your Affidavits, because the NDOC loves to destroy them. Send your affidavits to: White Pine County Clerk, 801 Clark St., Ste # 4, Ely, NV 89301 All Affidavits must contain in the upper left hand corner: Case NR CF 1003012, Dept no. 2 (note: if you cannot send it directly, send it via: PWCC, c/o NPW-JC, P.O. Box 674, Las Cruces, NM 88004, or via family and friends) From ACLU Nevada website: ACLU Agrees To Settle Lawsuit Charging Inadequate Medical Care At Ely State Prison Submitted by Phil Hooper on Fri, 07/16/2010 - 10:58. The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Nevada late yesterday filed in federal court a proposed agreement between a class of over 1,000 prisoners at Ely State Prison and top state prison and governmental officials that would settle a 2008 lawsuit charging that a pervasive pattern of grossly inadequate medical care at the prison created a substantial risk of serious medical harm for every prisoner in the facility. The agreement, if approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, would result in an independent medical expert being appointed to monitor the prisons he alth care system and submit regular reports evaluating prison officials compliance with specified medical requirements in the agreement. As part of the agreement, prison officials have agreed to build a better system of ensuring that necessary medications are provided to prisoners in a timely manner, develop health care treatment plans for any prisoners suffering from a chronic illness requiring ongoing medical care and provide prisoners with access to qualified medical staff seven days a week for any routine or emergency medical ailments. Nevada officials deserve credit for being willing to address medical care at Ely proactively, said Amy Fettig, staff attorney with the ACLU National Prison Project. Rather than spend years and years in costly litigation, both parties decided to sit down to collaborate on a solution. The result is vastly improved medical conditions for the prisoners at Ely. Additionally, prison officials have agreed to institute daily rounds by a nurse to pick up any medical request forms ensuring that all prisoners have a confidential means of requesting medical care and provide access to a registered nurse or higher level practitioner within 48 hours of a prisoner requesting medical attention. The reforms that prison officials have agreed to will go a long way toward fixing a very broken system, said Lee Rowland, staff attorney with the ACLU of Nevada. We brought this lawsuit in response to widespread evidence of unconstitutional medical conditions for Ely prisoners, and we are pleased that working collaboratively with the Attorney Generals office and the Department of Corrections has led to the resolution of some of the most pressing issues at Ely. The lawsuit contains three named plaintiffs, including 38-year-old David Riker, who alleged at the time the lawsuit was filed that despite his rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis, he had never received prescribed medications and X-rays ordered by an outside physician and was told by Ely medical staff that treating chronic pain is against the policy of the prison. Lawyers on the case include Fettig, Rowland, Maggie McLetchie of the ACLU of Nevada and Steve Hanlon of Holland & Knight, LLC. Information about the ACLUs efforts to improve medical conditions at the Ely State Prison, includ ing a copy of todays settlement agreement, is available online at: www.aclu.org/ely

 Packages After a long absence, Packages for Nevada prisoners are again allowed, via one vendor, access: http://www.nevadapackages.com/mainselect.php Now here comes the illegal bit by the authorities: When you are on administrative segregation, which does not count as a punishment, you are not allowed a package, because you are housed in certain units! This we have found out is what is happening in Ely State Prison, it could also be happening in other prisons in Nevada. There is no AR (regulation) that says that prisoners on Administrative segregation can not have such a food/clothes package. One of the things behind this is that the prison regime, the authorities, are afraid that prisoners are sharing things from their packages with others who may be on disciplinary segregation. It is also a strange measure, because (some) prisoners (DR for instance) are allowed the packages, and they are housed on the same unit (for instance, ESP unit 3B) as those on disciplinary and administrative segregation. So is Nevada Department of Corrections lying to families and friends of prisoners? Did they not check their own rules and regulations? Question: how are the decisions made and where is the AR supporting the decision? Administrative segregation (who are not supposed to be punished) are the ones not getting packages, and that constitutes a due process violation. The information-staff writes to tell prisoners to grieve this. But the grievances go to the administration, who do not want the prisoners to have these packages. So they will turn down the grievances! So what does Nevada Department of Corrections want? More angry prisoners? Les safety for its employees? That is the only conclusion we can make. This all is an unnecessary decision against the NDOCs own ARs, meant to take up more time and frustration for prisoners and their families and loved ones, Prisoners: grieve this and demand proper, decent care for those in prisons. Hopefully we can open the eyes of those who are unwilling to see. Medical notes We received info from a convict about a drug used for people with diabetes type 2: Brand name: Avandia Generic Name: rosiglitazone (oral) (row zi GLI ta zone). Some reports have suggested that rosiglitazone is associated with a statistically significant risk of heart attacks, but other reports have disagreed, and the controversy has not been resolved. In February 2010, David Graham, the FDA's associate director of drug safety, recommended that rosiglitazone be taken off the market. Graham argued that rosiglitazone caused 500 more heart attacks and 300 more heart failures than its main competitor. Avandia has been linked to stroke. In some studies, it was found that the drug increases the risk of stroke by over 27%. If you use this, be careful and monitor your health as well as you can under circumstances. If in doubt, ask for a different medicine..

Soy Diets in prisons

Dear Prisoner, Over the past two years, the Weston A. Price Foundation has received many letters from prisoners incarcerated in the Illinois Department of Corrections, and also from inmates in other states, concerned about the detrimental health effects of the soy-laden prison diet. As you may know, the case of Harris et al. v. Brown, et al., Case No. 3:07-cv-03225 addresses this very issue. This case is being heard and is currently pending before the Honorable Harold Baker in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois. We expect a trial in the latter part of 2011. The case currently has eight plaintiffs. Our hope is to obtain a permanent injunction against serving soy in the prisons, so that in the end all prisoners not just those involved in the lawsuit--would benefit by getting a soy-free diet. We expect that additional lawsuits will follow after the decision. The right to a nutritionally adequate diet is guaranteed under the United States Constitution/Prison key Law 17: Obligation of state to provide inmate with healthy environment includes obligation to provide nutritionally adequate food that is prepared and served under conditions which do not present immediate danger to health and well-being of inmates (U.S. CONST. AMEND. 8 Key Note 8 RamosV. Lamm 639 F.2d 559 (1980). In addition, the United States Supreme Court case of ESTELLE V.GAMBLE mandates adequate medical care. Key Note 6 Prison Key Law 17 states: Government has the obligation to provide medical care for those whom it is punishing ESTELLE V GAMBLE, 97 S. Ct. 285 (1976). WHAT YOU CAN DO Under the 1996 Prison Litigation Reform Act, each state prisoner is required to file a grievance and exhaust his grievance procedure all the way through to the end before he can bring an action in the federal court system. In fact, before any lawyer can help you, you must file your the grievance, exhaust the grievance procedure and be able to present the proof. There may be prisoners versed in the law who can help you with these procedures. These are the required steps each prisoner must take and have proof of to file a 42 U.S.C 1983 Civil Rights Complaint: File a grievance with the Grievance Counselor. Most state laws provide that the counselor has a specified number of days (14 days in Illinois) to give you a written response and return your grievance to you. If you do not get the grievance back in this specified time period, write the Counselor requesting to know why. The grievance must then be delivered to the grievance officer at the prisons grievance committee. Again, most state laws provide that the grievance officer has a specified number of days (45 days in Illinois) to respond to your committee grievance. When the grievance officer returns your grievance, it will be signed by the warden and will include a typed-out response and an appeal form on the bottom. On this appeal form is the date the warden signed off on it. You should then appeal the wardens decision to the Administrative Review Board for your state. If you do not send your appeal of the wardens decision in the mail in the required time limit (30 days in Illinois), you have procedurally defaulted and cannot bring action in court as a state prisoner. DO NOT MISS THIS DEADLINE OF APPEALING THE WARDENS DECISION TO THE STATE REVIEW BOARD. You have a legal deadline here, as this is the 14th Amendment, and the 1st Amendment right to access the courts under the 1996 Prison Litigation Reform Act. Before submitting your appeal to the Administrative Review Board, make two copies of your grievance and the replies submitted by the counselor, the grievance office and the warden. Keep one with you and send one to a family member or friend for safe keeping. This is important because the facility in which you are incarcerated has a habit of losing your grievance.

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Mail the grievance (as legal mail) to the Administrative Review Board (ARB). The address for the ARB in Illinois is P.O. Box 19277, Springfield, Illinois 62794-9277. The ARB has 6 months to respond with an answer to your grievance. When you receive their response, again make two copies. Keep one with you and send one to a friend or family member for safe keeping. Attach a copy of the ARBs written response to your copy of your grievance. You will need these papers for any civil action you file. WHAT TO SAY IN YOUR GRIEVANCE First, you need to specify the facts that have resulted in a deprivation of your right to adequate medical treatment. These facts must be specific to the person(s) involved, the dates, the times, the locations, and the specific conduct that you are grieving. Second, you need to state how you were harmed by the specified conduct. Were you denied adequate medical treatment? Were you denied your ability to speak? Were you denied nourishing food? Are you experiencing pain or discomfort? Where? How often? Be as specific as possible with the type of harm that you have suffered from the conduct that you are grieving. Third, specify the type of relief that you want. Do you want medications? Do you want more medical treatment? Do you want a specific type of food (such as a non-soy diet)? Specify what you want to make the grieving conduct stop. You can cite the following cases in your grievance: ESTELLE V. GAMBLE, 97 S.Ct. 285 (1976) (The Conditions of Confinement) DURAN V. ANAYA, 624 F.Supp. 510 (1986) (Deliberate Indifference) RAMOS V. LAMM, 639 F.2d 559 (1980) (Deliberate Indifference 8th Amendment) OUTCOMES FROM FILING A GRIEVANCE You are protected against retaliation for filing a grievance by the 14th Amendment of the United State Constitution under due process of the law. If you are harassed by staff or medical personnel for filing a grievance or for requesting proper and adequate medical care, including a soy-free diet, you should immediately file a grievance for retaliation by staff, for exercising your constitutionally protected right to file a grievance, and seek redress in a court of law. You can cite the following cases regarding retaliation for filing a grievance: BRIDGES V. GILBERT, 557 F. 3d 541,522 (7th Cir.2009) quoting BART V.TELFORD 677 F.2d 622,625 (7th Cir. 1982), Prison officials may not retaliate against inmates for filing grievances or otherwise complaining about their conditions of confinement. WALKER V. THOMPSON, 228 F.3d 1005 (7th Cir. 2002) DEWALT V. CARTER, 244 F. 3d 607(7th Cir. 2000) BABCOCK V. WHITE, 102 F. 3d 267 (7th Cir. 1996) CAIN V. LANE, 857 F. 2d 1139 (7th Cir. 1988) MEDICAL EXAMINATION. Some people are affected more quickly than others by the soy diet. Soy protein damages the thyroid gland, located in your neck. Your thyroid supplies the chemical signals to your liver and other digestive organs that make your body work right. A lot of prisoners suffer from a disease caused by eating soy. It is called hypothyroidism, and is easily detected by a blood test. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include weight gain, brain fog and fatigue. If you suspect that you have thyroid disease due to the soy-based diet, request to have your thyroid hormone levels checked. You should request a test called a thyroid panel which measures the levels of three hormones in your blood: TSH, T-4, and T-3. If your TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) values are above 4.2, you need a soy-free diet and medical care to correct your bodily functions. Thyroid hormone treatment is required by taking a pill every day and not eating soy, as soy causes the disease. Eating soy will make the disease worse, especially if you are forced to eat it every day. Request to buy a copy of your test results. This is your right. Be sure to make two copies of the test results. Keep one for yourself and send one to a family member or friend for safe keeping.

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If you have a TSH value of over 4.2, you should request a soy-free diet for medical reasons. If you are not given a soy-free diet, you should file another grievance, following the procedures outlined above. Even if you do not have abnormal TSH values, the State is required by law to provide you with a diet to sustain your health. However, it is vital to keep records of all your grievances, committee responses and medical records. You should also keep a personal log of your medical problems. AFTER THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS. If you have carried out the grievance process described above without results, please send copies of all your records to the Weston A. Price Foundation. Remember, without AN EXHAUSTED GRIEVANCE, no attorney can help you while you are in prison. Once you are out of prison, you do not have to follow the Prison Litigation Reform Act rules. You will have two years to file a lawsuit. Again, it is very important to keep copies of all of your grievances and medical records. DIETARY SUGGESTIONS If possible, have your loved ones send you enough money to purchase commissary foods. Use your commissary money wisely to purchase healthy foods. Good choices include sardines, tuna, salmon, cheese, summer sausage, Spam (for vitamin D and healthy fats), beef, pork cracklings and plain rice. Avoid sweets, chips, sodas, etc. as these make you more vulnerable to the harmful effects of soy. Sincerely yours, The Weston A. Price Foundation, PMB 106-380, 4200 Wisconsin Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016

We can win as one, using our intelligence To those who are reading this I am a person confined physically, who is also trying to maintain my sanity in such a corrupt prison system in the state of Nevada. So I have chosen to speak out for every human being thats enduring the same struggle Im enduring. No matter what your in life is, whether its Left or Right behind these walls, we all walk the same, we all are of the same kind, we all are Brothers of the same struggles. This letter is not to be viewed as a rewrite of history, but to bring about a better future/change. We here in Nevada State Prisons and Correctional Centers, like so many other prisons around the globe learn within ourselves as brothers of a never ending struggle, seek not to cause violence, we are trying hard not to go through such methods and remain brothers of a strong struggle, because we recognize the Administration/Institution motive towards causing destruction. The Administration / Institution is abusing the disciplinary system, that is designed for the safety and security of inmates rights and policies. The Administration / Institution abusing it in a way to quiet any questions we may have against the aggressive behaviour not only the correctional officers, but also the administration are participants. We of the struggle truly believe that the administration is actively placing regulations that are designed to inflame conflict. Not only the tensions between inmates has started to rise, but also the relation between inmates and correctional officers are at an all time low. Now lets direct our attention to the medical administration and their personnel. Yet another fellow Brother of the struggle has been subjected to poor medical treatment and neglect and as an end result claimed him of his life, due to poor judgement and negligence by medical personnel here at Northern Nevada Correctional Center (NNCC). The Brother who lost his life in this struggle is Robert E. Brown aka Brother Muteem. Robert E. Brown was found deceased May 1, 2010, at 1:47 PM in his cell at Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Unit 7A, the Hole to us inmates. A place known for the lost and forgotten. The Administration has extended their power, by denying us the right to purchase hygiene, food, clothes and appliances, while serving disciplinary time. Just recently a new AR which is AR733, AKA the No Love List, or Nothing Coming List was imposed, but each week its constantly being

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revamped by the prison administration. Just recently we were made aware of that we could no longer purchase certain hygiene items, which to many of us condemned individuals are a necessity, such as soap, lotion, shampoo & conditioner, baby oil and hair grease. Their reason for such actions is the safety of the correctional officers. For years those hygiene items have been sold, and there has not been a report of a correctional officer getting attacked with those items. Their next astonishment they acted on are the food: we are not allowed to purchase food or coffee. So how about our safety as Human Beings? A lot of us have health related issues such as Diabetes and other health problems that require food at a certain time of day or night, wouldnt that be a threat to our safety? The list goes on, and on about the savage treatment we are receiving from the administration behind these walls, and theres no valid explanation of why the prison administration are placing such regulations on us. That is why is people of many inmates must come together as a body of one and approach this fight and win this fight not with our fists, but with our intelligence: as long as theres a fight that sheds blood, the struggle will continue to be a never-ending struggle. Put down the brooms and knives, etc, and go head on with our intelligence. We could be able to see light at the end of the cave. No matter what your walk in life was, no matter what your skin complexion is, we must realize that we are all as one behind these walls! To all my readers out there, I am a brother of a never ending struggle, I am a brother who is tired of struggling, so lets get it together, Brothers. In Solidarity, Marrio Moreland

Part II of Suicide or murder at Ely State Prison Interview with Marritte, by Nevada Prison Watch Q. Have these conditions had any ill effects on you personally? A. Well first, no one wants to admit it, because admitting this shit is affecting you is viewed as a weakness. But there are no supermen in these cells. Each of us are human beings. Ive done most of my 19 years in the hole on lockdown 24/7. So yes, I can admit it. This shit has affected me. When youre constantly dehumanized and harassed over an extended period of time, when your efforts to improve as a person and make a positive contribution are constantly criminalized and attacked, and when there is no balance of love or meaningful contact, then yes, this shit will affect you. Fortunately, Ive been able to deal with it better than many in my situation. Ive seen young men begin to lose it after only a few weeks. Banging on the walls, yelling out the door at all hours of the night and constantly creating a disturbance. Experienced convicts recognize these symptoms as being caused by the lockdown conditions. We call it LS or Lockdown Syndrom. Sort of like a cabin fever type thing. But there is such a stigma attached to this behaviour. Most view it as a weakness or even disrespect. These individuals are referred to as cell soldiers, or J-cats Q. What is a J-cat? A. Usually a psychiatric patient. But it can also be a snitch. or protective custody inmate, pedophile, etc. Someone to be avoided. Q. So J-cat is a negative term? A. Most definitely. These individuals are outcast by both the state and fellow prisoners. You see, mental illness is lumped together with all the other undesirables. Often treated even worse. I could tell a hundred stories about this shit. Many violent conflicts come from just this type of thing. Stabbings, assaults, even murders. Bottom line: we need people to get involved. Nevadans need to see whats going on behind these walls. A lot of convicts have a cynical view of society, that most could care less whats happening in these prisons. But I believe if people really knew the truth, how

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their tax dollars are being wasted, how it affects them on a daily basis, then society would not be so apathetic Q. Thats why we were so excited to do this interview with you. Can you tell us how many so-called suicides there have been there at ESP? A. Ive been here since 1992, and Ive seen so much fucked up shit go down. But most of these suspicious deaths go unknown to the general population. And the few who were there and were witness to it are often too afraid to speak up. Thats why it is vital for the people on the outside to demand answers, and to support us on the inside so we are not harassed or intimidated into keeping these abuses a secret. Q. Have you personally ever seen prison staff murder anyone? A. Without a doubt. Ive seen them let men die who could have been saved. Ive seen then let men bleed to death after being stabbed, let them lie on the ground for hours after suffering seizures and heart attacks. And in 1999 I was forced to watch helpless as several guards and medical staff murdered a man with their own hands. Q. Do you know which guards did this? A. I never knew their names, I dont even remember what they look like anymore. But the man they killed was named Edmonds. They had him in a sensory deprivation cell, which is actually a cell inside a cell. No windows, no sunlight, and everything is controlled by the guards, who love to play games. Water to drink, flush your toilet, shower, turn off the lights, you gotta beg. Youre allowed no property, and youre totally isolated from other inmates. Theres no human contact at all. The lights and air are kept on all night keeping it freezing cold and almost impossible to sleep. Ive been in that cell myself. So I know how totally depressing it is, and how shocking to the senses. I can also imagine the desperation one might feel to get out of there. This man Edmonds banged on the walls, screamed and yelled all hours of the night for his lights to be turned off, his toilet to be flushed. But the guards just went in and beat him up, and held him down (p. 8) as a couple of nurses shot him with enough drugs to kill him. Q. Is that a normal thing? A. No, but Ive heard this same thing happened to several other men. Q. Did this man have any family? A. I dont know, but it was fucked up. For several hours you could hear this man winding down like a wild animal in a trap. He kept begging for help. And by the morning he was dead. Back then is when I first began to write the ACLU and other organizations about this shit. The thing is this is a hella small prison. Only eleven hundred inmates. For so many deaths to be happening is crazy. And if all these deaths were suicides as they claim, then what is causing so many men to take their own lives? Q. Thats what weve been asking. And thats why its so important for the inmates themselves to come forward, because we dont know whats going on in there if you dont tell us. All we get is what the prison tells us. A. A lotta guys are afraid to speak up. They see the shit some of us go through who do speak out, and they just wanna do their time and go home. Then you have the petty divides that keep us stagnated: race, gangs etc. More from this interview in the next issue.

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To Society: Isolation & prison abuse go hand in hand. It comes down to you, Society, to stop this June 2010 Dear Society, Im writing in regards to Isolation and possible Human Rights violation. Which brings a very strong and enduring question to my mind: Do you consider us Convicts Human? Do you care or just give us an ear a hollow ear? Ive been in and out of the system over my life. Ive been in the system almost 20 of my 36 years. I was there in the mid-late 80s when child abuse was a plague, not only in Society but within the System. I was there when as an adult they threw you in the Den and if / when you stepped out you were the wolf and they stabbed at you with spears of Contempt, Fear, Hate and all-round Disgust that you made it out alive. My whole life Ive been shit on by Societys indifference towards a small boy begging your help with a fat lip & black eye and a sister that still has nightmares at the age of 38. So it was only natural I learned from you. Society that only cares to punish me for the occasional lashing out & taking away the proverbial stick and beating you back with it. Instead of caring enough to see my problems and be civilized with a man that has learned from his isolation, his societal perceived mistakes. Did anyone ask me? Theres that word again. Ya know even the prisoners at Guantnamo Bay had yard time, cigarettes, coffee, their religion, top notch lawyers. And Society cried out about the abuses so loud the Most Powerful Men among you shut it down. Meanwhile in Your own Country, Your own freedoms are being taken away slowly, one at a time. And still you see us in priso with a Blind Eye, a Judgemental eye that were all Animals. But even the Dog you kick every day learns with time. Isolated Time Time is endless here in 23/1 lockdown. Abuse is an ever present threat. Days turn to years. Ive been here in Ely State Prison Nevada for 11 years (12 years soon). Ive been in isolation 9 of those. But Ive only had a few months on an open yard. The level system only works for Bootlickers. Ive done my time and did as they asked and still stayed in the cage. Sure Ive stumbled now and then. But who among you can cast that stone? Ive grown up (literally) in the System. I know another life, but it gets further and further away. I dont cry about it anymore. Ive thought about my stumbles every day. Ive seen myself bare and made myself take a look in the mirror. These are only part of how I have grown to a man who knows who he is. Isolation has helped in that. But then that was several years ago. Now I just want some yard. Isolation detaches you. Everything but The Man becomes a detachment wives loved ones your mind life. This is not like other prisons hole. This is a place Ive known men t o come in on a dirty U/A (urine test) from camp with 4-5 points stay for 18 months. A Maximum Security Prison with killers, rapists & yeah a fella on his 3rd DUI! Or one with Burglary who got in a fight denied parole and stayed another 5 years, because a cop spit on him & he spit back and was charged with assault & got 3 years more. Your Tax-paying Dollars at work folks. Isolation does these things. All you see when you look out the window are the guards who abuse you threaten you and sometimes whoop your ass with the proverbial stick. Isolation & prison abuse are hand in hand here in Ely. You can do good and theres no end. Theres no incentive. Theres nothing to work towards. There are 8 units here: one is open until last month March/April 2010. Now only Unit 8 is open at all time. Thats over 1,000 with their Rights being violated every day. 23/1 lockdown. But this isnt bad, if they obeyed their own level system and rules. But Im getting off track. Isolation does that. Years and years of isolation brings about the same kind of behaviour & thinking only one description can be compared/applied. PTSD. Its said it takes a man year to year (one year in Prison, one year on the Streets) to readjust to Society when released. For prisoners with 5 or more years of lockdown? Is there even a stat for that? Has anyone ever cared to check? How can I have a job interview when I havent had no conversation in 10 years? How am I suppose to react to other convicts (if I am ever on an open yard again), if Im filled with so much anger from being locked down for so long?

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Some of us lose our communication skills, our ability to engage in Human contact. Some have broken minds & spirits. The reward for telling on people is to go to an open yard what kind of program is that? When a person not telling starts doing good. They come by with that stick poke poke poke. Thats another 2 years in the Hole for STG Safety & Security Pending Investigation. All it takes is one of us to mellow out & try to get out of this Prison. But for most like myself with Life If I tell on people hurt them ruin their time I can go to an open Yard. If not the warden says I can get a chance when he dies, I die or he retires. I have not had a violent episode in 5 years. A cell extraction because a Rookie tried to yank my arms through the food slot and wrench them up in the air. Thats one of those times I took that stick and poked back. The wardens say we can get change when we take them to court. I point out a lot of these side issues because Mental Abuse is more present than any other. I do bad: I get my ass kicked. I do good: I get mind-fucked until I do bad. This is Ely State Prison. A tiny prison built in a valley 5 to 10 miles out of a tiny little town. And every officer that comes through that door is a part of these abuses and this continued Isolation. Because they either participate or look the other way. The ones that take part are encouraged by admin. to make certain inmates lives miserable. One inmate was not fed for 3 days. One inmate was pissed & spat on, kicked until his balls swelled to twice normal. Broken arm from being wrenched behind with handcuffs on. And left there, in cuffs for two days. They (the cops) play games like opening the door a crack and letting it slam shut at intervals throughout the night. Turning on the speaker and tapping or yelling into it all day. Keeping you in the shower for several hours. They use yard and showers as excuses to threaten retaliation - shakedowns no water out on Rec. yard (where they leave you for 3-4 hours), clamp down on shackles so you can barely walk. Sharpen the shackles so they cut into the ankle. They regularly keep mail or give it to known sex offenders. The nursing staff must know. How can a person plea for medical treatment and be ignored for days or forever. I was shot several years ago and had 86 pellet holes. No Aspirin, no Ibuprofen. I still have 22 pellets in me, 18 in my left arm alone. It comes down to Human Dignity. It comes down to you Society! I am not an Animal. But if you treat me like one long enough, dont be surprised when I bite. Isolation for long periods stops being a tool & becomes a weapon. Isnt my use of weapons what got me here? Yes. Then why is it okay for you to do it? What more do you want from me youve already taken my life of liberty. But never my freedom. Never my self/worth. That you can not have. For if that day comes, Society, then you have truly broke me. Pig Pin

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