Florida State Prison Hunger Strike / Protest of Illegal Prison Conditions

We at Fdrag have received the following letter from inmates at Q wing at Florida State Prison. They are going on a hunger strike to protest and hopefully change the conditions that exist on Q wing. The men are hungry and deprived contact with the outside world for years at a time, which is not in accordance with the rules. Please read the words from the inmates yourself, before you sign the petition.

ATTENTION

Maximum Management Hunger Strike Alert

On February 1, 2004, the inmates housed on Q-wing at Florida State Prison will begin a hunger strike in protest of the erroneous and unconstitutional conditions that we are being forced to endure. These conditions are violating federally protected constitutional rights. Those that are not participating are either mentally ill or in fear of retaliation from this administration. We are protesting our confinement to Maximum Management without justification.

FACTS

1. We inmates are confined to a 9 x 7 ft. cell (63 ft2), 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 30 days a month. Once a month, and only once a month, we receive recreation.

2. There are no TV s, no radios, newspapers, magazines, or books. There is nothing to occupy the human mind, and no way of knowing what s going on in society.

3. We are denied visitation and phone calls from family and friends, which could last not weeks or months, but for years at a time.

4. We are denied canteen / commissary rights, and nightly we go to sleep hungry on what this State Department of Corrections contractor, Aramark, feeds us

5. We are not allowed shampoo, mouthwash, or deodorant to kill body odor. We are forced to put non-scented state soap or toothpaste under our arms.

6. These erroneous conditions are maliciously forced upon us, without any penological justification.

7. The highest security prison in this nation, Marion Federal Correctional Institution located in Marion, IL, does not treat its inmates to this degree.

8. These are arbitrary and capricious conditions that are unjustifiable and totally without penological justification.

The rule were being held under is Chapter 33-601.820, Maximum Management. Florida Administrative Codes state in the rules that Maximum Management is a temporary status for an inmate, who through a current / recent incident, requires an immediate level of control. Most of the inmates under this rule have been disciplinary-report-free for months and in some cases years. Yet we are deprived of our property, privileges, and rights. The rule states in section (4)(c) that upon positive adjustment the inmate s conditions will be adjusted to that of Close Management 1; yet no matter how long we go discipline-report-free, we are denied Close Management 1 privileges, which is further proof that this is an arbitrary and capricious rule.

THE RELIEF SOUGHT IS

1. A directive for a release to be added to Chapter 33-601.820 Maximum Management, which is noticeably absent from the directive, and that is how this administration is able to manipulate this rule and use it as a continuous form of punitive isolation.

2. The right to weekly recreation, which is provided in a secure 10 x 20 ft dog run

3. The right to adequate clothing in the winter months.

4. The right to receive books, magazines, and newspapers.

5. The radios be returned to the inmates.

6. The canteen / commissary rights to be restored to that of Close Management 1 or Death Row, according to status.

7. Return of phone calls and visitation.

8. There will be no denial of any of the above rights, privileges, and property without procedural due process being afforded.

The relief sought is not overly demanding and in fact will bring Maximum Management under constitutional standards, which I ve attempted to do in the past six months by notifying the following individuals of the constitutional violations taking place under Maximum Management: Governor Jeb Bush, Attorney General Charlie Crist, Inspector General Gerald Abdul-Wasi, the Florida Legislature, and Secretary of the FDOC, James V. Crosby, Jr., all to no avail.

This hunger strike is being forced upon us as being the last resort to bring attention to these erroneous and unconstitutional conditions that exceed those of Disciplinary Confinement. Therefore, we are pleading for support and for someone to step in and correct these constitutional violations and bring Florida State Prison and Chapter 33-601.820 Maximum Management under constitutional standards. Thank you for your help and support.


Inmates of Maximum Management Q-Wing
Florida State Prison
7819 N.W. 228th St.
Raiford, Florida 32026-1160


CALL OR WRITE:
James Crosby, Secretary
Florida Department of Corrections
2601 Blair Stone Rd.
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2500
(850) 488-7480

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Charlie Christ, Attorney General
Office of the Attorney General
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1050
(850) 487-1963

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Gerald Abdul-Wasi, Inspector General
Florida Department of Corrections
2601 Blair Stone Rd.
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2500

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The Warden
Florida State Prison
7819 N.W. 228th St.
Raiford, Florida 32026-1160