Caught in the Whirlwind - The Saga Continues

On September 25, 2004, an article entitled Caught in the Whirlwind" was published regarding over 1,200 men who were evacuated from Federal Prison Camps at Eglin AFB and Pensacola Florida to prisons in Mississippi and South Carolina on September 13, 2004. These facilities are not yet equipped for inmate occupation. There exists no kitchen, administration, computer, telephone or medical facilities. The site (in Yazoo) still has construction workers on site. One month later, the saga continues.

(PRWEB) October 25, 2004 -- On September 25, 2004, an article entitled Caught in the Whirlwind" was published regarding over 1,200 men who were evacuated from Federal Prison Camps at Eglin AFB and Pensacola Florida to prisons in Mississippi and South Carolina on September 13, 2004. These facilities are not yet equipped for inmate occupation. There exists no kitchen, administration, computer, telephone or medical facilities. The site (in Yazoo) still has construction workers on site. One month later, the saga continues.

These inmates who are all first-time nonviolent offenders and classified as low" security are still being deprived the basic necessities of life and are living in unbearable and inhumane conditions. They have only been granted limited access (a five minute call) to family members. While prison officials indicate these men were supplied with paper and stamps to contact family members, the reality is they were provided one stamp and a piece of paper.

It would appear the Bureau of Prisons was caught off-guard and unprepared to handle an emergency situation of this magnitude, however, taking a closer look at the entire situation; one would have to question the reality behind the motives of the Bureau of Prisons in the re-designation process.

Is it really a coincidence that two of the prisons which are holding these men and located in Bennettsville and Williamsburg, South Carolina are new prisons which were scheduled to open in September? Although these prisons were not ready for inmate population (as the prison in Yazoo, Mississippi), the Bureau of Prisons placed inmates in them so that their opening date went forward. It appears the Bureau can now justify the $100 million spent to build these two prisons in South Carolina.

According to a recent article outlining the assistance approved by President Bush for hurricane victims, $307 million for NASA, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Bureau of Prisons to repair hurricane damage to Federal Government and public property, including veterans hospitals and outpatient clinics, national cemeteries, public-use airport facilities, Federal prisons, and other government buildings and facilities". See, http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/hurricane/2004.

The inmates housed in South Carolina are being denied visitation, telephone privileges, and commissary. To date, they have not received their meager belongings which were due to be shipped to them from FPC Eglin in September and which were purchased from the prison by family members at exorbitant prices. They also do not have access to medical care, legal counsel or family members. Prison staff in these South Carolina facilities are treating inmates in accordance with standards of medium and maximum security facilities.

Further, the Bureau of Prisons has indicated that even after completion of repairs to FPC Eglin, these inmates will not be allowed to return even though many families have relocated to Florida to be close to their loved ones. Also, these families are now well over the 500 mile limit the BOP states they try" to keep inmates so that family ties will not be broken.

These inmates now have to remain in these inhumane conditions and ill-equipped prisons for a period of 18 months and go through the entire process of earning camp status and requesting a transfer back to Eglin of which BOP personnel has been quoted as stating transfers are not likely".

These inmates appear to be pawns in a budget game and from all indications are being severely punished due to no acts of their own but merely financial gain on the part of the Bureau of Prisons.

By making such unreasonable decisions and punishing men who have broken no rules, the Bureau of Prisons has violated its only policies and procedures.

Over 1,200 men and their family members are being made to suffer by the Bureau of Prisons in what is undeniably a quest for money. Two prisons which cost over $1 million each are being involuntarily filled by men who did nothing more than reside in the path of a hurricane therefore justifying funds spent. FEMA funds will be collected to repair the damage" to the now vacant FPC Eglin and FPC Pensacola facilities. Prisoners are forced to repurchase items at extreme costs which will immediately profit the new commissaries in these new facilities. Families are forced to pay higher prices for visitation so the communities of these new prisons will profit, i.e., lodging, meals, etc.

There is no criminal justice system, only a justice system that is criminal.

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