THE GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
At Dallas County Jail
Monday, August 15, 2005 7:18 PM
The first amendment to the U.S. constitution protects the right of the
people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress
of grievances. These rights are severely restricted while someone is in
jail/prison. Although jail officials may ban certain forms of protest and
organizing that opposes or criticizes jail policies, jailers are encouraged
to officer its inmates some type of grievance procedure.
Grievances filed through an official grievance procedure are constitutional
protected. What this means, is that retaliation by staff against inmates
for exercising this 1st amendment right is unlawful. But as in most jails,
there is a great contrast between the theory and reality in the Dallas
County Jail is no exception. Retaliation and reprisal by the staff at the
Dallas County Jail is common place.
I have witnessed and personally experienced the wrath of Sheriff Lupe
Valdez's staff against those who dare to write grievances. The retaliation
and reprisal has ranged from the denial of basic rights such as a request
for toilet paper, soap, an inmate request for medical attention to not being
allowed recreation, visitation, commissary, telephone access or being
subjected to unlawful and fabricated disciplinary actions.
Between Feb. 10, 2005 and May 25, 2005 I had to file 24 formal grievances to
Sheriff Lupe Valdez. Only 6 of those grievances were ever acknowledged.
Only 3 of the 24 grievances did I ever receive a response or action taken on
to remedy the matter.The following is a list in nature of each grievance I filed:
1) Strip searched by female jailer on 3-15-05
2) never arraigned on an evading arrest charge
3) denied jail credits for working as a trustee
4) no mental health evaluation
5) no medical exam during intake process
6) denied access law library
7) filthy and unconstitutional jail conditions
8) denied medications
9) retaliation reprisal by jail staff
10) denied due process and equal protection at jail disciplinary hearing
11) $10 unlawfully taken from my account by the jails accounting department
12) denied dental care
13) disciplinary appeal unanswered (incident# G 05 00 190)
14) denied notary republic service unavailable
15) exorbitant commissary prices
16) no seizure precautions taken
17) denied daily cleaning supplies
18) denied T.B. testing
19) inmate phones overcharging for calls
20) denied legal mail
21) assaulted by jailer (Jay R. Abell)
22) denied to call witnesses following assault by jailer
23) denied x-rays and outside treatment caused by jailers assault
24) denied general medical care after (grievances and other requests)
