FSP M/M HUNGER STRIKE DAY THREE
MEDIA COVERAGE
Inmates go hungry in rights protest
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-lochunger03020304feb03,1,643924.story?coll=orl-news-headlinesSome on a prison disciplinary wing sought visits, food and more exercise.
From Wire reports
February 3, 2004
STARKE -- Eight inmates on the disciplinary wing at Florida State Prison, including two charged in the June beating death of a correctional officer, are on a hunger strike because of what they contend are basic human needs for recreation, decent food, visitation and access to canteen items.
According to the Florida Department of Corrections, eight of the 24 inmates on Q wing are participating in the strike, which began Sunday.
A statement released by the inmates through the Florida Death Row Advocacy Group said: "On Feb. 1, the inmates housed on Q wing will begin a hunger strike in protest of the erroneous and unconstitutional conditions that we are being forced to endure. Those who are not participating are either mentally ill or in fear of retaliation from this administration."
State officials said two of the inmates, Stephen Smith, 43, and Michael Jones, 47, are awaiting trials on charges of first-degree murder in the beating death of Officer Darla Lathrem, 38, during an escape attempt at Charlotte Correctional Institution in June.
Charlotte County prosecutors announced Thursday that they would seek the death penalty against Smith and Jones.
Sterling Ivey, a spokesman for the Corrections Department, said a recent review found that of 47 inmates sent to Q wing, 39 were there fewer than six months, five were there from six months to one year, and three stayed more than a year. "Of your 79,000 inmates, these are the most dangerous or highest escape risk," Ivey said.
The inmates claim conditions of their confinement violate their rights.
They listed seven conditions in their letter:· They want to exercise once a week. They claim they are allowed exercise only once a month.
· They want the right to receive books, magazines and newspapers and are asking that radios be returned.
· They want to have visits and make telephone calls to family and friends.
· The inmates also claim they are not being adequately fed by Aramark Corp., which has the contract for prison meals, and they often go to bed hungry. They would like to be able to buy food from the canteen.
· They say hygiene is being ignored and want to be able to buy shampoo, mouthwash and deodorant.
· They want warmer clothing in the winter.
· They want enforcement of the Florida Administrative Code, which states that maximum management is a temporary status.
Q Wing comprises 24 cells on the second and third floor of the prison directly above the execution chamber. It is for inmates who break prison rules.
The wing, on the far north end of the prison, used to be known as X wing. Death-row inmate Frank Valdes was on X wing when he was beaten to death July 17, 1999.
Four guards were acquitted in two trials in the death of Valdes. Prosecutors dropped charges against other guards.Copyright © 2004, Orlando Sentinel
Posted on Tue, Feb. 03, 2004
STARKE
Inmates seeking rights stage hunger strike
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/7859000.htm
STARKE - (AP) -- Eight inmates on the disciplinary wing at Florida State Prison, including two charged in the June beating death of a correctional officer, are on a hunger strike over what they claim are basic human needs for recreation, decent food, visitation and access to canteen items.
According to the Florida Department of Corrections, eight of the 24 inmates on Q wing are in the strike, which began Sunday.
The inmates claim conditions of their confinement are violating their rights:
They want to exercise once a week, instead of once a month, as they claim.
They want t to receive books, magazines and newspapers and have radios returned.
They want to have visits and make calls to family and friends.
The inmates also claim they are not being adequately fed and they often go to bed hungry.
They claim that basic hygiene is being ignored, and they want to be able to buy shampoo, mouthwash and body deodorant.
They want warmer clothing in the winter months.
8 prison inmates refuse food
http://www.news-press.com/news/local_state/040203inmates.htmlCharlotte prisoners participating
Published by news-press.com on February 3, 2004
STARKE — Eight inmates in the disciplinary wing at Florida State Prison, including two charged in the June beating death of a correctional officer in Charlotte County, are on a hunger strike over what they claim are basic human needs for recreation, decent food, visitation and access to canteen items.
According to the Florida Department of Corrections, eight of the 24 inmates in Q wing are in the strike, which began Sunday.
A statement released by the inmates through the Florida Death Row Advocacy Group states: “On Feb. 1, the inmates housed on Q wing will begin a hunger strike in protest of the erroneous and unconstitutional conditions that we are being forced to endure. Those who are not participating are either mentally ill or in fear of retaliation from this administration.”
State officials said two of the participating inmates — Stephen Smith, 43, and Michael Jones, 47 — are awaiting first-degree murder trials for the beating death of Correctional Officer Darla Lathrem, 38, during an escape attempt at Charlotte Correctional Institution in June.
Dwight T. Eaglin, 27, who is also charged in her murder, is housed in the same wing but is not participating in the hunger strike, said DOC spokesman Sterling Ivey.
Charlotte County prosecutors announced Thursday that they would be seeking the death penalty against Smith and Jones.
Ivey said a recent review found that of 47 inmates sent to Q wing, 39 were there less than six months, five from six months to one year, and three for more than a year.
“Of your 79,000 inmates, these are the most dangerous or highest escape risk,” Ivey said.
The inmates claim conditions of their confinement are violating their rights.
Seven conditions listed on their letter:
¸ They want to exercise once a week. They claim they are allowed exercise only once a month.
¸ They want the right to receive books, magazines and newspapers and are asking that radios be returned.
¸ The want to have visits and make telephone calls to family and friends.
¸ The inmates also claim they are not being adequately fed by Aramark, which has the contract for prison meals, and they often go to bed hungry. They would like to be able to buy food from the canteen.
¸ They claim that basic hygiene is being ignored and want to be able to buy shampoo, mouthwash and body deodorant.
¸ They want warmer clothing in the winter months.
¸ They want enforcement of the Florida Administrative Code, which states that maximum management is a temporary status.
Ivey said the length of stay depends on the inmate.
“Our policy is to move the inmates off of maximum management as quickly as their behavior will allow,” he said.
Q Wing contains 24 cells, on the second and third floor of the prison directly above the execution chamber. It is for inmates who break prison rules.
The wing, on the far north end of the prison, used to be known as X wing. Death row inmate Frank Valdes was on X wing when he was beaten to death on July 17, 1999.
Four guards were acquitted in two trials in the death of Valdes. Prosecutors dropped charges against other guards.
PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION TO SUPPORT AN INVESTIGATION OF MAXIMUM MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. http://www.petitiononline.com/hst1/petition.html
The article written by a Death Row Inmate regarding the
'Abuse of power, Abuse of rules'
https://www.angelfire.com/fl4/fci/ronaldclarkMM.html
