What’s going on behind those prison walls?

I am in the process of writing a non-fiction book about the United States Justice System. From in depth research and many interviews with those who have been or are incarcerated, I have learned that emotional and physical abuse are prevalent within our correctional facilities. Though our constitution provides that all citizens be protected, those who are incarcerated are all too often denied basic rights. Any length of time in solitary confinement exceeding 15 days is considered torture according to the United Nations. Yet we know of those who have suffered from this type of punishment for months, years, even decades. Those who have not been exposed to the prison system may have no idea what’s actually taking place. Some may be aware but are apathetic; others may believe that these prisoners deserve what they get. For those who have a loved who is incarcerated it can be difficult to file a complaint without fear of retaliation. The following letter was forwarded to me by the mother of a young, incarcerated man. He wrote these words after she reached out to the prison to complain that her son and others were being mistreated. (minimal editing for clarity)

Mom                                                     

Well Im in the hole don’t know if my homie called you an told you what they did to me. Well like 5 mins after you called xxxx they told me the white shirt you talked to wanted to talk to me so I went up there an she said she’s tired of you calling an that I was going to the hole since Im having my people call up here an I said this aint right she began to belittle me about my case an when they cuffed me twisted my messed up hand therefore using force. When she left me at the hole 3 other c/o’s came to get me to take me to medical on the way back they bent my hands in the cuffs called me a child molester an made comments about me having a public defender an that I was probly raised by my grandmother. Upon taking me back to the hole an putting me in the holding cage they shuffed me an they said I was sliping my cuffs, They then maced me came in an hit me in my left eye an told me to tell my mommy that. Then they took me back to medical bending my wrist an laughing at me. The medical staff ran water in my eye’s an sent me on my way. When I made it back to the hole and was put back in the cage I was maced an I stated I cant breath no one cared I passed out an came to on the ground out side the cage an was told don’t move. They put me back in the can an some white shirt with a beard said if hears anything else about me he would open this cage an come in an give me something to tell my mommy. My vision is blurry in my left eye an it hurts to open an is swollen by going down. This is all retaliation for me having you call up here an compain about how they are talking to us an treating us just because we have a sex case. 

I just want out the hole

An outta prison

An contact a lawyer I wanna sue this is unjust an for speaking up I get beat an maced an punished

“What if this were your son?”