PIECES OF THE PUZZLE

Once upon a time, within a land that lusted for war, within a state that played a major role in bringing war, there was a fortress of hatred called the FL DOC.  Inside the razor-wired walls of this isolated nightmare lived 72,000 slaves who were guarded zealously by guards wearing brown uniforms and carrying weapons of torture.  Although the leaders of the city had created many laws, chaos and great evil reigned within.  Many of the guards refused to obey the laws and Truth and Justice had long ago fled.  The leaders of the land were busy counting money and did not seem to care what was happening in their domains, even though the slaves, those who cared for them, the guards who chose to obey the laws, and indeed the entire society surrounding them suffered greatly. 
 
But that was once upon a time, for a powerful unity formed among those who suffered and those who heard their cries,  a unity that demanded the laws be enforced...

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 The creation of that unity began at the "Conference on Cruelty in Control" that took place in Orlando Florida last Saturday, on September 14th in the year of our Lord 2001, when about 50 dedicated individuals gathered to compare notes and share information.  Prisoner's families, ex-prisoners, prison employees and ex-employees, advocates, representatives and attorneys, ministers and those who just wanted to know more were in attendance.  Information was available from the November Coalition, Making the Walls Transparent, Amnesty International, Florida Prison Legal Perspectives, and included free directories of the Florida House of Representatives and the Senate.
 
 Listening to the speakers and participating in the breakout sessions was an amazing inspiration.  Being there was like watching the pieces of a complex puzzle falling solidly into place.  We all added to each others' knowledge and understanding of the multitude of problems within the Florida DOC.

 We learned more about the drastically diminished access to justice for Florida prisoners. We discussed PepperSpray abuse and the abuse of women in prison.  We were give details of Electro Shock Equipment and other instruments of torture.  We talked about the inflated Prison Telephone Charges to families and the kickback the State receives.  We discussed the fear factor instilled by the errant guards and staff of the DOC.  Programs for families, prisoners and those leaving prison were presented.  We discussed workable methods of education and rehabilitation. And we formulated new ideas and plans for actions to encourage reform.
 
 The obstacles to truth have been powerful in Florida, as across the nation, and the powers-that-be have refused to facilitate the full investigations that would lead to exposure of the depths of the problems within our prisons.  We realized when we come together in unity, that our power was multiplied and our picture was detailed.   With our ever-growing and very determined effort, will come investigations and ultimately, much needed change.

 To become a part of the solution,
please contact any of the following people:

 Rita Lucey, Orlando
 Amnesty International
 407-851-5088
 rlucey8812@aol.com
 
 Christopher Jones, Executive Director,
 Lisa White Shirley, Attorney,
 Caroline Kravath, Attorney,
 Gainesville
 Florida Institutional Legal Services Inc
 352-375-2494
 
 Gerald Bell, President
 NAACP, Orange County
 407-425-9811
 GBell6@cfl.rr.com
 
 Joe Durocher Esq, Retired Public Defender
 Orange/Osceola County
 PDJWD@aol.com 
 
 Teresa Burns
 Publisher/Editor Florida Prison Legal Perspectives
 fpip@aol.com
 
 Kay Lee
 Making the Walls Transparent
 321-383-3000
 kayleeusa@yahoo.com
 
 Lindy Shelby
 Paralegal
 Lindylou0728@aol.com
 
 Dr. Richard Korn
 Dean of Pacific Institute of Criminal Justice
 Author Criminology and Penology
 wyvern@idiom.com

With Great Hope, Kay Lee
MAKING THE WALLS TRANSPARENT

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