On Feb. 13/14th about 50 people at ACI West were AGAIN hit with what looks like food poisoning. The compound was locked down for the morning and one dorm was quarantined. If anyone gets more info on the Apalachee Food Poisoning, please let me know for the Aramark page.  Kay Lee  kaylee1@charter.net

EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT ARAMARK

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Apalachee used to be a relatively quiet place but not anymore. From what I've been told, awhile back a group of FSP officers were transferred to Apalachee CI.  I've been receiving reports of trouble ever since. According to this reporter, there was a riot at the prison today, people have been hurt and no matter what the reason, hell will follow for the inmates.

The officers are claiming the prisoners did it in retaliation for the 1999 beating death Frank Valdes.  Which leads me to believe that the guards who came here from FSP are involved.  It sounds too much like Frank Valdes, jumping off his bunk onto his head until "He did it to himself".  Timing's not so bad either, since the civil trial on the Valdes case is coming to a head.

We've warned time and again that the conditions and lack of discipline for errant guards were going to cause riots when conditions became too intolerable for human beings.  This has been happening all over the country and now it's here in Florida.

I will be updating the Apalachee site over the next couple of days.  Anyone with more information on this prison, please contact me at kaylee1@charter.net. I'd like to find the real cause of this riot. Wonder what the warden thinks about all this change and if he feels the need to cover for anyone...

Kay Lee
kaylee1@charter.net
2683 Rockcliff Rd. SE
Atlanta, GA 30316
404-212-0690

THE APALACHEE RIOT aka 'Little Melee'
January 31, 2005

"Just spoke with warden Al Solomon. He said that my son was not involved, that all thoses involved were transferred [about 100 inmates] but there were no injuries and said he could not discuss it any further as it was under investigation. END OF CONVERSATION. He asked me my son's DC# and told me he was not involved."

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Nov 2004:  Many older captains don't get along with the new regime so have transferred or resigned to make room for chosen officers from FSP and NRCI.  I feel sorry for guards who are caught in the power move.  Some lost their staff housing and jobs.  Now it's all done a new way. 

We are now Controlled Movement. They have painted lines to and from the chow hall and rec field.  You have to eat fast.  Each hour you can move from point A to point B.  Sometimes they don't let inmates move like leaving them on the rec field for hours.  The roof leaks, the heat is broke, there in no maintenence, and only one outside toilet for 300-400 inmates. 

They moved both canteens last week from Mid courtyard where they were easily accessable, to the other side of the library.  Now the canteen is approximately 1/2 mile from the courtyard.  There is one bathroom for all inmates on the rec yard and they are locked out there for 2 and 3 hours at a time.

There are broken toilets and broken heaters in the dorms that we are told cannot be fixed due to 'no money'. 

Used to inmates could eat or go to the canteen. There is no longer canteen at lunchtime.  If you don't like the slop in the chow hall, you just go without.  Lots of inmates have lost a lot of weight due to the Aramark food and the new rule forbidding canteen at lunch.

They no longer honor prolonged medical passes.  Sgts Willaford and Hartfield state they don't care about medical passes.  Officer Theal (sp) and Granther (sp) have also refused to honor medical passes and canteen. They denied a disabled man with a cane his pass.  Captain Zipper (sp) saw them do it. 

THE NEW REGIME
List of Transferred Officers/Guards

Saturday, September 10, 2005
Subject: Lieutenant Johnson

"A new Lieutenant was just promoted at Everglades CI. Lieutenant Johnson came from Apalachee CI, where he was the Sergeant that instigated the riot at Apalachee CI."

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Thursday, April 22, 2004:  My friend is having some seeeeerious problems and could explain the situation a lot better than I could and maybe you could know where to direct her. She was involved in Warden Alford resigning, and is now being threatened by Apalachee CI, they called her job at the elementary school she works at (Lunchroom) and said she was going to poison the kids, (she lives 1 mile from the prison and visits hubby every weekend.) They said they were transferring  him to Everglades, and he would be dead shortly after arriving there. She is really scared and needs some guidance. She has no Internet right now or I could help her with emails, but maybe someone could just listen and give her some phone numbers. Thank You please let me know if you can or do. She is a great person, lets me stay at her house every weekend for free when I go visit, and she is really scared right now.

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To: kaylee1@charter.net
Sent: Monday, June 14, 2004
Subject: FLORIDA: prisoner abuse

Dear Kaylee:

We haven't emailed each other in a while, but I have a few 'tidbits' of news.  I write to 8 inmates here in Florida.  One of them was beaten up last week by the 'goon squad' and is now in 23 hour a day lockdown.  Another told me that some inmates are forced to work outside in the fields for  8 hours a day with only 2 cups of water.  And we are concerned about Iraq?  Should I contact Amnesty International?  Let me know what you think.

The 'slave gangs' are at Apalachee CI, East Unit, 35 Apalachee Drive in Sneads, Fl. 32460.  The 'goon squad' that assaulted Herbert Banks is at Jefferson CI, 1050 Big Joe Rd., Monticello, Fl.  Both are Region 1 on the Florida Dept. of Corrections address website. I will send you copies of the letters if you want.  Let me know.

PRISON ABUSE LETTERS

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"The inmates are on controlled movement right now.  They used to let them move around. Now they lock them outside. For three hours 400 to 500 prisoners were locked outside where the only toilet available is 1/2 mile from the rec field. Only 2 of the six toilets inside the prison are working, about 70 inmates per bathroom.  There is no bathroom in the library so when inmates are locked in, they cannot use the bathroom until they are let out.

There's leaks in about a half dozen places over the bunks. The roof leaks throughout every dorm.  Rain leaks through live light fixtures onto bunks, puddles in the fixtures, on the bunks, and makes puddles in the corners where water seeps in, creating danger for inmates from slipping, shock and fire.

The new regime has changed the rules.  Inmates cannot take their shirts off on the rec yard. They are given 3 minutes to eat.  Officers ignore their medical passes.  Officer Theal is quoted as saying "I don't care about passes."  Theal has a select few he allows to go to canteen. 

Housemen cannot go outside at all anymore. Housemen clean the offices of the captain etc.  They used to be able to go outside when they were done, but now they cannot if rec is over.  This deprives them of exercise and canteen visits.

Three or four months ago there was a regime change at Apalachee. A number of FSP guards were sent here. [Prior to the FSP crew moving in] the captains and officers were nice on the phone.  Not now.

There was a shakedown the first part of November.  100 extra officers from local institutions walked into all the dorms and ordered the 73 inmates in each dorm to strip to their boxers.  They searched each locker thoroughly and made all 73 inmates in each dorm sit in the dayroom for 3 hours until the entire compound was searched. The temperature was approximate 50 degrees in the day room while they sat on the floor in their boxers.  The search was ordered by Colonel Frye, who also participated in the search.  22 inmates went to 'jail' for various infractions.

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February 01, 2005  Kay you are right, they did get a new captain I think it was or maybe a Sgt. at the west unit that transferred from FSP about 2 months ago. My husband has been there over a year and said it's a pretty laid back camp, until the staff from FSP arrived, he said they now have shake-downs all the time, they have controlled movement, its like they are trying to create an FSP-like atmosphere. This new person in charge is trying to run this place like death-row, with unnecessary harassment and unfair rules just for no reason, just because they CAN. He said its been hell, and I don't understand because ACI-West is not a real violent camp, and only has about 450 inmates. He's been putting up with a lot and trying to keep a low profile so they'll leave him alone since he only has 10 months to go. I haven't heard about a riot, maybe that was at the east unit, but maybe that's why he hasn't called me in 4 days. Now I'm worried.

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January 2005
Re: ACI west

They have begun opening my son's legal mail.  They didn't let him send the latest legal packet.  Major Warren threatened to take his property and now they have done so.

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December 21, 2004  "My brother is incarcerated at the Apalachee Correctional Inst. in Sneeds Florida.  He recently was put into lock down, but the reason is very unclear.  A close friend of his called my mother and told her one reason, I called the facility and got another.  My brother called my mother and told her he was there, but could not tell her why, and then she recieved a letter from the facility stating yet another reason. I called today and was told yet another reason.  I need help to know what I can do to actually find out the true reason, and if he has ANY reason to truely be in lockdown."

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Thursday, January 27, 2005
Re: ACI west

Today I received a letter from my friend at ACI West (dated 1/22/05)  with some info on this.   Last Thursday half the compound became suddenly ill with stomach cramps, vomiting, & diarrhea. Prison officials are calling it a virus and have quarantined over 200 inmates. They drew blood from the infected inmates. Weekend visitation was suspended. On Friday they interviewed those men not in quarantine as to whether or not they had eaten in the chow hall on Wednesday.  ( My friend lied, said he hadn't, because he didn't want to be moved. He has only suffered mild cramps.)

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My husband did the same thing, he lied about not eating the food because he didn't want to be quarantined, and he also only had mild cramps and diarrhea. He never eats alot off his plate though, he just picks at it then eats ramen noodles later on. I can't believe this wasn't in the paper, I would like to know exactly what caused it, even though I'm sure we all know already. It's just like every other prison in Florida with the poor food handling practices, serving spoiled or rotten food all approved by ARAMARK. I think the only one that doesn't have ARAMARK is Polk CI. Disgusting.

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HOLMES had three days of riot and lock down years ago and it never hit the paper either. When they want to sit on something they do. Contact the health dept in that county letting them know

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08th March, 2004 - "No Jew should be subjected to the religious harassment that you report has taken place up there at Apalachee. However, I will refer you to my previous letter on this topic. If you cannot resolve the problem in the camp, the next step is the IG in Tallahassee. But I remind you once more that taking this to the top could or might result in additional harassment. The choice is yours, and I will do as you wish. With Torah Light, Love & Blessings,

SID KLEINER, President & Programs Coordinator
BETH TIKVAH JEWISH PRISONER OUTREACH
AN OUTREACH/ADVOCACY AGENCY FOR JEWISH PRISONERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
10188 WINTER VIEW DRIVE
NAPLES, FL  34109-1520
PHONE: 239-591-2649, FAX: 239-566-7702-E-MAIL: SKLEINER@COMCAST.NET 
An IRS-Approved, Not-For-Profit Corporation

JEWISH PROBLEMS AT APALACHEE

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"This man, Allen W. Clark aka A.C., can certainly give parties. Wait until you read about the famous Halloween party -- real guns, real ammo, brand new $750 saddles needed for Crosby and Clark's skit, during which an employee shot off some of his toes with blanks, the DUI wreck leaving the party -- the list goes on and on! You wouldn't believe the stories behind his limo -- always followed by a DOC state truck which carries the liquor. Clark IS the ENTIRE sports thing!

The night of AC Clark's Birthday Bash, there were NO guards around the prison.  (Hartfield and Frye helped with the party.) There were local politicians there.  It was a HUGE party.

"At the end of October (the 29th I think) after the big party, Reg. Director AC Clark, Colonel Frye and Lt. Griffis showed up at Apalachee.  They are known as The Untouchables.  They boast of friendships with Bush and being relatives of Crosby and driving corvettes, riding around in limos and making more money than God."