Sent

Sent: Thursday, March 07, 2002 6:41 AM

In a message dated 3/6/02 10:59:43 PM Pacific Standard Time, kaylee@idiom.com writes:

RE: http://www.angelfire.com/fl4/prison/indifferent.html

Kaylee - you claim employees are wrong for not reporting abuse. As stated in at least one letter on this site an employee gives good reasons why that is not possible. Sgt. Ortiz quit so he is free to now tell all but DC will probably claim he abused his sick leave as a way of denying the truth of his charges.

The only way to fix that sick system is to get it back under Federal control. The Costello lawsuit brought about many positive changes but as soon as FLDC [Florida Department of "Corrections"] got out from under Federal control they gradually went back to their old ways. I hate dubya but these people fit his term "evil". I retired last August and that was the first time in 12 years that my blood pressure was controlled.

You sometimes paint a picture that favors inmates too much. In my 12 years I saw some inmates who were master manipulators and pathological liars - but I also saw CO's in the same categories.

I/M Ronald Ashcroft was mentioned in a list of abused inmates. I know him and have spoken to him a number of times. I never knew him to do anything but write up what he felt were injustices. He's a bright guy and that annoys the hell out of CO's and Administrators alike. That destroys their tired remarks about stupid inmates.

Most CO's, Officers and Ass't Wardens are not mentally equipped to do their jobs. They take things personally - they are unable to put themselves in the inmate's place.

You can't get brighter or better trained people to take the pay offered or to work with some of the miserable CO's and Officers who run the institutions.

YOUR POINTS ARE VALID. I'd like to add that I do understand the heavy costs to a C/O for reporting bad guards or errant behavior. But it is not just wrong for you to not report it, according to the DOC's rules: It is actually a criminal act to ignore the abuse. It's very threatening to go up against bullies and unrepentant criminals, whichever side of the walls they face. And what must be equally frustrating... That Jeb and Moore et al have put the good employee in such a bad situation and refuse to support them.

The only answer I can find would be for 'Correctional' Officers to meet with each other and begin to discuss the need to come forward together. I'm sure we could arrange a class action lawsuit against the DOC for the stress, danger and loss of respect C/Os are subject to because of the behavior of bad guards.

In the meantime, you are most welcome to communicate with me anonymously. I have honored the trust of many and always will hold you in confidence. The decision to go public is yours alone.

Kay Lee MTWT
Pacific Institute of Criminal Justice
(Director, Dr. Richard Korn, Ph.D.)
1868 San Juan Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94707
510-528-4603
kaylee1@charter.net

Making The Walls Transparent
http://www.angelfire.com/fl3/starke