"Officer Morgan works in the kitchen at Union and it has just been reported that he is well known for his beatings to inmates.

Many more details coming soon about Union - The gassings have NOT stopped! Someone needs to contact Lisa Shirley White, because the inmates are too afraid to mail this information out ---without their retaliation and bullying tactics.

Nothing has changed in the DOC--I thought it had, but it's still the same ole story Inmates lie, inmates are bad and our precious officers never do anything wrong.

Just sign me ---------- disgusted, sad, and tired of the corruptness."

Chow Hall Procedure at UCI
By Bob Sloan

SPECIAL MEALS HANDLED BY ARAMARK?

"I was rather taken aback when you revealed that work has started on a kosher kitchen at UCI. I had thought that Lawtey CI, being a faith-based prison compound, would've been the place to install a kosher kitchen. Now you advise that some 200 Jewish inmates maybe transferred to your facility. I wonder where Lawtey CI fits into this picture?"

TEMPERATURES ON UNION'S DEATH ROW
Hot and Humid in the Summer, Freezing in Winter

Those writing the budgets consider climate control least important in prison. The department sees temperatures as effective punishment and many in the public believe that if you treat a man bad enough he will not come back, therefore suffering the weather is good for a prisoner's soul. But our common sense tells us that confining human beings in cells that are too hot or too cold is self-defeating.

Goon Squad duty at UCI

"Much of the public thinks goon squad activity happens a few times per year, on an isolated basis. Most people on the outside do not realize that some officers work on the goon squad day in, day out, month in, month out.  There are 30-50 correctional officers at UCI who work goon squad duty full time!  When they are not assaulting, threatening, or beating up an inmate, they are busy doing "raids", tearing up cells ("inspecting for contraband"), etc."

Making The Walls Transparent

1Jesus Delgado If I Can't Hug My Mother	1John Ferguson Under Construction
Ron Christenson Under Construction	1 Inmate W.S. Under Construction
2 Stuart L. Pomeranz Beaten and Moved to FSP Feb 2001	1 Lancelot Armstrong Under Construction
Andre' Sheffield Under Construction	Inmate D. B. Under Construction
Curtis White Reported Murdered by guards	1 Inmate R. P. Under Construction
Inmate H. S. R. Under Construction	1 Inmate E. S. B. Under Construction
George L. Crossley Released Jan 2001	2 Michael Moskowitz Raped by "Rollback"
Dusty Spencer Under Construction	2 Inmate M. R. C. Under Construction
Paul Scott Under Construction	1 David L. Thomas Under Construction
1 Timothy A. Robinson Under Construction	William Stiles Under Construction
Dennis "Pops" Davis Under Construction	Tommy E. McABee Moved to Polk
Jimmy Riggs Under Construction	Jimmy Hudson No longer in DOC listing Assumed dead of untreated AIDS.
Herbert Reed Released June 5, 2000	Jim Laster Under Construction
Ian Lightbourne Under Construction	*** Under Construction
Rudolph Holton Innocent Finally Free	Frederick Webster Under Construction
Allen Blalak Released	Ron Christenson Under Construction
Amos King Suspected Innocent Executed	Johnny Williamson Under Construction
Jack Gibson Under Construction	Christopher Miller Under Construction
Jesse James Brannen Under Construction	Pressley Alston Guard Abuse
George Porter Under Construction	Raymond L. Gilliard Under Construction
John Jagade Under Construction	Julio Martinez Under Construction
Eduardo Lopez Under Construction	Ji Myong Sun Beaten for Want of a Dictionary.
Troy Mills Under Construction	Anthony Washington Under Construction
Mark Defriest What Happens To Witnesses?	Thomas Gudinas Belated DNA
Daniel Poole Simple Medical Problem	William Sibley Murder by Suicide?
Joseph Pavesi License Plates for Headstones	Gregory Mills Ongoing FSP Abuse
Charles Gundlah Under Construction	*** Under Construction
*** Under Construction	*** Under Construction
*** Under Construction	*** Under Construction
*** Under Construction	*** Under Construction

^{1    Death Sentence
2    Life Sentence}

Florida Inmate Population Search

BURIAL OF INDIGENT PRISONERS:
Info From The Horse's Mouth:
June 9, 2003

UCI (just outside the fence) is the official graveyard for inmates who die at FSP, New River East and West, and Union CI.  The "grave-diggers" are usually inmates from the FSP Work Camp (since they are about to be released, and can be trusted outside the fences). 

The Chaplains from FSP, Union, and New River take turns doing the funerals (whether they knew the inmate or not,  regardless of which institution he was housed at).  The 'funerals' can be as short as 2 minutes if no one is there...

When the family members of a deceased inmate show up for the funeral, MANY TIMES the grave diggers have posed as friends of the deceased... They say they knew him, and they say nice things about him to make the family members feel better.  In reality, the real friends of the deceased are locked behind the fences and are not allowed to attend the funeral due to security concerns.

PICTURES OF UNION GRAVEYARD

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The many changes going on at Union CI.

Wednesday, April 09, 2003
UNION TRANSFERS

CROSBY'S "POPULATION ADJUSTMENT MOVEMENT"

"It was very sad at the Visitors Park at UCI this past weekend, only about four regulars left, and they don't know if they'll be back week to week..." 

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Wednesday, April 11, 2003
THE BUILDING

Right outside the Visitors Park, there's a large new building they've been constructing that's almost done. You may have seen it. I have heard they had brought in a lot of inmates to do that construction, and that maybe they'll be transfered out shortly.

Originally it was supposed to be for the new faith-based dorm, but the program has had a low turn-out due to making the guys in the program have seminars and workshops EVERY night). They've not worked out for a year, and have seminars every other Saturday morning, which cuts at least 3 hours out of their visiting time, so a LOT of good quality Christian guys have opted NOT to move into the faith-based dorm).

I believe the building is now going to be for close mgmt. There are security cameras posted all around the outside roof, and of course, it's not air-conditioned! I think UCI has some of the only air-conditioned older cells in the state, due to being built at the time they were doing that.

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And that brings us to the things that never change at Union CI.

UNION WASTE:
NAMING COLONEL COLEMAN

GOODBYE COLONEL COLEMAN
We'll Be watching for you over at S.F.R.C.

July 15th, 2004:  "I took an inmate over to S.F.R.C. today, and they have a new Assistant Warden over there, Mr. Coleman, the former [troublesome] Colonel from Union C.I. I wonder who the Colonel is at Union C.I. now?"

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QUESTIONS ALL GOOD INSPECTORS SHOULD ASK

Why is the roof in the mess hall caving in? 
When it rains, the prisoners get wet while they eat wet food!  Why?

The ceiling in the chow hall is still not repaired nor in the visiting park. They worry so much about building new prisons but don't seem to have the time to repair what needs repairing in the ones they have. Putting up more fencing that is really not needed seems to be important, why I don't understand. What a waste of money that could be put to better use. LIKE THE FOOD!

I was told by a Correctional Officer that this food service contract will not be renewed when it runs out and that the state will take over that once again. Who knows, I hear about a  lot of things that never take place. The prices in the canteen have gone up (nothing new) and I'm  awaiting a canteen list.

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Where's the toilet paper?

May 29, 2002 - Each Tuesday every Inmate is given one roll of toilet paper that must last them until the next Tuesday. If you run out you are forced to use newspaper (Or Wipe With Your Hands). Heaven help you if you're sick and not feeling well!!

But all are happy about Wilkerson!!! A lot of them say that MAYBE some of the abuse will stop. They hope, and I'm sure that we all feel the same way.

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Why are the boxes containing the Beef and Chicken patties labeled
"TO BE SERVED IN AND FOR CORRECTIONAL USE ONLY"?

A few of the guys at Union have told me in letters and by phone that the food in Union is really getting bad. The dishwasher in the kitchen is down and they are serving them on paper plates. In the morning they are serving them mash potatoes and powered eggs.

And if you are one of the last to be served you may get your food from the slop bucket. Some of the Inmates say that the food tasted like soap. Inmates have seen them take food from the bucket and place it on plates to be served. It's getting very bad to even eat.

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Who decided to serve prisoners drinks labeled
"CAN CAUSE CANCER"?

Need I say more?

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Why does the drinking water stink?

We've talked about the water at Union before.  I just spoke with Joann Ferris, a wife who visited Union on Saturday, October 6th, 2001.  She reports that, while the guards are buying the high-priced bottled water from the canteen's machines, prisoners without funds have no choice but to drink the prison water, which has so much Chlorine in it that you can see a white swirl of sediment floating in it. I've got a bottle of it and she's right, "It tastes like drinking bleach, smells like ammonia and causes heartburn."

We wonder if there are water problems here at Union  like have been reported by the prisoners at Hamilton CI and Hendry.  Hendry has been reported to be closing down, in large part to the contaminated water (and some really bad staff).

NOTE: April 12, 2003: Hendry did indeed shut down last year but is reported to be reopening.

If you've noted a problem with drinking water, you can contact the Florida Dept of Environmental Protection, Drinking Water Compliance/Enforcement Section.

UNION CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTE
WATER TREATMENT PLANT

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Laboratory analyses can indicate if drinking water samples from the water treatment plant of the institution contain aconcentration of Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) higher than what is allowed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The drinking water standard for TTHMs is 0.100 mg/L

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

For more information please contact at Mr. Gil Sowders at (941) 657-3654 ext. 163 , or contact the Department of Environmental Protection, Potable Drinking Water Compliance/Enforcement Section, at (941)332-6975.

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UPDATING UNION
April 2003

I just checked again on the problems listed above.  Here are the current conditions on the problems at Union:

The chow hall roof still leaks, they all just try not to sit at the tables where their food gets wet; the drinking water is still the same; they still have boxes of beef and chicken that say they are 'for correctional use only', and some of the drink mixes (like Kool-Aid type of drinks) say on the container that they 'may cause cancer'.  So, everything is how I reported it a year ago, except the toilet paper issue (they all say they can ask for TP and get it from the guards, OR they can buy it at the canteen), and everyone I've talked to have reported they all have air-conditioned cells.  They may have reported it being hot in confinement however. It is.

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The brand new building NOW has fenced areas being built so the guys in there can walk out into the sunshine for an hour a day.  They look to be approximately 8 feet by 3 or 4 feet, but I can't say for sure.  The building is just outside the fence of the Visitors Park on the east side.  The fenced areas were not there last week.

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Daniel Poole Update and Another Gold Star
Saturday, March 22, 2003

MTWT would like to take this opportunity to thank Our Readers.  Daniel received his first cards from caring people in several different states during mail call last night, expressions of concern which will be one of the most significant aspects of keeping his spirits up during this crucial recovery time!  This has been very heartening for him, as well as for the other inmates in his dorm, to know that people on the outside care during what would normally be a very devastating time!

Medical now has Daniel on all of the appropriate medications he needs for his condition, which is good! He is no longer working around chemicals.  Sgt. Watson has personally undertaken to have Daniel working with him, where he can keep an eye on him right now, as we hope and pray his condition improves.

"Daniel Poole and us guys in his Dorm want Sgt. Watson to get a gold star for his concern and goodness in helping Daniel during this time!"

MTWT hereby gladly presents
The GOLD STAR of Professionalism
to Sgt. Watson
for his ability to apply the rules as an Officer while showing the human characteristic of compassion.

"Sgt. Watson, thank you from the prisoners under your watch..." and Thank You from the people who are concerned with their care. If there were many more like you, be no need for this project.
Kay Lee

Friday, April 11, 2003
UPDATE ON DANIEL POOLE

Daniel Poole got transferred out today!  He went to Baker CI, which is not far from UCI.  He was medium custody.  He gets out next year, I believe.

Daniel continues to improve!  He can close and open his eye and is getting more and more movement on the affected side of his face!  This looks like a good sign for a good recovery!  He attributes his improvement to the medical care he needed for so long and to the wonderful people who lifted his spirit by writing. I hope many people will continue to write him occasionally.  He is very grateful.

MR. DANIEL POOLE
DC # 363485
BAKER CI
P.O. Box 500  U.S. 90
Sanderson, Florida  32087-0500
 

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MURDERS AND ASSAULTS
REPORTED AT UNION CI

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Feb 2003
CURRENT ASSAULTS AND ABUSE REPORTED
Including two more murders

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THE FOOD - ARAMARK

DEC 31, 2002:  "I got a call tonight and was told that some inmates have got the runs. Some virus that is going through the compound. The first question that I asked was what did the chow hall feed you guys tonight? This morning they had pancakes and lunch they had hot-dogs and yeah you guessed it for dinner it was CHICKEN.. So now I know why they are all having stomach problems tonight."

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Jan 1, 2003: "When I visited Union last weekend -- I heard the visitors in line talking about 17 guys that were sick that week, also with diarrhea -- There must definately be something really wrong with the food there."

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BREAKING NEWS: FEDS ARE HERE!
Tuesday, March 26, 2002

It has just been reported that Feds are at Union CI today.  Seems a couple of days ago, two guards hit an inmate and knocked out his front teeth.  The guards, Sgt Wilkerson and C/O Carter, reportedly, just had their gate passes pulled.  Federal Marshals are reported to be investigating at Union right now! 

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March 28, 2002

It has been observed that Wilkerson is back on the Union compound already.  He appeared to be driving a DOC truck, but he was in plain clothes.

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Reported Sunday, May 26, 2002 9:27 PM

A guard at Union 'Correctional' who was known as a real bad actor was Sgt. Wilkerson. It appears he has been fired by a new assistant Warden named Davis. He had his pass removed and was kicked off the compound. G.

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To: g
Sent: Monday, May 27, 2002 3:18 AM
Subject: RE: Sgt Wilkerson

Do we have any fond memories of Wilkerson we'd like to include?

Kay Lee

Yes we do Kay.  In 1999 then Mr Wilkerson, Sgt Martin and Lt Harden took Inmate Donald Brenner in to what was then confinement building 65 in B-Area and he came out on a stretcher dead. That's the ME report I think I showed you that shows a 34 year old inmate who died of "over exertion" The one with the big blood clot over his eye and bruises and scratches over his entire body. Of course Mr Wilkerson was rewarded for his good work by being made Sgt.

Sgt Wilkerson, Sgt Archie Sgt Burch along with two others were the GOON Squad. If they showed up together you knew someone was going to be hurt. Hope that helps. Hearts, G

April 10, 2003

It has been reported that Wilkerson is back in uniform on the Union compound.

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William Sibley
March 27, 2003
Murder by Suicide?

I get so sick of reporting this kind of behavior, but since the Department of 'Corrections' won't fire anyone for beating inmates, what can we do but continue to report?

Despite What Michael Moore Says, The Abuse by Errant Guards Continues Monday, May 27, 2002  FDOC Union Correctional Institution There is increasing evidence that the Correctional Officers at UCI and FSP have been emboldened to increase the level of physical abuse of prisoners in the wake of the exoneration of the guards who murdered Frank Valdes. Whether the [now ex-] Secretary of the FDOC, Michael Moore, would welcome new publicity on this subject is doubtful. However, I would suggest that this physical abuse is beyond his ability to control. He hired, indoctrinated, supervised and then protected those officers and now he is unable to restrain what he created [or at least tolerated], if, indeed, he even wishes to do so. On April 29, 2002, at approximately 6:30 PM, inmate Ricardo Orellano, #X20273, was assaulted by officers Carrasquillo and Sgt. Burch, while in the shower. On Aril 30, 2002, at approximately 3:00 PM, Steven McDonald #195949, was assaulted in his cell by CO Tremble while CO Howe blocked off the cell entrance and COs Mann and Ferguson maintained lookout in the hallway. On April 30, 2002, five other inmates were cited for Disciplinary Reports by CO Mann, for banging on their cell doors in order to get the attention of the Captain to get medical attention for McDonald. McDonald did eventually get medical attention and then was moved to another facility to keep him from talking about his beating. On May 8, 2002, at Approximately 1:00 PM Theophilus Hymen #091832, was assaulted in his cell by Lieutenant Crosby, Sgt. Jones, CO Tremble, CO Harvey, CO Hall, CO Howe, Sgt Swain, Sgt. Berstein and others. Ten officers in all. Prior to that beating Hymen's cell had been searched, all of his records of grievances were taken and he was sprayed with chemical agents three times in a 30 minute period before the beating. Hymen has several broken ribs and has been denied medical attention. The treatment for broken ribs, by the way, is pain medication and instructions on how to sleep without laying down, in a recliner chair. Neither of which is available in prison. John From: Glenn Larkin [mailto:nc15960@pol.net] Sent: Sunday, May 26, 2002 11:07 AM Subject: Re: [florida-support] FDOC Union Correctional Institution Mr Moore is in a no win situation If he acknowledges that he is powerless to muzzle in the Frankenstein Monster he created, he has failed in his mission, and should resign or be fired. Mr Moore has stated that he will not tolerate physical abuse in the DOC, yet as John has said, it appears that the abuse is getting worse.  Mr Moore has to do one of three things: vigorously clamp down on the perpetrators, and fire a majority of his guard staff --- this abuse is too wide spread, in too many prisons and involving too many guards to be isolated "instances", and stop protecting his minions who are mayhem prone; Ignore the writing on the wall, and act as though nothing is wrong, citing each case of physical abuse as legitimate use of force to control naughty prisoners: That won't fly any more; Or call in the Federal Cavalry to oversee the prisons - that he will not do. Unless he does something dramatic, the roof will cave in on him and his department. It will be a long hot explosive summer, and force -- anything short of a massacre, will not stop the unrest and perhaps worse from happening. Mr Moore, a deluge is brewing. You can be one swept away, or you can be a sweeper. Which will it be, Sir? G M Larkin

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From: joann ferris fjoann@yahoo.com Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2002 6:42 PM To: Kay Lee; Kay Lee Subject: QUESTION! Hi Kay.    I have a question for you, do you give gold stars for classification officers? If you do I need to tell you about Mr. Bob Bache. Here is a man that truly tries to help all Inmates and their families. He cares, and is very understanding. He is truly a good man. I only wish that there were more like him. Please give him a GOLD STAR and add him to the Union site PLEASE!! Thank you. Joann  ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Of course MTWT gives Gold Stars to professional Classification Officers. When the families of inmates ask that recognition be given to a good DOC employee, that's a high recommendation, one that is far too rare in the Florida DOC. The MTWT Gold Star of Professionalism is hereby awarded to Classification Officer Bob Bache For being a good employee and a compassionate human being.

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June 2001: The summer is here again in Florida.

EVERY summer there is a problem with ventilation and movement of air. Although ventilation is supposed to be functional, it 'breaks down' every single summer and the prisoners live in airless boxes where the temperatures stay over 100 degrees and the germs breed and spread into epidemics. This isn't necessary, nor according to standards of care, even acceptable. The petition below requests that special attention be paid to bringing the temperature in the cells down to an acceptable and tolerable level for human beings to live in.

THE TREES I got another letter today from one of my penpals and some of the prisoners at Union are pretty upset about the trees, bushes, and shrubs that are scheduled to be cut down. I realize this seems trivial, compared to the rampant physical abuses and the medical neglect. However, this is important to these inmates, because they know God made these trees, bushes and shrubs and it is one of their extremely few simple pleasures. Please allow me to share part of this letter. This letter was dated 5-28-01 "......yesterday ____  told everybody about something U.C.I. is trying to do, and he asked everybody if they knew anybody on the streets that might could help to please ask them, so if you can or know someone who could help, it would be appreciated. Please allow me to explain. The administration here has set a date of June 18, 2001 to cut down and take away all the trees, bushes, and shrubs of the compound. There's supposed to be some kind of inspection the 11th - 15th of June and then they are going to "crankup" the chainsaws on the 18th. They have even stopped the guys who work on "inside grounds" from watering any of the trees and bushes. The guy said people could call the Arbor Society or the Audubon Society to inform them of what U.C.I. is planning to do. He said that it has stopped at 3 other institutions before. I figured I'd mention this in case you or somebody you know could try to contact someone that might be able to stop this before it happens......"

BULLETPROOF VESTS?

August 11, 2000: Orders have reportedly come down from Michael Moore. All staff will carry mace and wear bullet proof vests 24-7. One guard, Sgt. Stephens, was asked what this is all about and I was told his callous reply was, "When Mr. Moore gets his riot, and we shoot the inmates, we want to make sure we don't get hit." (He must be referring to ricochet bullets, since prisoners have no weapons.) This is a trend that is really bothering me: I know it is part of a bigger picture called "Michael Moore's Restructuring Plan. At FSP they are building mesh shields between the guards and the prisoners. At Santa Rosa, many inmates are being sent to the hole, and there is some kind of outside construction going on. At Hamilton, the staff is being thinned out, most of the prisoners are being squeezed into the Main Unit, and recently they haven't even had medical staff properly available in main confinement at night. There is a big picture forming in Florida DOC of Michael Moore's restructuring plan, maybe an experiment on how cheaply humans can be stored, but I can't yet figure it out. I'm sure, in part, it has to do with Michael Moore's political profit and nothing to do with rehabilitation. I just called Warden Carter, but he was already gone. I did talk to Sgt. Hester. I told her what I had heard about the vests and mace and asked her if she could verify.  She said, "I could, but I won't. Call the warden Monday."  Kaylee

THE GOOD...

IN RECOGNITION OF PROFESSIONALISM Officer Everden is recognized with the MTWT Gold Star of professionalism. Inmates call him BIG E, and it is reported that he is a truly compassionate Christian man who follows the rules, while remaining aware that he is maintaining human beings.

THE BAD!

LIST OF ERRANT UNION GUARDS
Captain Walmsley (For not stopping abuses) It's reported the Captain physically jumps on prisoners.
Sgt. Burkes (In Kitchen) Report says he kicked an inmate with a bad heart to death "right there on the floor"  WHILE he was still a  C.O.
Sgt. Stephens for terrorist threats.
C.O. Rhoden, reportedly a 'nasty piece of work'.
C.O. Wiggens,  'May have been' busted for bringing marijuana into the prison where he worked before.
C.O. Jefferson	C.O. Sigmond	C.O. Lee	C.O. Willard
C.O. Griffin	Sgt. Archer	C.O. Wickerson

^{Most of these guards have been named in more than one incident
by more than one witness.}

The Lovely Ladies of  Union

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Contact Kay Lee
1868 San Juan Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94707
404-212-0690