From:
RICHARDSON, JAMES
FYI
Sep 3, 2017, 11:05 PM
This will update you and apprise you of the situation here and the
conditions persisting at the Beaumont-Low facility specifically, and the
entire Beaumont complex (U.S.P, Medium, and Camp) in general.
The administration here decided, first and foremost, to facilitate what
would be tantamount to, and be the equivalent of, sewer water to bathe
in. It was later revealed, by the new media, that the water in this area
was totally unfit for human consumption or for anything other than
flushing the toilets. Inmates who had unwittingly drank this
contaminated water experienced nausea and vomiting. Inmates took showers
in this unclean, and contaminated, water owing to either the
administrations' ignorance, negligence, and/or misfeasance.
Access to medical care and services by inmates was highly exaggerated
and for the most part a myth. While some basic medical needs were
addressed, other medical needs and/or concerns were either ignored or
deemed inconsequential. There are guys here who require medication 3
times a day and those medications are not being properly dispensed.
There was a 48 hour time frame, during the onset of hurricane Harvey, in
which no medical staff provided medications to those persons requiring
these medications.
Thee are a large number of voiceless inmates
here who can't speak for themselves, due to their being locked down in 2
or 3 man cells with no water, no air conditioning, and no means of
flushing their toilets. These inmates are further incapacitated by the
incursions imposed upon their ability to communicate with their
families, owing to their being denied usage of the telephone or e-mail.
This situation actually pre-dates hurricane Harvey. I will provide you
with a time frame in which all of the most recent, and protracted,
omissions, negligence, misfeasance, and deliberate indifference, on the
part of the Beaumont-Low administration, occurred.
Conditions
here at the Beaumont-Low facility are deplorable and are commensurate
with conditions which pose an immediate health risk, health hazard,
safety, and sanitation hazard. Inmates here are totally dependent upon
the administration for their safety, care, and well-being. Their
responsibility towards inmates cannot be dismissed, or ignored, for the
sake of convenience or expedience.
Approximately 3 weeks ago
there was a big electrical fire on the Beaumont Complex premises which
remained active for over an hour before being extinguished. The entire
Beaumont Complex (i.e., Camp, Low, Medium, and U.S.P.) was adversely
affected this this electrical fire, which severely impaired the disabled
institutional communications between staff. This constituted a serious
security breach that would affect the safety and well-being of both
staff and inmates alike. To address this security issue the entire
Beaumont Complex was placed on lock down status with all institutional
operations being suspended.
Inmates housed at the Medium and
U.S.P. were , and are currently, locked down in their 2 or 3 man cells,
whereas inmates at the Camp and Low facilities are confined to their
dorms. Electricity has been sporadic with total black-out conditions at
times.
Inmates at the Medium and U.S.P. facilities were not
cognizant of, or have they been made aware of, all the dangers that the
catastrophic events of hurricane Harvey exposed them to. They had no way
of knowing about hurricane Harvey, unless they listened to the news
broadcast on their radios. Moreover, they had no way of communicating
with their families, owing to their being confined to their cells and
restricted from using the telephone or e-mail. Conversely, the Camp and
Low inmates were able to communicate with their families, after several
days of being likewise restricted. The Camp and Low inmates were also
afforded some measure of access to the news media via television. Thus,
they were able to stay abreast of the developments, and progression, or
hurricane Harvey. During this time frame the Camp and Low facilities
experienced outages of electricity, water, and a number of other
institutional services.
Sadly, these men, sons, brothers, and
fathers, who were locked behind thick metal doors, were literally
hoodwinked and kept in the dark as to the immediate threat, danger, and
peril of hurricane Harvey. Harvey's devastation has left in its wake
both irreparable property damage and lost of life to those in a number
of Texas communities.
Here at the Low facility we were only
given 2 bottles of water the first day that the water supply was cut
off. This amount was grossly insufficient to prevent dehydration or to
mitigate the possibility of heat exhaustion. We have no air conditioning
in the building, and the sweltering heat within these buildings
presents a real health risk and health hazard. With the entire city of
Beaumont being without water, this has resulted in there being no water
for drinking, bathing, or flushing toilets. Toilets at the Low facility
are replete with feces that just sits in the commodes, because there is
no water to flush the toilets.
From:
RICHARDSON, JAMES
FYI #2
Sep 4, 2017, 12:19 AM
FYI #2 --- continued:
Complaints have been lodged with the administration and recommendations
have been made by inmates. Here are a few of the concerns expressed to
the administration by inmates:
1. That sufficient bottles of water be provided (at least 5 bottles per inmate);
2. That the water be periodically turned on to flush the toilets;
3. That sanitary wipes be provided while the showers are unavailable; and
4. That Port-A-Potty units be provided for human waste disposal.
The administration ordered Port-A-Potty units; however, failed to order
a sufficient number of these units to accommodate the entire number of
inmates at the Low facility. There are currently 1,812 inmates at the
Low facility. There are 3 buildings at the Low facility, with each
building having 4 individual units (e.g., SA, SB, TA, TB). Each
individual unit houses approximately 100+ inmates, rendering 400+
inmates per building. There were 8 Port-A-Potty units provided to each
building. Each Port-A-Potty unit can accommodate 10 usages, with
anything ins excess of this number rendering the units unsanitary. Eight
(8) Port-A-Potty units can accommodate a total of 80 inmates per
building. With there being an excess of 400+ inmates per building, this
number of Port-A-Potty units is grossly inadequate and
disproportionately excludes a large number of inmates from its' usage.
It's a real travesty when you take into account the omissions,
negligence, misfeasance, wrongful acts/conduct, abuse of authority,
abuse of discretion, and the myopic preparedness by the Beaumont-Low
administration. This type of callous indifference and lack of empathy
towards inmates, and their families, is both intolerable and
inexcusable. The conduct, and actions, of the administration here calls
into question their ability, and competency, to adequately manage this
facility and to care for those who have been placed in their charge.
Although, when confronted with these fact, and acts, they will deny any
wrong doing and/or negligence, the reality of the matter will deprive
them of even plausible deniability. This administration was well aware
of the threat, and danger, that hurricane Harvey posed and what impact
it would have on anything in its path. Their lack of genuine concern,
and their marginal efforts, are clearly demonstrated by their cosmetic
approach, and implementation of real relief measures. This
administration would to well to be reminded that inmates are sentenced
by the courts to prison as punishment, and not for punishment.
In conclusion, inmates at the Low facility have not had laundry services
for 2 weeks, nor commissary services for 2 weeks (to purchase things
needed for their personal maintenance and upkeep), nor have they have a
hot meal in 2 weeks, in addition to all the things that have been
previously mentioned herein. Inasmuch as we are powerless to change the
events of recent date, we are determined to forge ahead and not be
daunted by the adverse circumstances. Our resilience is best attested to
by our uncompromising optimism and faith. We appreciate all of the love
and concern that our loved ones have for us, and we reciprocate this
love and concern. The fact that we made a mistake and were sentenced to
prison as punishment for our mistake, doesn't mean that we don't care
about those on the outside communities and the society at large. We do
care and we pray for all those families that have been adversely
affected by this catastrophic hurricane. Our pledge is to return to our
communities as law abiding and contributing members of society.
Thank you so much for reading this message and taking time out of your to read my message
