Eight inmates refusing food at FL State Prison [Want "human rights" after fatally beating a guard]

AP ^ | Feb 3, 2004 | AP

[summer]

Eight inmates refusing food at Florida State Prison
By Associated Press
February 3, 2004

STARKE — Eight inmates on the disciplinary wing at Florida State Prison, including two charged in the June beating death of a correctional officer, are on a hunger strike over what they claim are basic human needs for recreation, decent food, visitation and access to canteen items.

According to the Florida Department of Corrections, eight of the 24 inmates on Q wing are in the strike, which began Sunday.

A statement released by the inmates through the Florida Death Row Advocacy Group, states: "On Feb. 1, the inmates housed on Q wing will begin a hunger strike in protest of the erroneous and unconstitutional conditions that we are being forced to endure. Those who are not participating are either mentally ill or in fear of retaliation from this administration."

State officials said two of the inmates, Stephen Smith, 43, and Michael Jones, 47, are awaiting first-degree murder trials for the beating death of Correctional Officer Darla Lathrem, 38, during an escape attempt at Charlotte Correctional Institution in June.

Charlotte County prosecutors announced Thursday that they would be seeking the death penalty against Smith and Jones.

Sterling Ivey, said a recent review found that of 47 inmates sent to Q wing, 39 were there less than six months, five from six months to one year, and three for more than a year.

"Of your 79,000 inmates, these are the most dangerous or highest escape risk," Ivey said.

The inmates claim conditions of their confinement are violating their rights.

Seven conditions listed on their letter:

— They want to exercise once a week. They claim they are allowed exercise only once a month.

— They want the right to receive books, magazines and newspapers and are asking that radios be returned.

— The want to have visits and make telephone calls to family and friends.

— The inmates also claim they are not being adequately fed by Aramark, which has the contract for prison meals, and they often go to bed hungry. They would like to be able to buy food from the canteen.

— They claim that basic hygiene is being ignored and want to be able to buy shampoo, mouthwash and body deodorant.

— They want warmer clothing in the winter months.

— They want enforcement of the Florida Administrative Code, which states that maximum management is a temporary status.

Iven said the length of stay depends on the inmate.

"Our policy is to move the inmates off of maximum management as quickly as their behavior will allow," he said.

Q Wing contains 24 cells, on the second and third floor of the prison directly above the execution chamber. It is for inmates who break prison rules.

The wing, on the far north end of the prison, used to be known as X wing. Death row inmate Frank Valdes was on X wing when he was beaten to death on July 17, 1999.

Four guards were acquitted in two trials in the death of Valdes. Prosecutors dropped charges against other guards.

[summer]

Eight inmates on the disciplinary wing at Florida State Prison, including two charged in the June beating death of a correctional officer, are on a hunger strike over what they claim are basic human needs for recreation, decent food, visitation and access to canteen items....

State officials said two of the inmates, Stephen Smith, 43, and Michael Jones, 47, are awaiting first-degree murder trials for the beating death of Correctional Officer Darla Lathrem, 38, during an escape attempt at Charlotte Correctional Institution in June.

Charlotte County prosecutors announced Thursday that they would be seeking the death penalty against Smith and Jones

I am finding it real tough to feel sorry for these inmates.

[Ann Archy]

Let them starve!!!!

[Phantom Lord]

As I have said about every hunger strike participant in historty...

LET THEM STARVE TO DEATH!

[JustPlainJoe]

AWWWWWWWWWW!!! I feel for these murderers....


Seven conditions listed on their letter:

— They want to exercise once a week. They claim they are allowed exercise only once a month.

-try some push-ups and sit-ups, doofuss!

— They want the right to receive books, magazines and newspapers and are asking that radios be returned.

-"The Anarchist Cookbook" and "How to Kill People for Fun and Profit in Your Spare Time"

— The want to have visits and make telephone calls to family and friends.

-They aren't able to get enough drugs the hard way.

— The inmates also claim they are not being adequately fed by Aramark, which has the contract for prison meals, and they often go to bed hungry. They would like to be able to buy food from the canteen.

-They often go to bed hungry...-like BAD boys should!

— They claim that basic hygiene is being ignored and want to be able to buy shampoo, mouthwash and body deodorant.

-They want to look good and smell good on that table with da needle!

— They want warmer clothing in the winter months.

-Huddle up, boyzzz!

— They want enforcement of the Florida Administrative Code, which states that maximum management is a temporary status.


-except for those who try to escape and KILL guards!

[Free ThinkerNY]

Put them out of their misery

[StonyBurk]

for recreation --let them watch each other starve to death.
for food--oops they have rejected food--for water-give them
ditch water-or rain water. As for shelter --all they need
is a roof over their head-and prison bars. They do not
deserve any greater rights than what they decided their gaurds had any right to.They would not be where they now are
had they not done something to justify their imprisonment.
Do the crime-- do the time.

[ClearCase_guy]

Yup. I think the guards should show up once a day with a bullhorn:

"Prisoners! We have food here for you! Do you want it?"
"NO!"
"Okay. We'll see you tomorrow."

If the inmates ever stop answering, then the coroner can be called.

[Bikers4Bush]

Let them die.

[AppyPappy]

Eat steak and lobster in front of them. I'll donate to the food fund.

[TheDon]

State officials said two of the inmates, Stephen Smith, 43, and Michael Jones, 47, are awaiting first-degree murder trials for the beating death of Correctional Officer Darla Lathrem, 38, during an escape attempt at Charlotte Correctional Institution in June.

Next time someone tells you that the death penalty is wrong, that locking murderers up for life in prision is good enough, tell them about Darla. Then ask them, if life in prison is good enough.

[TheDon]

http://www.dc.state.fl.us/pub/factsheet/0603/

[af_vet_1981]

Eight inmates on the disciplinary wing at Florida State Prison, including two charged in the June beating death of a correctional officer, are on a hunger strike

Do not feed them.

Offer them a drug overdose.

[gathersnomoss]

Mr. Whiner, your seat, er-uh table is ready.

[ZULU]

"— They want to exercise once a week. They claim they are allowed exercise only once a month."

Toss them in the Everglades once a day to see if they outswim the gators.

"— They want the right to receive books, magazines and newspapers and are asking that radios be returned."

Hit each one of them on the head once a day with an unabridiged dictionary.

"— The want to have visits and make telephone calls to family and friends."

How about a visit from a coule of Mafia enforcers with lead pipes?

"— The inmates also claim they are not being adequately fed by Aramark, which has the contract for prison meals, and they often go to bed hungry. They would like to be able to buy food from the canteen. "

Let them go fishing and have them catch their own meals from the everglades with their toes for bait.

"— They claim that basic hygiene is being ignored and want to be able to buy shampoo, mouthwash and body deodorant."

Ohh, so sorry. Dump them in the swamps for a good bath.

"— They want warmer clothing in the winter months. "

With any luck, they won't be around next winter to worry about the cold.

"— They want enforcement of the Florida Administrative Code, which states that maximum management is a temporary status."

Refer that one over to the local attorney for review. Tell him NOT to hurry.

Scum

[Houmatt]

I think they should all be placed in front of a camera, with a monitor in full view of all other inmates, and shot in the head one at a time.

Then after the last one is dead, the warden could turn around, face the population, and then say, "Any more complaints?"

[Houmatt]

No, life in prison is not good enough. The method to the madness of these boneheaded bleeding heart murderer lovers is to have these killers back out on the street to kill again.

Let's arrange it so whenever a murderer is released, they can live with the murderer lover of their choice.

That should change some hearts and minds.

[AmericaUnited]

I DEMAND THAT THEY GET FELOS AS A COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEY!

[TheDon]

I've often thought that parole board member's and judge's homes should become halfway houses.