No Heat for Days at a Jail in Brooklyn Where Hundreds of Inmates Are Sick and 'Frantic'
Source: New York Times
More than a thousand inmates have been stuck in freezing cells at a federal jail on the Brooklyn waterfront that has had limited power and heat for at least this week, according to federal public defenders and leaders of the union representing the jails corrections officers.
They just stay huddled up in the bed, said June Bencebi, a case manager at the jail and the treasurer of the local chapter of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents about 500 corrections officers at the jail.
... snip
On Thursday, Rachel Bass, a paralegal at the Brooklyn office of the federal defenders, said that she had fielded calls from about 15 inmates. In the past hour I have gotten 11 calls, she said. People are frantic. Theyre really, really scared. They dont have extra blankets. They dont have access to the commissary to buy an extra sweatshirt.
... snip
The president of the local chapter of the union, Anthony Sanon, said the problems began around Jan. 5 when the jail first lost power. The heating issues began last week, leaving inmates and staff to face freezing weather for the first time. We didnt have heat in the building, we didnt have light, Mr. Sanon said. The weather was actually unbearable.
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/01/nyregion/mdc-brooklyn-jail-heat.html
EarthFirst
(2,904 posts)They are ill and freezing; there is no access to PURCHASE an extra blanket or sweatshirt.
Fuck buying anything!
Some CO with the compassion of a human being needs to burst into the commissary and start distributing FREE sweatshirts while the heating infrastructure is disabled.
femmedem
(8,207 posts)If there's a heating emergency they can't remedy immediately, they have no excuse for not purchasing warm clothing and blankets.
cstanleytech
(26,319 posts)rpannier
(24,338 posts)Not only do you have the prisoners, but the union that represents the officers and the public defenders saying how bad it is
TexasBushwhacker
(20,214 posts)so if someone had a friend or family member that could bring them something, they can't!
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,494 posts)The ones I've known about only allow limited things to be shipped to long-term inmates, but only at the beginning of their stay - and it's all thoroughly inspected. After that, you're typically only allowed to send them money that goes into a commissary account.
So, unfortunately I'll bet nothing can be done by outsiders for this emergency need other than contribute to their inmate accounts, raise a ton of hell with local politicians, and keep it big-time in the news.
That all said, I see no excuse for the administration of this jail not taking emergency measures to protect inmate health.
sheshe2
(83,898 posts)Bet they have more clothing for warmth than the inmates. Also if ill, I am sure they have access to care.
DURHAM D
(32,611 posts)This is something the government (my taxes) are supposed to pay for. Basic need.
lutherj
(2,496 posts)Dopers_Greed
(2,640 posts)Seems like that would be really simple for management to do, and wouldn't cost that much.
And, you know, would be the right thing to do...
Liberty Belle
(9,535 posts)Where are the New York Congressional members? They should be screaming about this and demanding visitation.
Stuart G
(38,445 posts)Last edited Sun Feb 3, 2019, 12:33 AM - Edit history (1)
Stuart G
(38,445 posts)iluvtennis
(19,871 posts)Princess Turandot
(4,787 posts)Hopefully, it helped a little. (And embarrasses the Feds into correcting this.)
Link to tweet
Link to tweet
Link to tweet
IronLionZion
(45,528 posts)Would they accept donations of blankets and sweatshirts from normal people? I'm sure some folks would gladly give them some.
greatlaurel
(2,004 posts)The fact that this is not the top story in the media demonstrates how effective and how far the white supremist/facist propaganda has penetrated the news media.