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A Victim of Justice and the Franchising of Evil
On April 9, 2004, Laurie’s modest routine was bluntly interrupted without explanation as she was abruptly seized, handcuffed
and transferred from her cell block of seven years to disciplinary segregation -a measure of reprisal normally reserved for
inmates who have committed extremely serious offenses while incarcerated. On the streets you would say she was thrown in
“The Hole,” -solitary confinement. Almost a Yankee spin on the Hanoi Hilton, she is locked down 21 hours a day
- seven days a week, gets a whopping 10 minutes to shower and three blessed hours of recreation time in a cage of thick mesh
fit only for wild animals (split among morning, afternoon and evening). All these elegant amenities while enduring life in
a seven foot by five foot literal box constructed of thick, oppressive, damp and musty cement walls, steel slab for a bed,
a thin, stained, musty old mattress, an old dirty freezing cold porcelain toilet with no seat, and a small dirty porcelain
sink with a steel button directly above it that when pushed, barely trickles out cold water. It is something that might slam-dunk
a ratings bonanza on an “Amnesty International Info-mercial” or play as a feature on the “Animal Rights
Channel,” with a poor, hapless creature pacing mournfully from wall to wall, eyes vacant and spirit broken, consigned
to a stall barely fit for demons.
Laurie is cuffed and shackled whenever she leaves her cell for any reason; whether to shower, delight in her whole hour of
recreation, go to have her medication dispensed, or enjoy the one nourishing, weekly visit she cherishes so dearly. This woman
who has been a model prisoner for over 13 years (the only thing different, is that Laurie won a civil suit reluctantly brought
against the prison as last resort for denying her critical medical treatment in lieu of a significant injury), has the gun-tower
notified when she travels from point A to point B. There is a sharpshooter in the tower who is advised of Laurie's destinations
at all times (this has been an ongoing procedure since long before she was taken to solitary). The officer in the tower is
armed with an arsenal that would make Saddam Hussain envious, including a .38 caliber revolver, a high powered rifle, 12 gage
shotgun and chemical agents (tear gas). Laurie has been the victim of false allegations, (initially dismissed due to lack
of evidence but still formally “under investigation” allowing the prison to keep her legally buried in “The
Hole” for up to three (3) years). She is subjected to a demeaning battery of sexual harassment, verbal abuse, confiscation
of her necessities, delay on crucial medications, denial of commissary access, phone privileges and packages. She is now
allowed only one regular visit per week and the treasured overnight visits with her mother and two sons, (which all maximum
security inmates at Bedford Hills are entitled to every six to ten weeks), have been prohibited as well.
Numerous supporters have repeatedly contacted relevant organizations, legislators and prison officials to no avail. People
are incarcerated as punishment, not for punishment but in prison, they can become little more than souless statistics. And
while there are many honorable corrections professionals, there are a great many more who don't know or care to know the meaning
of the word. Unfortunately, inmates can be, and are more often than not, dominated and abused by the darker impulses of thugs
with badges. Thus they tragically become victims of a system created to restrain evil, but is instead sometimes manipulated
by cowards who hide behind a badge while flexing their muscle to franchise it for selfish gain.
SOLITARY CONFINEMENT:
A FRINGE BENEFIT FOR A
13 YEAR ROLE MODEL INMATE!
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