Supermax: A Clean Version Of Hell

ADX Supermax -is a prison in Denver that houses the most violent and dangerous prisoners in the country. In a 60 Minutes interview updated June 19, 2009, past warden, Robert Hood, says its equivalent to a Hell on Earth. According to North Carolina Cure (NC-CURE) and other advocates for prisoner’s rights, the ADX Supermax sounds more like a Boy Scout Camp, compared to the North Carolina Department of Corrections (NCDOC) that houses over 40,000 prisoners.

NC-CURE has reason to believe, the protocol used by the Supermax is standard operating procedure for North Carolina prison facilities. Prisons in NC are remotely located in rural counties throughout the state and solitary confinement is routine treatment for the inmates housed in them. NC-CURE receives hundreds of letters from family, inmates and advocates. Letters that attest to extensive abuse by prison staff and non-violent inmates held in solitary confinement for years. Reports received by NC-CURE from prison staff and families suggest that approximately 80% of their mentally ill inmates are kept in solitary confinement. Other reports indicate the conditions of confinement so cruel, that an animal would not be subjected to them. NCDOC have several classifications of confinement; Administrative segregation, (SEG), Disciplinary segregation (D-SEG), Intensive-Control, (I-CON) and Maximum Control (M-CON). Most prisoners refer to confinement as the “HOLE”. Prisoners housed under the above conditions have already lost all privileges of visitation and calls to family and friends and if not they eventually will. The purpose is to take complete control by isolating the prisoner from all contact with the outside world. A tactic being used frequently on various inmates, at the facilities discretion, to break them down both mentally and physically. Confinement cells have no windows to the outside, a steel door with a glass opening allowing staff to see in. Through a small trap door, meal trays are passed through with portions of food so small they would not sustain a child. Inmates who complain that they are hungry have been told they do not require as many calories due to their lack of mobility. The few families who still have visitation rights report their loved ones have lost their normal body weight, appear gaunt and malnourished. NCDOC Policy and Procedures state that Inmates are supposed to be allowed out for showers and exercise two-three times a week. The exercise is generally in an exercise cage that may be attached to the cell the prisoner is in. Depending on the shift that clocks in that day, inmates may be forced to forfeit both. The days and nights for these prisoners are long, tedious and agonizingly slow. Reading materials and letters, the life force that keeps them sane, are used as forms of punishment and may be held by staff and in some cases, the inmate may not receive them at all.

ADX Supermax prisoners being held in confinement are considered the most dangerous in our country; they are watching TV shows, receiving art supplies, books and magazines to pass the time. The thought of a TV in the cell of any prisoner confinement or not, would be downright absurd in the eyes of NCDOC. After all prisoners are sent to prison for punishment and the overall mentality of the NC prison facilities aim to do just that. Human suffering goes on day after day behind their walls. Families who are aware of such cruel and inhuman treatment of their loved ones suffer deeply with this knowledge and have no recourse at all.

NC-CURE is non-profit, grassroots, advocacy group that has been active in NC for just two years, we have Chapters all over the world and our main Chapter (www. nationalcure.org) is located in Washington , DC . Our outreach work is slowly connecting with families and inmates across the state. As our membership grows, so does our ability to reach out to larger numbers of inmates and their families. The mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, grandparents and others. Taxpaying citizens of our communities whose voices go unspoken out of fear of retaliation by prison personal. NC-CURE to date have received hundreds of letters from family, friends and prisoners detailing galvanizing stories of abusive and violent behavior by prison staff behind their walls. NC-DOC have made countless calls to report such matters and no accountability is ever taken by NCDOC. NC-CURE has attempted to establish a working relationship with NCDOC officials in an effort to resolve matters brought to our attention such as; long term confinement, medical neglect, medical best practices, malnutrition, starvation, wrongful classifications of inmates as STG (Security Threat Groups -gangs), abusive staff, abuse of the inmate grievance process, mail

tampering, lack of hygiene supplies, paper, pens and envelopes. In addition, inquiries to the accountability for the millions of dollars deducted from prisoners accounts by their facilities. This is the money families send in to their loved ones for food, stamps, clothing and other necessary supplies needed. While many families find it a hardship, themselves they still sacrifice to send their loved ones money that the prisoner may never see.

So for many North Carolinians it is difficult to relate to the 60 Minutes interview on the Denver Supermax Prison said to be the worst in our Nation, “A Clean Version of Hell” North Carolina CURE has reasons to believe NCDOC has “A True Version of Hell” and Modus Operandi for North Carolina Department of Corrections.

North Carolina Cure
P.O. Box 49572
Charlotte, NC 28277
northcarolinacure@…
in response to:

Supermax: A Clean Version Of Hell
60 Minutes’ Scott Pelley Reports On Supermax Prison And Its Inmates

CBS News, 60 Minutes