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Mold,
Staph Infections and Broken Utilities at the Ohio State  Penitentiary
By Robert Reed, Prisonersolidarity.org
Jan. 1, 2007
Greetings
to Kunta Kenyatta. I have been reading a lot about you and all the
strides you've made. Keep it up and keep helping, a loud voice is
powerful.
We need voices that they can't cover up.
I,
and the other inmates here at the Ohio State Penitentiary, have
been
trying to contact someone to come in and conduct a report on our
living
conditions. They are really poor. For a newer prison, it is bad.
It's worse
than Pickaway's old units. I have tried to address this within the
grievance
process, but it's just been spun around for more than a year. Please
call
the federal health department or send me an address. They need to
take
samples of this mold in our cells, and we need other areas addressed.
A lot
of sickness and staph is showing up here now!
I
wrote the Ohio Justice and Policy Center. They know, but we need
some
outside authorities to look at these inhumane conditions. I have
made a list
of some of the issues, off the top of my head. I appreciate your
time and
promise that when I'm released I will share my voice and give back
for all
the help I receive. I have 10 months left on a 6 year sentence,
so it's
almost over. But many more need help because things have taken a
downhill
slide since my incarceration. The thing that's crazy is that this
place
covers everything up, and won't do anything to help offenders. They
know how
to neglect basic human needs and abuse people, but that's about
it. I hope
you can help. Thanks brother.
Bathroom
- Sinks leak and backed up
- Urinals backed up
- Toilets leak profusely
- Exhaust fan broken
- Floor is constantly wet and slippery
- Condensation
- Unreasonably dirty
- Black mold spreading fast
- Shower wall leaks into East living area
Dorm
- West side unreasonably cold
- Window won't stay up(west window)
- 200 & 300 rows cable doesn't work(west side)
- No drinking fountain in West dorm
- Fountain broken in East dorm
Laundry
Room
- Not all washers work(3 out of 4 work)
- 2 dryers work of 4, the other 2 need electrical work
- Holes in wall leading to outside
West
Day Room
- Not enough tables
- Not enough chairs
- Many chairs broken
East
Day Room
- Many parts of weight machine broken, for example:
* sit-up bench broken
* cables snapped
* parts missing
- ice situation unsanitary
Inmates
are braking out with staph infections and the medical staff is not
helping them. Please call the Health Department for us, somebody
who can get
somebody here ASAP and see how bad it is. I'm taking care of the
other
problems.
In
God's Speed,
R. Reed
R.
Reed #424-893
Ohio State Penitentiary
878 Coitsville-Hubbard Rd.
Youngstown OH 44505
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An Opportunity for Activism
Would
you like to write a letter to the Ohio Department of Health?
Here is the contact information:
(this
office handles: Food, Mold, Sewage, Private Water Systems)
* Bureau of Environmental Health
Ohio Department of Health
246 North High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
E-mail: BEH@odh.ohio.gov
Telephone: (614) 466-1390
*
J. Nick Baird, M.D.
Director, Ohio Department of Health
Ohio Department of Health
246 North High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
E-mail: Director@odh.ohio.gov
(this
office handles: Rules and Regulations)
* Tamara Malkoff, General Counsel
Ohio Department of Health
246 North High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
E-mail: Tamara.Malkoff@odh.ohio.gov
You
may also write to the Ohio Justice adn Policy Center:
Ohio
Justice & Policy Center
617 Vine Street
Suite 1309
Cincinnati, OH 45202-2416
E-mail: contact@ohiojpc.org
Telephone: (513) 421-1108
Or
tell the Ohio State Penitentiary warden what you think:
Marc
C. Houk, Warden
Ohio State Penitentiary
878 Coitsville-Hubbard Road
Youngstown, Ohio 44505
(330) 743-0700
You
may contact Mr. Reed directly by writing to him at the address listed
above. The following link offers tips for writing to prisoners:
http://prisonersolidarity.org/TipsForWritingPrisoners.htm
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