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by Keith ‘Malik’ Washington
FCI Elkton is a low-security federal prison located in the Northern District of Ohio. FCI Oakdale is a low-security federal prison located in the Western District of Louisiana.
At both locations, prisoners have brought federal suits pleading to be released to home confinement in order to escape the spread of the deadly coronavirus, which has ravaged both prisoners and staff at both prisons. The prisoners seeking relief are mostly elderly and infirm. These prisoners have been deemed the most vulnerable and most likely to be infected by the deadly COVID-19 virus.
FCI Elkton has experienced six deaths from COVID-19. There have been approximately 60 prisoners with confirmed cases and approximately 50 staff members.
FCI Oakdale has experienced approximately 10 deaths, but there has been much less transparency at FCI Oakdale than at FCI Elkton, and many feel as if the Bureau of Prisons is obscuring the details in order to downplay the seriousness of the situation at FCI Oakdale.
The Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects people from being subjected to cruel and unusual punishment. There are also provisions in the U.S. Constitution which prohibit deliberate indifference to the health, welfare, safety and medical needs of prisoners.
The federal court in Ohio ruled in favor of the prisoners at FCI Elkton and ordered the Federal Bureau of Prisons to begin releasing the elderly and infirm to home confinement.
The federal court in Louisiana ruled against the prisoners at FCI Oakdale. The presiding judge seemed to admonish the prisoner plaintiffs by stating that the court would not become a “super warden” and that the BOP has the authority to act.
My question is this: What happens when we see prisoners dying and the BOP doesn’t act? Is that not a time when the federal courts should intervene in order to preserve and save lives? Apparently, the federal courts in Louisiana have ignored the humanity of federal prisoners.
In my reporting, I often interject my emotions into the pieces that I write. As a prisoner myself, I am able to empathize with the plight of the prisoner who yearns to be treated humanely.
At this point, I want to set aside my emotions and direct your attention to some quotes from members of the U.S. Department of Justice. Specifically, I am focusing on officials from the Western District of Louisiana, the very district that has blatantly ignored the human and civil rights of federal prisoners housed at FCI Oakdale.
In the April 2020 edition of Prison Legal News, staff writer Bill Burton wrote an article entitled, “Former Captain at Louisiana Private Prison Sentenced for Conspiracy to Violate Ban on Cruel and Unusual Punishment.” It is a short but enlightening piece of journalism that I highly recommend you read.
The defendants in this case highlighted by Mr. Burton were correctional officers. In 2016, the officers took a group of prisoners to a secluded location at the private prison where there were no surveillance cameras. The officers then forced the prisoners to kneel and place their hands behind their backs and handcuffed them.
The officers then proceeded to ask the prisoners if they were gang members. When a prisoner said, “No,” the public servants sprayed the prisoners directly in their eyes with pepper spray.
All five correctional officers who were defendants in the case wrote false reports in order to hide their complicity in the heinous act.
These prisoners survived, and the court ruled that there was a conspiracy to violate the ban on cruel and unusual punishment and sentenced the guards to prison with terms from 15 to 60 months.
Now the crisis at FCI Oakdale is much more heinous. I want to remind you that federal prisoners at FCI Oakdale are dying. They are dying because the federal BOP does not have a workable strategy to combat COVID-19 in that prison.
Testing, contract tracing and containment – this is how we must combat this virus. The solution is clear.
Wouldn’t you think that the court in Louisiana would acknowledge that the loss of life at FCI Oakdale illuminates a blatant failure to protect? Or triggers a violation of cruel and unusual punishment?
Here are some quotes from Louisiana U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph and Assistant Attorney Eric Dreiband in response to the pepper spray case that was brought against the officers at this Louisiana private prison.
“What happened to your commitment? Did it weaken when the violators of constitutional rights were Department of Justice employees?”
U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph said, “The defendant in this case ignored his role as a caretaker for prisoners and violated the rights of those he was sworn to protect. My office is committed to upholding the laws of our land and the rights of all.”
Dying from COVID-19 is a lot more serious than getting pepper sprayed in your eyes. It would seem that U.S. Attorney Joseph forgot that the federal prisoners at FCI Oakdale are human beings.
However, there is more! Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband had this to add: “This blatant abuse of power will not be tolerated by the Department of Justice. Today’s sentencing demonstrates the commitment of the Civil Rights Division to vigorously prosecute those who inflict cruel and unusual punishment against inmates under their care.”
This comes from the Western District of Louisiana, the same exact jurisdiction that has oversight of FCI Oakdale! I must ask the Civil Rights Division, “What happened to your commitment? Did it weaken when the violators of constitutional rights were Department of Justice employees?”
It is contradictions like this which clearly show that there is very little integrity or equality at the U.S. Department of Justice.
I continue to advocate zealously for the release of all prisoners housed at FCI Oakdale, but especially the elderly and infirm, those who are most vulnerable to being infected by the coronavirus.
I include here the case citings for the pepper spray case as well as the cites for the FCI Elkton and FCI Oakdale civil actions.
- Pepper spray case: United States v. Douglas, U.S. D.C. (W.D. LA), Case No. 3:18-cr-00085-01
- FCI Elkton case: Wilson v. Williams 2020 U.S. Dist. Court, Lexis 70674 (N.D. Ohio) April 22, 2020
- FCI Oakdale case: Livas v. Myers 2020U U.S. Dist. Court, Lexis 71323 (W.D. Louisiana) April 22, 2020
As a proud and dedicated member of the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee (IWOC), I am determined to amplify the struggles of all oppressed human beings.
It is important that I remind you that the struggle for prisoner human rights as well as prison abolition will not succeed without your support for us. Share this essay far and wide.
Solidarity forever,
Keith ‘Malik’ Washington
Keith “Malik” Washington is assistant editor of the Bay View, studying and preparing to serve as editor after his release in September 2020. He is also co-founder and chief spokesperson for the End Prison Slavery in Texas Movement, a proud member of the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee and an activist in the Fight Toxic Prisons campaign and Liberate the Caged Voices. Visit his website at ComradeMalik.com. Send our brother some love and light: Keith “Malik” Washington, 34481-037, USP Pollock, P.O. Box 2099, Pollock LA 71467.
