THE SAME TODAY AS YESTERDAY
by Timothy J. Muise

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I want to point your attention to an article that appeared in the Boston Herald in 2002. It speaks of abuse here at MCI Shirley which was revealed by a prison employee "whistle blower". Now that term is very familiar to me as media outlets, Solitary Watch & Mother Jones most recognizable, referred to me as a whistle blower when I revealed sexual abuse at MCI Norfolk in 2010. As I reported here on this blog, sadistic guards at Norfolk were forcing men to act as "informants" in return for turning for the guards, allowing them to engage in coerced sexual activity. That abuse was real and twisted, but what goes on here at MCI Shirley, or ShirleyWorld, is just as twisted and sadistic.

In 2002 guards beat down numerous prisoners during a "shakedown" of the prison. This "shakedown" was conducted in retaliation for climate issues which the guards created amongst the prisoners. The cowardly guards, who probably never won a one-on-one fight on the streets, came in like a giant wolf pack and beat up on handcuffed men, hurting some very badly, and this was all due to the guards maliciously and purposely creating an atmosphere of hate within the prison. You see, the guards want to sit on their fat state paid for asses all day and when prisoners clamor for what they have coming, the guards push back. It is ALWAYS the guards who create the violence. Sadly most prisoners are content to just go about their daily routines and only react when the guards disturb that daily routine. You can only know this TRUTH if you have been in prison. I know it is hard for the public to digest, but it is in fact the TRUTH. The problem is the lazy, arrogant, layabout guards.

What transpired prior to the 2002 "shakedown" is happening again here at ShirleyWorld and many prisoners like myself are trying to get the word out there in an attempt to stop any violence: our cries are falling on deaf ears. It's the same old bullcrap from the administration as they spin their lies and skewed perspectives on what we report. When a supervising sergeant can threaten a prisoner right in front of one of the prison "investigators", you know the deck is stacked. When a fool of a supervising lieutenant can reveal CORI protected information about a con who would break him in half if he chose to, you know that they are working to create those climate conditions that cause riots and brutal shakedowns. The flood is coming and no one will help us build the ark.

We need some forces out there to listen. We need you to do more than read these words: WE NEED YOU TO GET INVOLVED! Help us get the story out there about the abuse of the guards and how they are literally stealing millions of dollars though false claims of understaffing. You have a responsibility to those you love to protect the streets they walk. This system is a jobs program for flawed guards: guards who suffer from stripped souls as there is no pride in their occupation. They keep men and women in cages for a buck. They are the centurions at the foot of the cross spearing the side of society. To help stop their madness please contact;

Bread & Water, Inc.
ATTN: Karen Schulman
PO Box 84
Hopedale, MA 01747
KLSchulman@verizon.net

or contact me directly.

Boston Herald 2002

speaks out after Oct. MCI sweep

Calls prison life 'sadistic'

By DAVE WEDGE

A jailhouse whistleblower who spoke out about alleged inmate beatings during an October raid in MCI-Shirley has resigned and is now lashing out at what she calls the Department of Corrections' "veil of secrecy" and the prison's "sadistic culture".

"I've been watching this stuff go on for five years and this was just too much. It was over the top", prison nurse Robin Vanliew told the Herald. "Sometimes you come to a moral impasse and you have to act. I just had enough and I've quit."

Vanliew, of Holden, was suspended without pay for a month after talking to the press about the Oct. 17 jailhouse sweep during which 30 inmates claim they were manhandled and beaten.

She said she wanted to return to Shirley after her suspension but was instead transferred to MCI-Framingham women's prison. Frustrated with what she called the DOC's "Gestapo-like tactics", she resigned last week.

"The DOC is a dirty, nasty operation. They're very secret and just don't want anyone making waves", she said. "They function in the dark and there's some dirty, squishy things in the dark."

A federal and state probe is under way into charges that several inmates - including an elderly blind man - were beaten during the surprise searches at the Shirley medium security facility.

This week, the Middlesex County District Attorney's office declined prosecution after reviewing an internal DOC report on the raids. The FBI and the Department of Public Safety are also reviewing the case while some lawmakers have called for an independent inquiry.

DOC spokesman Justin Latini refused comment on the sweeps but said the DOC is considering "policy changes" in light of the incident.

"The report speaks for itself", Latini said. "Every allegation was investigated and we sent our report for review. We feel very confident that the report is accurate."

Latini also said the jail has returned to "normal" operation since the raids and defended the probe, saying, "We want to be as public as we can. That's why the report was forwarded to outside agencies."

Vanliew said the case is indicative of the prison system's insular ways and has started a letter writing campaign pushing legislators to create a DOC oversight committee similar to one vetoed by Gov. Paul Cellucci last year.

"I don't think the department can police itself", she said. "It's a corrupt, dirty system."

Vanliew, who worked at the Shirley jail for five years, said she didn't challenge her suspension because she unknowingly signed a clause when she took the job with Correctional Medical Services agreeing not to talk to the media without the warden's permission.

The Rev. Paul Poyser, who was first to speak out about the alleged abuse, has been on voluntary administrative leave since the raids, Latini said. Poyser declined comment when contacted by the Herald, citing a DOC-mandated gag order on the case.

According to Vanliew, inmates had severe bruises, cuts, scrapes, bumps, head injuries and sprains. One inmate suffered nerve damage in his wrist while being restrained, she said.

She called the sweeps "unprofessional" and said the violence left her so "outraged" that she decided to speak out.

"They overstepped their boundaries", she said of the tactical squads that went from cell to cell, forcibly removing inmates and tearing through their belongings. "It's a sadistic culture."

TO GET INVOLVED PLEASE CONTACT;

Timothy J. Muise, #W66927
MCI SHIRLEY, PO BOX 1218
SHIRLEY, MA 01464-1218