Daniel Gwynn Blog update
Date: 3/9/15
Subject: "Letter To Secretary Wetzel"
To: Mr. John E. Wetzel, Secretary of Corrections
1920 Technology Parkway
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050

From: Anthony Reid #BF-6567
SCI-Greene

Re: Letter Complaint

Dear Mr. Wetzel;

For many years, "Death Row Prisoners" have been treated unequal under the law in the state of Pennsylvania. When you came on as Secretary of Corrections, you were aware of the above fact. You made a visit to SCI-Greene death row. You walked around the L-Unit and informed all the prisoners there would be some positive changes. That visit was in April of 2011. You have made three visits to L-Unit since, and every time you never walked around and conversed with the prisoners. And there has been no positive changes, there has only been negative changes for the prisoners.

Over thirty years ago, death row prisoners were in general population. An incident happened with a death row prisoner, and the Governor, at the time, told the Secretary of Corrections to lock down every death row prisoner. Ever since that event, the Department of Corrections have been making up the rules and regulations for capital case prisoners as they go. This has been a major problem since the Pennsylvania legislative body didn't weigh in with laws to this matter. The Department of Corrections took it upon themselves to govern death row prisoners. The Department of Corrections choose to use solitary/punitive practices and policies tailored for behavioral modification under L-5 custody level. This is a lock down measure. According to the legislative body, the only time any death row prisoner should be subjected to solitary/punitive confinement is when the State Governor issues an execution warrant pursuant to the Statute. (See, Clark v. Beard, no. 644 C.D. 2006, Oct. 17, 2006 opinion by Judge Leavitt, filed Feb. 13, 2007). Once the prisoner gets a stay of execution it is required by law to remove the prisoner off of non-communal status. The law is silent as to what governs death row prisoners when such a warrant has not been issued or expires. The Department of Corrections do no have a legal right to use solitary/punitive practices and policies to house death row prisoners. No other prisoner is subjected to solitary/punitive measures due to their sentence from the court. These actions by the Department of Corrections is done solely due to the prisoner's death sentence. Because life sentence, the prisoner is not evaluated but is checked to see if the prisoner has separations from anyone in population, including staff. So the prisoner's potential dangerousness is not a factor in that prisoner going to population. These practices and policies are blatant acts of discrimination.

These practices and policies are very subjective. So every time a new Superintendent, Deputy, Major, Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant, Unit Manager comes in, the rules and regulations change. Each one of these individuals interpret these practices and policies as they see fit, and in most situations they are wrong. On Feb. 1, 2015, Deputy Superintendent Zaken, Major Leggett and Unit Manager Longstreth put an institutional memo out stating Capital Case prisoners will be strip searched every time upon leaving the cell, including showers. I asked them why the change, they said it is policy. I tried to explain to them we had this battle before with others in the administration. And under Secretary Beard he stated to the staff strip searches do not apply to capital case prisoners. That has been ignored as well as death row prisoners rights. There was no incident or reason for this sudden change of practice.

What is more troublesome, the SCI-Green Administration and staff participated in an interview with Jan Murphy of Pennsylvania Patriot News where thy praise capital case prisoners as being well behaved and productive prisoners. But yet their treatment towards us is as if we are the most hostile prisoners. (See, Jan, 8, 2015 newspaper).

There needs to be a solid directive that's clear from misinterpretation, so whomever holds a leadership position can't force their ill-will on capital case prisoners.

I request you to investigate this matter and the treatment of capital case prisoners. It would be wise to interview the prisoners during the investigation.

Thank you for your time, service and consideration.

*With the permission of the author, I made corrections to grammar. (Daniel Gwynn)

Daniel Gwynn Blog Update
Date: 3/9/15
Subject: "Response To Anthony Reid's Letter to Secretary Wetzel"

To: Anthony Reid #BF-6567
SCI-Greene

From: Dan Caro
Staff Assistant-Western Region

Date: February 24, 2015
Re: Correspondence

This serves as a response to your correspondence address to Secretary Wetzel concerning procedures on Capital Case Unit at SCI GRN. It has been referred to me for review and response.

I have read your letter concerning strip search procedures at SCI GRN. Your letter objects to the direction of capital case inmates being strip searched prior to departure from an assigned cell. Mr. Reid, this is not a change in policy, nor a form of humiliation or punishment. This is consistent direction of DOC policy to ensure the safety of the institution and its work force/residents. Central Office fully supports this process.

I trust the above response answers your concerns.