Reply I.D.: Blog4HR

Title: Wisconsin's Supermax Denies Poor Prisoners Means to Write Media, Friends + Religious Persons - created 15 Sept. 2015 by Nate Lindell #303724, WSPF P.O. Box 9900, Boscobel, WI 53805

There are three pillars upon which all prison reform + progress are built upon: lawsuits, physical violence + media publication. The public can't vote for legislation or and enforcement of existing laws unless they know what's wrong with prisons. The same is true about other parts of our society, as the struggle for Civil Rights and even LGBT rights shows us. After years of W.S.P.F. prisoners' struggle, with some success at reform, W.S.P.F. has decided to snuff out our voices, so the public, the media + our loved ones or friends won't know what's going on in here.

See, under state + federal law, those of us who're sued about prison conditions must pay the 350$ + 450$ fees for suing + appealing. (E.g. see my attached monthly account statement, 2 pages long.) And we must pay 7.50$ to see medical staff. Then, if we try to kill ourselves, we're required to pay restitution for outside medical care. We're required to pay for anything prison staff can think of, even though those of us "lucky" enough to get a prison job can earn no more than 40$ - some a month, + usually earn only 15-20$ a month.

As my account statement shows, I owe more than 150$ just for seeing medical staff, with no hope of paying that, as I'm on Admin. Confinement status. where I'm paid 9$ or so a month.

My situation's not unique, other than that I won four of mu federal appeals (which I still must pay the fees for) and several state court cases (still have to pay those fees too). Many others who sued, trying to get judges to make WSPF staff obey the law are deep in debt too.

Because of our debts, we can't buy anything for ourselves, including postage-embossed envelopes ( + deodorant, shampoo, greeting cards, chapstick, etc, which makes for miserable living....).

WSPF used to let us one "writing materials" envelope + two sheets of paper a week, but, see the below memo.

WISCONSIN SECURE PROGRAM FACILITY
1101 Morrison Drive
P.O. Box 1000
Boscobel, WI 53805-0900
ph. 608-375-5656 <--- Gary Boughton is the warden, who can be called at or e-mailed: gary.boughton@wisconsin.gove

Memorandum
DATE: December 12, 2014
TO: All Inmates & Staff
FROM: Ms. Sutter, Financial Program Supervisor
SUBJECT: WRITING MATERIALS

In accordance with the revisions set forth in the DOC 303, writing materials and postage will only be provided to indigent inmates in disciplinary separation upon request. The writing materials can only be used for legal and/or CCE purposes. The materials may not used used for personal mail.

Writing materials will no longer be issued to each inmate in disciplinary separation and program segregation. Inmates must submit an interview request to the Program Department requesting the writing materials. Once indigent status is confirmed, you will receive your writing materials. Outgoing mail will be monitored to verify it is for legal and/or CCE purposes.

DOC 303.73 (5)(b): Indigent inmates in disciplinary separation may, upon request, receive writing materials and postage in accordance with s. DOC 309.51 and department policy. <---- This state regulation was slipped in amid the recent overhaul of the disciplinary code. Yet it doesn't prohibit warden's from providing postage for personal, media + religious mail from poor prisoners...

We can't have or use embossed/stamped envelopes mailed to us: we can't use other prisoners' embossed envelopes, because staff put the I.D.#s on them with red ink. The only way we can get postage-embossed envelopes is if people buy them for us from wiinmatepackage.com, which some of us (e.g. the mentally/emotionally ill) can't count on.

In short, poor prisoners at WSPF, with no reliable friends outside, can't write the media, religious persons or anyone other than lawyers + judges... who're only cared about the terrible conditions at WSPF because citizen advocates + the media have received details on the stark + brutal conditions from, often times, prisoners who were in debt from litigation + used the weekly free envelope they were given to inform advocates + the media.

Two months ago, the Wisconsin State Journal published a letter I wrote, which pointed out how the Wisconsin prison system could see nothing better to do with me than to keep me in solitary confinement for 13+ years. But, when they kicked me out + into federal custody, the feds let me right out to general population + hired me to tutor special-needs GED students. The warden here read that letter +, when I was returned to WSPF, he told me he'd give me a chance to be a tutor + not keep me in Admin. Confinement for a long time. That's an example of the power of the Press, which I'm no denied access to.

Please, if you're reading this, let the media know, let human rights advocates know + lodge protests with the WI prison system.

And, buy embossed envelopes for me so that I can continue posting articles on my blog, telling the media what's going on in here +, hopefully, finding some friends who'll help me.

Thanks,
Nate A. Lindell

P.S. Call 1-855-247-6093 or go to www.wiinmatepackage.com to order item #6515386, 5-packs of post-embossed envelopes, up to six packs every two weeks. I'll do the rest. Have your name + address noted on the receipt if you want to hear from me.