June 16, 2020

Form letter to bring change to Florida's death row

by Ronald W. Clark, Jr (author's profile)

Transcription

Date: 6/2/2020 9:16:12 AM

Draft. Please send this on our behalf to bring change to Florida's death row

The Honorable Harvey E. Schlesinger
U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
11-155 U.S. Courthouse
300 N. Hogan Street
Jacksonville, Florida 32202-4246
E-email chambers_flmd_schlesinger@flmd.us.court.gov
Case No Civil Action No: 3:17-cv-820-J-34PBD

Dear Judge Schlesinger
I'm coming to you to address the unconstitutional conditions on Florida's death row that's before you in case no, Civil Action No: 3:17-cv-820-J-34PBD.

I understand you that arbitration is taking place, but this could be dragged out for the next year or two. And these conditions are extremely harsh. Men are confined to 9 by 7-foot cells and get one or two rec periods a week if they are lucky. We've got this COVID-19 pandemic going on, and the FDOC won't even permit weekly phone calls. These men are already enduring conditions for which courts all around the country are finding unconstitutional, see Porter vs. Clarke, 923 F.3d348(4th Cor. 2019). The court emphasized that "the extensive scholarly literature describing and quantifying the adverse mental health effects of prolonged solitary confinement that has emerged in recent years provides circumstantial evidence that the risk of such harm' was so obvious that it had to have been known."

Your Honor, it is unequivocal that these men are suffering Eighth Amendment violations every day that passes with these delayed procedures. Wherefore I'm pleading with you to take immediate action to correct these unconstitutional conditions for which the court has acknowledged. These men should not have to suffer any longer in solitary confinement. Please use Pennsylvania's death row as a model to immediately correct the conditions in Florida.

Thank you for your time and hopefully your help.

Sincerely ________________

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