PRESS RELEASE - USA/GARDNER Massachusetts

FROM: Luis Perez W-33937
www.betweenthe bars.org/blogs/350
www.writeaprisoner.com/W33937

Re: PRISON OVERCROWDING

Dt: March 4th, 2012

The issues of overcrowding in the prisons has become not only controversial but marked by hypocrisy as its dealt wth by politicians and the media. The fact of the matter is that this entire dilemma has been orchestrated for many years "Crime aand punishment is a productive industry that has secured jobs fot law enforcement community.

Over the years I have bene using my personal knowledge on prison subculture presenting accurate information that deals with prison reform and creating programs that can curb juvenile gangs in urban areas and groups associations with the same name inside the penal system (see Documents Attached to this letter).

It is very sad to see the authorities blink on this entire matter, no one is paying attention because I am a prisoner and our opinion from the prison does not mean anything. But it is time to pay the piper, the public should know the truth.

The prison administration, the Department of Correction and the Governor's Office are very much aware of crimes being committed between the prison and the juvenile gangs in the street, in particular the ramifications of those groups in urban reas, but neithe rone has done anything to create the programs in question. Prosecutions have been multple among six counties, Middelsex, Suffolk, Essex, Worcester, Hampden and Hampshire.

While on the one hand, when there is a seriouscrime and someone is shot, the public gets scared and the media push the issues to th estreme that politicians and legislators revamp the legal system over and over. It is like beating a dead horse. The same overxrowding issues have been the statistic across the board, minorties make the majority of the prison population and most curious they come from those counties that have large minority resident.

Sometimes my heart is broken because the hypocrisy, our own people get into power with the knowledge of waht is happening then they look the other way and forget where they came from.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Public Safety and Security

Department of Correction
North Central Correctional Institution

500 Colony road
PO Box 466
Gardner MA 01440

(978) 630-6000, Fax (978) 630-6040

DEVAL L PATRICK-Governor
TIMOTHY P MURRAY-Lt Governor
KEVIN M BURKE- Secretary
HAROLD W CLARKE-Commissioner
JAMES R BENDER, RONALD T DEVAL, VERONICA M MADDEN - Deputy Commissioners
GARY RODEN-superintendent

September 30 2008

Luis Perez W-33937
North Central Correctional Institution
500 Colony Road
PO Box 466
Gardner MA 01440

Dear Mr Perez

Please be advised that your September 11, 2008, letter to Commissioner Harold Clarke and Deput Commissioner James Bender regarding a program proposal for North Central Correctional Institution (NCCI) has been referred to me for reply.

While your intentions in requesting a cultural/STG group program at NCCI are appreciated, we have no plans to pursue offering this program at this facility. with regard to Project Wake-up, this program remains a part of NCCI's offerings. We cannot, however, eliminate the challenges faced by outside groups in their ability to take advantage of this program. We remain ready and willing to provide the Project Wake-Up program to those schools/groups capable of attending.

I trust this addresses your concerns.

Superintendent

GR/mrs

cc

Commissioner
Deputy Conmmissioner/Prison Division
Deputy Superintendent/Treatment and Programs
Director of Treatment

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Public Safety and Security
Department of Correction
50 Maple Street Suite 3
Milford, Masschusetts 01757-3698
Telephone (508) 422-3301
Fax (508) 422-3386
www.mass.gov/doc

DEVAL L PATRICK-Governor
TIMOTHY P MURRAY-Lieutenant Governor
KEVIN M BURKE-Secretary

October 3, 2007

Mr Luis Perez, W33937
North Central Correctional Institution
PO Box 466
Gardner MA 01466

Dear Mr Perez

In response to you letter of September 16, 2007, I would like to thank you for sharing your comments with me.

While your comments and reflections are appreciated, please do not misconstrue my response as an endorsement of your ideas. I do, however, encourage you to submit your proposal for the curtialment of Security Threat Group activity to the Superintendent at North Central Correctional Institution.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have future questions or comments.

Acting Commissioner

cc: Timothy Hall, Assistant Deputy Commissioner
Gary roden, Superintendent - North Central Correctional Institution
Inmate File

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Public Safety
Department of Correction
Leverett Saltonstall Building, Government Center
100 Cambridge Street, Boston, Mass
(617) 727-3300

WILLIAM F WELD-Governor
LARRY E DUBOIS-Commissioner
MICHAEL T MALONEY-Deputy Commissioner

Luis Perez
W-33937
MCI-Shirley Medium
PO BOX 1218
Shirley MA 01464

Inmate Perez

Your letter to Governor Weld has been referred to my office for response.

You are correct in stating that the problem of crime in america is multi faceted and complex. To ignore the connection betwwen "the prison sub culture" and crimes in the street would indeed hamstring any efforts in that area.

As you may be aware, the Department of Correction is implementing new and innovstive approaches to substance abuse, anger and violence reduction and sex offender treatment, to name just a few. It is the Department's hope that the approaches will do much in reducing the effects that the prison sub-culture has on those offenders that are released.

Thank you for writing, your views are appreciated and will remain on file.

Communications Manager
Commissioner's Office

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Public Safety and Security
Department of Correction
norht Central correctional Institution
500 Colony Road
PI Box 466
Gardner MA 01440
(978) 630-6000, Fax (978) 630-6040

DEVAL L PATRICK-Governor
TIMOTHY P MURRAY-Lt Governor
KEVIN M BURKE-Secretary

July 15, 2008

Luis Perez W-33937
North Central Correctional Institution
500 Colony Road
PO Box 466
Gardner MA 01440

Dear Mr Perez

Your correspondence to Commissioner Clarke regarding the DOC Operations and the manner to address all of the problems that exist with the population and racial conflicts has been referred to me for a response. In your letter you state the following:

"Also, it's important that you know that when the culture program was removed the gangs took over and over the last 15 years the problems have spread to our communities, while Superintendents and deputies have hidden under the table and have dedicated themselves to create regulations without any knowledge in the correction field. They need to come up with innovated ideas that will address the problems".

I believe this issue was already addressed in a letter dated October 25, 2007 by Christopher Mitchell which states the following:

"Please be advised that an STG program is currently under development by the Department. This program will be designed to change inmate behaviour by targeting risk factors, the STG mindset, crminalthinking, and other key elements of underlying STG involvement. A goal of the program will be to reduce STG involvement and affiliation. Two vendor contract positions are being dedicated to facilitate this program. I urge you patience as the Department works towards implementing this initiative".

I, also, believe comments similar to what is in your letter, "It is for this reason that your administration could not
adapt to new ideas and projects. The tunnel vision does not allow them to see around them. You can not draw water from a rock, the majority of the prisoners arrive at Concord with doubts "Victim fees" - "Court fees" - Lawyers fees" and "Drug assessments". All these things when there no sufficient money due to the prices in the canteen, not enough jobs, no vocational jobs etc etc. Most of the money budgeted towards the DOC goes towards your employees".

Your similar concerns expressed were previously addressed by then Acting Commisioner Bender on October 3, 2007, as follows:

"While your comments and reflections are appreciated, please do not misconstrue my response as an endorsement of your ideas. I do, however, encourage you to submit your proposal for the curtailment of Security Threat Group activity to the Superintendent at North Central Correctional Institution".

I trust this addresses yiur concerns.

Sincerely

GR/mrs

cc: Harold W Clarke, Commissioner
File

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Public Safety and Security
Department of Correction
50 Maple Street, Suite 3
Milford, Massachusetts 01757
Tel: (508) 422-3300
www.mass.gov/doc

DEVAL L PATRICK-Governor
TIMOTHY P MURREY-Lieutenant Governor
KEVIN M BURKE-Secretary

September 22, 2008

Luis Perez W33937
North Central Correctional Institution
PO Box 466
Gardner MA 01440

Dear Mr Perez

I am writing in response to your September 11, 2008 concerning your proposal for Security Threat Groups cultural programs.

Please be advised that I am forwarding your letter and proposal to Veronica Madden, Deputy Commissioner of Classification, Programs and Reentry for her review and for her files.

Sincerely

Deputy Commissioner
Prison Division

JRB/mar

cc: