[The following consists of several letters, organized in chronological order]

May 30, 2012

Timothy Muise, W66927
MCI-Shirley (E2)
PO Box 1218
Shirley, MA 01464

Dear Mr. Muise:

Your letter to Commissioner Spencer dated May 21, 2012, alleging "serious climate issues" due to cell searches for contraband property, has been referred to me for reply.

Be advised that inmates are subject to being searched at any time to include your person, cell and property. Searching inmates and their cells are routine and does not constitute retaliation. I can assure you that Captain Hebert is not conducting cell searches as a disciplinary motivation.

Your insinuation that seizing contraband forces inmates to commit suicide is ludicrous.

Sincerely,
Alvin A. Notice
Deputy Superintendent of Operations

AAN/daf

Cc: Luis S. Spencer, Commissioner
Kelly A. Ryan, Superintendent
File

"Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections"

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May 31, 2012

Timothy Muise, W66927
MCI Shirley
P.O. Box 1218
Shirley, MA 01464

Dear Mr. Muise:

I am in receipt of your letters dated May 25, 2012 and May 26, 2012 to Undersecretary Sandra McCroom which was forwarded to Commissioner Spencer and then my office for a response.

I understand your concerns regarding an attempted inmate suicide and would recommend that you speak with your counselor, a Chaplain or Mental Health so that they may help you through this troubling time.

As far as your concerns regarding cell shakedowns, please be advised of the following:

Medium Inmate Handbook - Searches

At any given time or place, inmates are subject to a search of their person, living quarters, or place of work. Searches are routine in nature to control contraband. The fact that you are asked to submit to a search does not mean that you are under suspicion. Refusal to submit to a search will result in disciplinary action.

MCI Shirley 506, Search Policy

Scheduled bed/bunk searches: Housing unit searches are prescheduled via IMS. Each housing unit officer will review the search screen via IMS to determine which cells/bunks are scheduled to be searched. All results are to be logged into the search screen.

I trust this addresses your concerns in these matters.

Sincerely,
Kelly A. Ryan
Superintendent

cc: Luis S. Spencer, Commissioner C12-INM15189/C12-INM15188
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"Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections"

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June 3, 2012

His Excellency Deval Patrick
Governor of the Commonwealth
State House
Room 360
Boston, MA
02133

Re: SUICIDE CRISIS / CONTINUED HOPELESSNESS / CAVALIER DISCONNECT

Dear Governor Patrick:

Enclosed please find a copy of a letter I received from MCI Shirley Deputy Alvin A. Notice, who I must honestly say is a major part of the cavalier disconnect which keeps the suicide crisis alive. He is a draconian throwback to a time when the prisons were war zones, and I believe Deputy Notice would like to see that again.

As you know we have been dealing with this suicide crisis in the state's prisons for years now. The Haye's Report and all the measures it called for have failed. Why? Because it is left to the failed prison administrators to supply "tainted" information and implement procedures. The time is now to start listening to the men and women who are the victims of this failure. Men like Alvin Notice fail to listen and men hang themselves.

What we are seeking Governor Patrick is a meeting with you and your staff. If you plan to spend big money ($500 million bond) on prisons you truly need to get the prisoners' educated perspective on this failed system. Please do not take the "smoke & mirrors" of the entrenched prison official as the gospel concerning YOUR prisons. Please hear out views.

My sincere prayers will be to hear back from you very soon concerning a meeting. Please allow me to organize a group of motivated men, from all racial demographics, who would be willing to share their views with you. Let me know how we can facilitate this?

Thank you for your time and anticipated commonsense approach to this. I will be awaiting your reply.

Respectfully Yours,
Timothy J. Muise

cc: file
ATTACHMENT

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June 3, 2012

Mary Elizabeth Heffernan
Secretary of Public Safety
One Ashburton Place
Room 2133
Boston, MA
02108

Re: CAVALIER RESPONSES TO SUICIDE CRISIS CONTINUATION REPORTS

Dear Secretary Heffernan:

Enclosed you will find a response I received from MCI Shirley Superintendent Kelly Ryan about complaints I made to Undersecretary Sandra McCroom about the continued suicide crisis here in the Massachusetts prison system. I am appalled at the cavalier response, as well as perplexed as to why I am instructed to seek, "help through this troubling time."??? I am fine. My complaints were about the insanity of some operating procedures which create an atmosphere of hopelessness: hopelessness which causes men to choose death by hanging over another day of incarceration.

We truly need for you to come to the prison and meet with myself and some other motivated men on what is broken and how we can work together to fix it. This prison suicide crisis has been going on for too many years now and the prison administrators have dropped the ball as far as effecting and real solutions. You must speak to the men and women who are subjected to the systemic failures.

Thank you for your time and anticipated serious consideration of coming in soon to meet with us. Please allow me to assist you in organizing the meeting.

Respectfully Yours,
Timothy J. Muise

cc: file
ATTACHMENT

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June 5, 2012

Ms. Kelly Ryan
Superintendent
MCI Shirley
P.O. Box 1218
Shirley, MA
01464-1218

Re: RESPONSE OF DEPUTY ALVIN NOTICE / DISCONNECT

Dear Superintendent Ryan:

Enclosed please find a copy of the response I received from your Deputy, Alvin Notice, concerning a letter I directed to the office of Commissioner Spencer, which I believe displays the serious level of disconnect between prison administrators and prisoners, which promotes suicide and high recidivism.

Deputy Notice, in an arrogant fashion, states that my concept about the atmosphere of hopelessness weekly "shakedowns" create, promoting suicides, is "ludicrous". He is blind to the hopelessness as he is more concerned about girlie pictures on the inside of cell doors, vents being covered, or someone having religious materials hanging in their cell. Men are sent back to the streets unprepared, men like Scott Rose hang themselves in solitary confinement, and men who were released from this prison are participating in the "summers of murder" in the Mattapan corridor. When will prison administrators start to work with the prisoners to bridge this disconnect which is at the heart of a failed system with a 45% recidivism rate? Does anyone who wears a suit care?

I would also like to point out that you also responded to the same letter Deputy Notice responded to. The problem with this is that all it will do in having Deputy Notice respond is to afford him the opportunity to tell Captain Hebert that "Muise" wrote a complaint about him. Captain Hebert, who is anything but a compassionate professional, will surely visit his ire upon me in some way. It comes with the territory, and I accept these facts in my work, but it just is counter-productive. I believe you know that Deputy Notice is part of the problem here at MCI Shirley. We hear the guards talking about the power struggle between, "Notice, Crowley, and Parent - against the new 'Super'". Walk softly but carry a big stick!

I know you did a lot of work with the ladies in Framingham - direct work: listening to their needs and speaking with them directly to work out solutions. My suggestion would be that we somehow do that here at MCI Shirley. I'd like to begin to discuss how we can work together, suits and cons. Possibly we could save lives or at least reduce recidivism? I think it is worth a shot.

Don't judge me too harshly Superintendent Ryan. I do things I am compelled to do, it is my salvation, and there will always be bumps in the road, but I Would ask you to consider that possibly my heart is in the right place. Professionals sometimes agree to disagree and move on. I cannot allow myself to be considered "less than", as that was one of my core issues in development, and that is how Deputy Notice treats prisoners. The "good ole boy" network that destroyed this facility (McCann, MacEachern, Anderson) is almost gone. All that remains is Deputy Notice. Walk softly....

Thank you for your time. My prayers are that you can be understanding of my position. Allow me to work in a worthwhile capacity.

Very Respectfully Yours,

Timothy J. Muise, #W66927
MCI Shirley
P.O. Box 1218
Shirley, MA
01464-1218

cc: file
ACLU
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