Women Inmates Abused in Homestead : Miami IMC

To: Governor Jeb Bush Florida

Help the women of Homestead Correctional Institution Florida.

We ask for your support in seeking relief for the inmates of Homestead Correctional Institution, who are being subjected to unfair treatment, harassment, denial of due process, medical neglect, and in some cases physical and mental torture, for no justifiable reasons. We have included as many details as possible, however the facts are clear, and we need your support to right a great wrong. Please join us and sign our petition.

Homestead Correctional Institution was previously known as The Dade Correctional Institution, and is situated in the hot, humid, tropical region of Southern Florida. Originally designed for male inmates, it was changed to a women's prison some years ago, and presently houses several hundred female inmates.

When it was Dade Correctional Institution it had a reasonably good reputation, as far as southern prisons go, and the majority of the inmates found it at least tolerable. Then everything changed. In 2003 a reorganization occurred, the senior administration was removed and the name changed to Homestead Correctional Institution The new warden Ms Pichado, who is known for her extreme severity, was transferred from Broward Correctional Institution to assume command of the "reborn" Homestead C I. Since then it has been down hill all the way, and many of the inmates have been complaining to family and friends about the appalling treatment they are being subjected to, for no valid reason. Working hours have been extended, and the inmates forbidden to wash until they have had their evening meal. Supposedly they are allowed twenty minutes for this meal, but rarely are allowed more than seven or eight before being shouted at by abusive guards, and ordered to "get out".All this time they must sit in a sweaty, dirty condition which is unhygienic and personally degrading. Some inmates have become so traumatized by this that they have given up going to the evening meal altogether. There are other changes for the worse:-

The working hours have been unnecessarily extended, making it impossible for the inmates to attend any recreational activities or classes during the week. Technically they are on duty twenty four hours per day, and are not permitted to involve themselves in recreational or educational activities while on duty. They are restricted to the weekends for education, recreation, visitation and the library

One of each inmate's cotton blankets have been confiscated. Should they require another blanket they must apply for an old, dirty wool blanket which has caused a surge in allergic reactions. Despite the hot tropical conditions throughout most of the year, they are only allowed to wash the blankets every six months.

Other changes have been introduced including the painting of blue lines across yards and walk ways. The inmates must now walk on one side of these in single file, preventing them from talking or enjoying normal human contact. It is simply another way of applying psychological pressure, demeaning the individual, and creating new excuses to punish and humiliate the inmates. This seems to be an obsession of a Pichado dominated regime.

Educational opportunities have been cancelled, and access to literacy courses reduced. The gasoline powered lawn mowers have been removed and replaced with old fashioned hand mowers. Has anyone tried to cut damp tropical grass with a hand mower recently? Five separate sources have reported that a woman is taken in shackles to the kitchen at 3 AM to bake biscuits for breakfast. As she is guarded in an enclosed flood lit yard, surrounded by razor wire, what could Justify that? It's just another way to torture and degrade the inmate. And remember, these are women we are talking about, not 300 pound male serial killers.

Recently the prison authorities changed the regulations relating to inter-prison mail. Shortly after an inmate was thrown into confinement for receiving an unsolicited letter from another prison. She had not asked for it, or expected it, but she was punished for it.

The medical services are almost non existent. There are reports of wrong diagnosis and lack of follow up treatment, some of which have resulted in death. One case involved a 35 year old inmate who reported dizziness and chest pains. She was refused treatment, told she was malingering and ordered back to work. A short time later she died of a massive heart attack before Para-medics could reach her.

We could go on and on, but we have said enough. We insist that changes are made to stamp out this barbarity, and blatant evil which prevails at Homestead Correctional Institution. Please place your name with ours and help us stop this inhuman, barbaric situation, which is more akin to the eighteenth century than modern day America."The land of the free".

Sincerely,

The Undersigned