A Message received 10/07/2020 from Kevin (Saleem) Mines at SCI Phoenix
The impact is devastating to many of the prisoners.
I suppose the difference with the quarantine this time around is that a larger number of COVID cases have been documented and that, after coming off of five (5) months of quarantine since March 29, 2020, we were wishful that things would get back to normal. However, realistically, we anticipated there would be a second outbreak because of the behaviors we observed with guards and staff members alike, not social distancing and/or keeping on their masks, and also hearing some of them describe that they haven’t been able to taste or smell for weeks, and that they believe that other guards and staff members have the virus or have been exposed to the virus.
The impact is devastating to many of the prisoners because of long periods of double-celling in these small spaces with no fresh air (no windows in the cells to open), showers every other day, TB sticks, diabetic sticks, blood withdrawal, temperature readings and feeding all through the cell door wicket. At the same time, all kinds of chemicals and disinfectants are being sprayed on the cell door and left to air dry. Within minutes after spraying, they come around and sit your raw fruits, apples, bananas, etc., and food on the door wicket.
Sitting, laying in bed for hours, legs and arms numb, back and side sore. Cell light continuously popping off every two hours. During the first quarantine, we had free cable where everyone was able to keep informed of the administration’s endeavors to keep them safe and watch organizations’ programs. Nothing this time!
It’s difficult to read or study with a cell mate having to constantly use the bathroom, coughing, sneezing, and exercising in the cell – two people can’t be on the floor at the same time without constant bumping into each other. Sitting, laying in bed for hours, legs and arms numb, back and side sore. Cell light continuously popping off every two hours. During the first quarantine, we had free cable where everyone was able to keep informed of the administration’s endeavors to keep them safe and watch organizations’ programs. Nothing this time! Can’t get hot water for commissary items. It’s chaos, frustrating and abating! WE NEED FRESH AIR!
Message from Kevin (Saleem) Mines at SCI Phoenix Received 10/11/2020
I don’t know that things have gotten better, but there has been some slack in their strict quarantine. I am told that on Monday, October 12th, the institution will begin allowing limited movement for certain passes and programs; the particulars are not known yet. They did expand our time out of cell from 15 to 30 minutes and put disinfectant out on the block so anyone can have access, although the disinfect is still too heavily diluted. We haven’t been able to get fresh air (yard) yet, perhaps that will change after tomorrow.
I am really concerned about is the double-celling problems. I know the Secretary is saying it’s an economic and space availability problem. That does not seem to be entirely true. This institution has created single cell space for persons they wish to curry favors with.
The other thing that I am really concerned about is the double-celling problems. I know the Secretary is saying it’s an economic and space availability problem. That does not seem to be entirely true. This institution has created single cell space for persons they wish to curry favors with. Aside from the fact that I adamantly think and believe that lifers and those serving virtue-life sentences who have been consistently incarcerated for ten or more years without a serious misconduct should be eligible for a single cell.
Since being at Phoenix, central office issued a policy mandating that prisoners who are diagnosed with mental health issues and those who are labeled problematic will now be double celled with any prisoner in general population. That includes double-celling a mentally ill prisoner with a prisoner labeled problematic. That’s placing us in eminent danger of seriously hurting someone or getting seriously hurt or worst. This, factored with the realities of COVID-19, weighs heavily on our mental states. There is no peace of mind for individuals who are fighting life (DBI) sentences. Double-celling of lifers or virtue-lifers is severely hampering our ability to study and work on our transformations. It is frustrating and creates all kinds of mental impediments. Their sole objective is to compel us to watch over and care for those prisoners.
-Kevin (Saleem) Mines, at SCI Phoenix
