"Misery Mountain": Violence plagued West Virginia prison before Whitey Bulger killing

[JonLP24]

An independent government commission found that United States Penitentiary Hazelton, near the state's border with Maryland in Bruceton Mills, has been overcrowded for years. Inmates have repeatedly expressed concerns about their safety at the high-security prison, which houses 1,270 male inmates. A 2016 report from the District of Columbia's Corrections Information Council said that prisoners warned officials, "Inmates can lose their lives quickly here."

According to news reports, the penitentiary has garnered a grim nickname among inmates: "Misery Mountain."

(Snip)

Justin Tarovisky, executive vice president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 420, which represents Hazelton prison guards, said Bulger's death "outlines how dangerous this prison is." The union voiced its concerns about staffing in a picket outside the prison as far back as 2015.

The letter sent to Sessions last week by Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.; Pat Toomey, R-Pa.; Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.; and Bob Casey, D-Pa.; and Rep. Bill Schuster, R-Pa., said Congress had provided additional funding to ensure there would be at least two corrections officers on duty in each housing unit for each shift and that the policy was "not being enforced as intended." The legislators said they were concerned that the Bureau of Prisons hasn't followed Congress' direction to curtail "its overreliance on augmentation, particularly in housing units."

A hiring freeze imposed by the Trump administration has left the agency short-staffed and some already overloaded federal prisons have been housing immigration detainees in recent months as well.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/whitey-bulger-dead-misery-mountain-violence-plagued-west-virginia-prison-hazelton/

[tymorial]

1. Bulger was a horrible absolutely horrible person but he deserved to be safe

Prison reform is a big issue with me; abhorrent incarceration rates, slavery in the form of complusery labor of prisoners, violence against prisoners both by other inmates and staff, the rape of prisoners again by both other inmates and staff. According to Rainn 60% of rape is perpetrated by staff. Often, rape in prison is unreported because of shame, trading of rape for "protection" and fear. There have been many reports that juveniles in detention are especially vulnerable. Male and female guards have been charged with the sexual abuse of minors in custody. The fact that the victims in question are in custody means they are incapable of consent regardless of their personal desire. The guard or staff is in a position of authority.

When it comes to sex between female staff and male inmate, I view it the same as teacher and student. There is nothing lucky or cute about the act.

I know PREA was signed unanimously in 2003 but it has done little to address the problem.


Anyway, I know I went off topic. Bulger shouldn't have died even if he was a horrible person and a murderer.

[JonLP24]

2. I believe you were more on topic

I think this is less about Bulger but more about prison conditions as well as the overall push for criminal justice and prison reform. Butler's death highlights all of those things in this article.

I agree 100%