No Heat for Days at a Jail in Brooklyn Where Hundreds of Inmates Are Sick and 'Frantic'

[MelissaB]

Source: New York Times

More than a thousand inmates have been stuck in freezing cells at a federal jail on the Brooklyn waterfront that has had limited power and heat for at least this week, according to federal public defenders and leaders of the union representing the jail’s corrections officers.

“They just stay huddled up in the bed,” said June Bencebi, a case manager at the jail and the treasurer of the local chapter of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents about 500 corrections officers at the jail.

... snip

On Thursday, Rachel Bass, a paralegal at the Brooklyn office of the federal defenders, said that she had fielded calls from about 15 inmates. “In the past hour I have gotten 11 calls,” she said. “People are frantic. They’re really, really scared. They don’t have extra blankets. They don’t have access to the commissary to buy an extra sweatshirt.”

... snip

The president of the local chapter of the union, Anthony Sanon, said the problems began around Jan. 5 when the jail first lost power. The heating issues began last week, leaving inmates and staff to face freezing weather for the first time. “We didn’t have heat in the building, we didn’t have light,” Mr. Sanon said. “The weather was actually unbearable.”

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/01/nyregion/mdc-brooklyn-jail-heat.html

[EarthFirst]

1. So let me understand this...

They are ill and freezing; there is no access to PURCHASE an extra blanket or sweatshirt.

Fuck buying anything!

Some CO with the compassion of a human being needs to burst into the commissary and start distributing FREE sweatshirts while the heating infrastructure is disabled.

[femmedem]

2. Yes. And free blankets, too.

If there's a heating emergency they can't remedy immediately, they have no excuse for not purchasing warm clothing and blankets.

[cstanleytech]

3. Sounds like the inmates would have a good case of cruel and unusual punishment.

[rpannier]

4. This will be interesting to see what happens

Not only do you have the prisoners, but the union that represents the officers and the public defenders saying how bad it is

[TexasBushwhacker]

5. They've cut off visitation too

so if someone had a friend or family member that could bring them something, they can't!

[KY_EnviroGuy]

8. Most jails and prisons don't allow that due to contraband.

The ones I've known about only allow limited things to be shipped to long-term inmates, but only at the beginning of their stay - and it's all thoroughly inspected. After that, you're typically only allowed to send them money that goes into a commissary account.

So, unfortunately I'll bet nothing can be done by outsiders for this emergency need other than contribute to their inmate accounts, raise a ton of hell with local politicians, and keep it big-time in the news.

That all said, I see no excuse for the administration of this jail not taking emergency measures to protect inmate health.

[sheshe2]

6. How well is the staff dressed?

Bet they have more clothing for warmth than the inmates. Also if ill, I am sure they have access to care.

[DURHAM D]

7. A federal prison??? Good lord.

This is something the government (my taxes) are supposed to pay for. Basic need.

[lutherj]

9. "A society is judged by entering it's prisons." - Dostoyesvsky. N/t

[Dopers_Greed]

10. Why can't they just buy a large shipment of cheap sweatshirts and blankets?

Seems like that would be really simple for management to do, and wouldn't cost that much.

And, you know, would be the right thing to do...

[Liberty Belle]

11. Some clothing manufacturer or big store should donate everything.

Where are the New York Congressional members? They should be screaming about this and demanding visitation.

[Stuart G]

12. Horrific, thank you for posting...k and r.. Why? How did this happen? Who is responsible?

Last edited Sun Feb 3, 2019, 12:33 AM - Edit history (1)

[Stuart G]

13. And...Who is ultimately in charge of the "Federal Government" ?

[iluvtennis]

14. Unacceptable.

[Princess Turandot]

15. Around 10PM on Saturday night, NYC/Mayor's Office delivered generators, blankets etc to the prison..

Hopefully, it helped a little. (And embarrasses the Feds into correcting this.)

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[IronLionZion]

16. It's a good thing we're not a shithole country

Would they accept donations of blankets and sweatshirts from normal people? I'm sure some folks would gladly give them some.

[greatlaurel]

17. This is how the Nazis started killing people at first, lack of heat and food

The fact that this is not the top story in the media demonstrates how effective and how far the white supremist/facist propaganda has penetrated the news media.