I have received confidential reports that an extended period of violence across the upper-security BOP System throughout the Winter is but the tip of a contraband drug-related war developing along racial (gang) lines that, without senior BOP intercession, seems likely to explode in the very near future.
These confidential reports indicate that violence has thus far centered around Latino and African-American groups, but that Caucasian gang members have over the past week been going person to person and warning Caucasian inmates that they are to fight alongside the Latino groups in upcoming violence or face the consequences of their choices.
I have permission to disclose the substance of these confidences but not to identify the sources, for obvious health-and-safety reasons besides basic legal priviileges, so please don’t ask. I have extremely limited information about casualties, but some details about recent violence are available from the Correctional Officers’ union website (Council of Prison Locals 33, part of American Federation of Government Employees) at http://www.cpl33.info/id29.html. This post is not just about telling families to get their inmates’ (or their COs) heads down — which might not help this time — but also to put the Department of Justice on notice that a really bad series of events seems about to transpire.
I implore the BOP and DOJ readers here to address these matters at the institutional level and — while I never thought I’d utter this phrase — lock down those facilities with the most recent violence for weapons and contraband searches, rather than just shipping potential shot-callers to other facilities (which, in reality, would just allow broader distribution of any specific orders). Many of these facilities are still on or just coming off lockdowns, but we all know it takes the armorers not that long to re-fit combat-ready inmates.
Besides the inmate dead in his cell at the USP Beaumont (Ronald Joseph, 29, of Richmond, Virginia, see http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19295512&BRD=2287&PAG=461&dept_id=512588&rfi=6), I have a report that Beaumont FCI Medium had organized violence along racial lines — reportedly over dope — a few days before Valentine’s Day. I have no reports about these particulars or the casualties, but the point was made that this was not the USP, where Mr. Joseph was apparently found dead in the SHU, but rather the Medium FCI. The entire Beaumont FCC appears to be at risk.
La Tuna FCI also reportedly had gang-related violence within the past two weeks (reportedly on or about February 15, at approximately 9.50 am local time). Again and as per usual, there is no public news reporting, but the Council of Prison Locals alleges one duty officer was then and there responsible for three housing units, thus preventing effective “good order and security” measures. This was a CO’s report, not mine.
I understand many will react with distaste to these reports, and blame guards seeking more funding or a defense lawyer spinning hyperbole and flights of fancy. Were this a different set of sources, though, I would not have taken time to publish this notice for both inmate and law enforcement safety. With a rash of violence already documented, however — particularly at the war zones of Big Sandy (KY), Beaumont (TX), and La Tuna (NM/TX), as well as the recent “melee” at Allenwood — this is an opportunity for cops with the juice to intercede to make my report premature. I plead with the DOJ to at least investigate and toss some cells, and I would be grateful to find my sources were wrong. This would be the first time they have been wrong, though. To that end — and to show my neck really is on the line — I am also forwarding a copy of this email to South-Central Region Executive Assistant’s Office. This is not a drill.
EJ Hurst II
Attorney at Law
PMB No. 124
550M Ritchie Highway
Severna Park, Maryland 21146
Tel. (859) 361-8000
Fax. (866) 876-7269
jayhurst@jayhurst.net
http://www.victorvillefoia.org/