I read the article about the horrid conditions at Perryville, and I cannot see it as reality. To believe that the conditions are that bad I would like to see statistics of deaths from diseases caused by these condions. Mold growing to these extremes would have the guards sick, and complaining. IMO there would be so many lawsuits from guards, and other staff members that have gotten sick with that amount of mold.
Also, if the utensils are really that dirty I would think that there would be many more deaths then reported. I would like to see some statistics on deaths caused by diseases at the prison. Wouldn't those diseases be passed on to the guards, and other staff?
What happened to Powell was cruel and unacceptable. I just cannot believe the other conditions are to that extreme, as it would also effect the health of the workers there.
No doubt you are right about how if the conditions were as described, there would be lawsuits from guards. There would be OSHA violations.....
I never got the part about the dirty utensils. Couldn't they just wash them in the cell sink? Get the gunk off with a corner of one of those orange jumpsuits?
The inmates do the dish washing, right? You'd think there'd be peer pressure to keep silverware and dishes clean?
Only Americans—I'll swear—think it's essential to have a shower everyday and it's cruel and unusual punishment if they don't. I'm sure inmates can take a sponge bath with a corner of towel if they need to clean up between showers. Aren't some of them allowed to boil water in their cells with those insertion heaters? This would give them hot water at bedside.
Inmates are required to keep their cells clean, or there will be discipline. No doubt, prison-compatible cleansers are available, since I don't see them on the commissary list. A little bleach goes a long way......
Are these folks expecting "housekeeping"?
As I understand it, most inmates are out of their cells and working or doing "programs" most of the day. Not too much to worry about in that case.
It may be very hot in the buildings, but humans do adjust quite a bit to heat (just maybe not over 100). I've lived in tropical countries with no air conditioning and I know this for a fact. On paper it sounds impossible, but you do adjust.
I'll bet some of these stories are coming from short-timers who were housed in lower-security units than Lumley. Since they're out and about now there's time to fuel a frenzy of comparing notes about conditions and competing for grossness, conflating details, exaggerating, etc. You should hear my stories about boarding school in England........
Now, if they're sick, that's another matter. It does sound as though PV doesn't attend to medical issues with alacrity. But I suppose part of that is because inmates fake illnesses, so there have to be hurdles (e.g. waiting in the yard) in order to receive medical care.
I know I'm not sounding very sympathetic, but in a lot of the comments from ex-inmates I'm finding whininess from folks who think they're entitled. It is likely that this sense of entitlement is what got them into prison in the first place. Too bad they can't all spend 6 months "volunteering" in a slum in Haiti or Bangladesh or Guinea: maybe they'd get clue about how ridiculous they're being. People can make miracles of almost nothing and subsisting on 0 showers per month.