Curtis L. B.’s Story
- Gender: Male
- State: Delaware
Excerpt of Letter
Curtis B.
#EndTheException;
I am writing because I work inside of an institution, and have suffered what I believe are slave like working conditions for pennies compared to our actual living conditions.
I will answer the five questions; then I will share my perspective and I have some copies of letters written.
1) I work as a cook in the prison's main kitchen. I like the work, but not the pay or treatment by a few COs, in what is supposed to be a work/program.
2) In Delaware, if you refuse to work/program, under title II section 6531-6533, ND B.O.P regulation 1.29, you can be punished or sent to the (MHU) or (SHU) for not working. This has opened up the door for retaliation for exercising 1st Amend. Rights; It also has been used as a tool against unliked inmates. Some of the jobs are rewarding because you get to learn a new skill, but at the end of the day, we are being used at some jobs to circumvent having to pay millions for corrections officers to perform the same duties.
3) I agree totally. I understand we have to pay for our crimes, but slave wages when you see the truth is unfair. I also have empathy for chain gangs in those prisons where the work conditions are extremely harsh.
4) No. I am already spread thin in my goals. I have plans for several suits against the prison for their admin. policies; and I have a set 10yr plan, which I have tried to be flexible in without getting off track. I support the movement, but at this time, I don’t have the time.
5) There is no prison radio show that we have access to in this facility.
In addition, I will mention that during the Covid-19 outbreak, inmates were forced to work and contracted Covid from what the commissioner spoke of in the “DE News Journal” as the “place of transmission” which was the prison kitchen. Half the COs and Kitchen staff caught and passed Covid to the inmates. There was no regard for our lives, nor did Delaware release any inmates (legislation died) after at least (11) inmates died due to Covid.
Here is a copy of my approach and attempt to get a pay raise
Thank you, hope to hear from you.
Curtis B.
“I work as a cook in the prison’s main kitchen. I like the work, but not the pay or treatment by a few COs, in what is supposed to be a work program. Some of the jobs are rewarding because you get to learn a new skill, but at the end of the day, we are being used at some jobs to circumvent having to pay millions for corrections officers to perform the same duties.”
Artifacts
