News: prisoners trapped inside mandatory evacuation zone in SC; bad news out of Nevada
Prisoners in more ways than one?Why am I not surprised that prisoners in three South Carolina prisons will not be among those removed from Hurricane Florence's destructive path, even though they are within the mandatory evacuation zone.The welfare of prisoners is seldom a priority, only the perception that administrators are doing their best. According to prison officials, it's "safer" for prisoners to stay put. They also cite public safety and the possibility for escape as reasons for their decision.While these might be legitimate concerns, the plight of those trapped in cells should take precedence.An article in yesterday's The New Yorker, states: "During Hurricane Katrina, people were trapped in flooded cells with nothing to eat or drink. Last year, after Hurricane Harvey, prisoners reported flooding in cells; a man in a Texas prison told me that he lost access to functioning toilets and running water."Families of prisoners say that they could not get any information about the South Carolina Department of Corrections's plans for evacuation.No surprise here.Bad news out of NevadaIn a decade, when advocates are striving to reverse policies that led to mass incarceration-from mandatory minimum sentencing to unfair bail practices--my home state, Nevada, is bucking the trend with an imprisonment rate 15 percent above the U.S. average.
The Crime and Justice Institute (CJI) released a report on Wednesday, which states:
NV prison admissions have increased 6 percent in the past decade;
the female population (less than 10 percent of the inmate population) has increased 39 percent;
slightly more than 50 percent have been identified as having mental health issues.
On another note, Nevada Department of Correction Director James Dzurenda is battling a lawsuit for authorizing the use of midazolam, a sedative, for the lethal cocktail used in executions. Alvogen, which manufactures the drug, does not want it used in unintended ways.(Midazolam was not purchased from Alvogen but from third a party, after the state's supply of a similar drug ran out.)In the meantime, Scott Dozier's twice-delayed execution for the horrific killings of two drug-associates is postponed until the Nevada Supreme court hears oral arguments on September 21.Dozier's execution will be the first in ten years.Ask One Mother's VoiceIf you are the mother of an incarcerated son and have questions or concerns, please contact me at omvforyou@gmail.com or on Twitter @onemothersvoice.