Unjustified abuse

The following is a grievance I have filed with the administration of the prison unit where I am detained. I have also mailed a copy of this grievance to my family as a record of these events, especially in the event that there are negative repercussions against me from the prison guards as a result of my complaint. For the sake of privacy, names of guards and other inmates have not been used.

July 23, 2008

When I was waiting in line to leave the chow hall today between 6:30 and 6:45, Officer S. told everyone to move over against the wall. As everyone moved over, the guy behind me said something. I don't know his name or what he said, but people call him O____. Ms. S. (the guard) looked at me and said "What did you say?"

I replied " I didn't say anything."

She said, "Come our here (into the hallway) and tell me what you said."

I repeated my previous statement and moved out the door into the hallway without any threatening movements or words. As I came out the door, Officer G. came running up and told me to put my hands behind my back to be handcuffed. I complied and, as I turned around, I told O____, "You shouldn't let me take the fall for this."

O___ then raised his arms and said, "It was me. I said it. He didn't do anything."

Ms. S. yelled, "I don't care if he did it or not! He gave me a mean look!"

Then Mr. G.(the other officer) and I walked to cell block where I was put in a holding cell. The other guards in the hallway at the time were Captain M. and Officers S. and T.

When I was released from holding at around 7:45 to go back to my dorm, Ms. T. called me aside and said, "They did you wrong. I saw that. You did nothing wrong."

I agreed and went back to my dorm.

Around 9:30 I asked Ms. T if she would be a witness if I wrote a grievance. She said no because it would make the problem bigger. She also tried to dissuade me from writing a grievance, saying that Ms. S. would get a copy of what I had written and probably retaliate somehow. As we were talking, Ms. S. walked up and asked me to turn around while she said or signaled something to Ms. T. Ms. S. then asked me to come down the hall. She said she wanted to talk to me. I followed her to the area in front of the commissary window and stopped when she told me to stand against the wall. Then she stared at me for several seconds. I was smiling because I was nervous and said, "Everything's fine and I'm cool if you want to apologize."

She yelled," You cocky motherfucker! You better get your ass down the hallway before I really cuss you out!"

At this time, Officers S.and P. were in the hallway.

At no point did I raise my voice to say anything disrespectful, yet Ms. S. put me in holding for over an hour and cussed at me in blatant disrespect. I have witnessed Ms. S. overreact with disrespect towards other inmates who have done no wrong. It seems to be a pattern that I don't think is professional. I have always been told, "If you give respect, you get respect." I have given respect to each guard working at this unit and I don't think that deserves disrespect from Ms. S. or anyone else.

I would like a personal apology from Ms. S., either verbal or written. I would like officers to be reminded that not all offenders should be treated with disrespect, but to assume respect first. I would like officers to be reminded that acting as an honest witness may make problems worse short-term, but will make for a better environment for officers and inmates alike in the long term.