Jerry Caudill
This post is about Alexander CI, which is called one of the worst prisons in North Carolina is also a Correctional Enterprise facility, Jerry works through the furniture program that they offer at this prison. Here are his issues that he would like to address on Alexander CI.
“Why are we locked down at 5:00 pm on weekends and on holidays we are also locked down? I’m in medium custody at Alexander Correctional Institution. I’m currently in the furniture plant and working 7-3 Monday thru Friday. We can not even watch football games that come on at 4:00 and no Monday and Thursday night games due to being on lock down. No where on state of North Carolina do they lock down at 5:00 pm on weekends. During the week we are allowed out until 9:00 pm. Also, on weekends they will call a code 1 which is a lock down for no reason just to keep us locked down. It is terrible here. We only get 1-hour visits and half the time they are cut short. We only go outside 1 time a week that is on Thursday and our enterprise officers volunteer to take us out and that is for an hour. We receive no rec at all.”
We also asked Jerry’s sister Melanie McGee for her thoughts on the condition of this facility from the loved one’s perspective. And her words are “I feel just like he does. Our family feels the same way, like it’s wrong for the inmates to get treated like that.”
There was another family member who wanted to voice their concerns about Alexander CI. She gave us a list of things that they would like to see changed or addressed.
- Not enough/crap food
- No make-up for missed rec time (warden claims they always give it)
- Phone system constantly down
- Grievances are ignored
- There is supposed to be unit meetings once a month, he has been there almost a year and never had one.
- Can’t work and go to school
- Rules/Protocols are supposed to be universal at all NC prisons, but each one does what they want (not following protocol).
- Showers have been denied for no reason.
With the family and friends reaching out to Behind the Walls Talk to help aid and assist with their efforts of getting some type of rectification for our loved ones that’s only asking for basic human rights. For them to get adequate meals, showers, outside time, better visitation times, and not to be on constant lockdowns. We believe that the staff of these prisons are locking our family members down to make their shifts smoother for them. Because they do not want to do the jobs that they are paid to do.
Many men have complained about the grievance process. Most stating that their grievances never make it pass the officers who pick up the mail. What we suggest is that you keep pushing the issues, do not give up and your family can contact the grievance board to inform them that you sent one and they can see it in the system. The address below is to the grievance board they accept and read the letters sent straight to them.
Inmate Grievance Resolution Board
4207 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-4207
(919) 850-2936
We are trying to understand why is it that so many of NCDAC prisons are running their medium custody grades like they are closed custody or solitary confinement. The issue is that these men have earned the incentive to be in lower grades for their behavior. But they are being subjected to lockdowns, no outside time, no gym time, and not able to sit and watch tv. Solitary confinement is no longer just a place segregated away from the rest of the population. It has moved into the general population. These men that are incarcerated are trying to understand why we are following the rules if we are only going to be punished daily. The prison will continue to use the excuse of staff shortages. When every prison across the state has a shortage so they are still claiming. The family of Jerry and many others in situations like this within the NCDAC are only wanting to be giving what is a human necessity and rightfully so. Call the wardens about these facilities and they will just lie to us. When all they must do is fix something so simple, open the yard or gym for an hour a day. Letting them feel the weather outside, get the natural sunlight, run, exercise or just be outside is something that every one of us enjoy ourselves. Why is this even a form of punishment or an option to take away from them? To the wardens, staff, and all of those who are in positions to help change the current situation of Alexander CI and others who are writing grievances, having family to call, and sending emails to each of you we are asking that you find it necessary to start the process of letting these men have the human rights that they so deserve. Regardless of the crimes that may or may not have been committed, how any of you might feel about them they are somebody to somebody out in society, who only wants their loved ones to be taken care of while they are residents of the NCDAC.
This will be emailed to Lane Huneycutt Warden Ronnie.Huneycutt@dac.nc.gov and hopes that he will respond back with some type of solutions that works for both the residents and staff.
Studies have shown that structural factors like having access to outdoor recreation can shape mental health in jails and prisons. Having outside access can be an important determinant of mental health. Then we must turn our attention to the availability of mental health services that are readily available to our men and women. Structural factors like building design, indoor temperatures, overcrowding, natural light, social and educational programs, visitor policies, and outdoor recreation can influence a person’s mental health during incarceration.
Legal Context
The American Bar Association, the U.N. Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules), and the Association for the Prevention of Torture all recommend a minimum of one hour outdoors daily, weather permitting, as part of minimum humane standards for detention and incarceration.
U.S. courts typically uphold imprisoned peoples’ rights to outdoor access and have sometimes considered lack of access to the outdoors to be cruel and unusual punishment or a serious deprivation of human rights. However, the Ninth and Tenth Circuit Courts remain split on whether the denial of access infringes upon the 8th Amendment’s “cruel and unusual punishment” clause.
Benefits of Outdoor Access
Access to the outdoors and exposure to sunlight have been associated with increased health benefits and even a longer lifespan. Spending time outdoors can lead to reduced PTSD and stress, improved concentration, and promoting overall well-being. Studies have shown that just one hour in sunlight can contribute to a lower lifetime risk of depression, less loss of pleasure, and greater self-reported happiness. (Information from NCEL National Caucus of Environmental Legislators.)
Solitary confinement
Main article: Solitary confinement in the United States Wikipedia
“The United Nations estimates that as of 2013, there were 80,000 prisoners in solitary confinement in the U.S., 12,000 of whom are in California.[148] The use of solitary confinement has drawn criticism and is increasingly viewed as a form of torture because of the psychological harm it causes.[149] The United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture, Juan E. Méndez, has requested that the United States stop holding prisoners in solitary confinement, as “it often causes mental and physical suffering or humiliation, amounting to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and if the resulting pain or sufferings are severe, solitary confinement even amounts to torture.” In a severe example, Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox, two prisoners at the Angola prison in Louisiana, have each spent more than 40 years in solitary confinement.[150]”
https://www.apt.ch/knowledge-hub/dfd/outdoor-exercise
https://www.prisonsinfo.com/worst-prisons-in-state-of-north-carolina