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Social Change and Social Media (Blog 8)

The first image (from bottom up) was posted through Facebook by a friend and displays one young boy who was inspired to stand alone in Stevenson, Washington where there are no marches just people united through Common Purpose. This kind of support, no matter how small, speaks up for marginalized groups (like inmates) and shows how even groups how are not directly affected by these issues still have an opportunity to fight for the betterment of people’s lives through that Common Purpose.

The second image is a statement through all social media platforms (including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) which calls for the boycott of buying any products (except from small, minority owned businesses), and the halt to posting ANYTHING on social media on 6/02/2020. This stands with Komive’s “C” of Commitment, as people commit to the Black Lives Matter movement through Black Out Tuesday. This kind of activity gives inmates a chance to participate and commit to a movement that affects them and their family and friends, even when they are physically constrained.

The third image is self-explanatory, but never understated as it serves the primal drive we all have and strive for: LOVE. This element is paramount to any movement for social change and is the very root through which all change is born. This image tells us that no matter what race, gender or religion you are, we all having a fighting chance at helping create love for another. This picture speaks greatly to Komive’s “C” of Collaboration. Without diverse collaboration, we all fail victim to institutions like the Prison System that wish to put us in Bondage for their ever-demanding gluttony. Love is stronger than Hate.

#blacklivesmatter blackouttuesday blackout love PSU

Academic Perspectives

In the article “Compassion, the Vulnerable and COVID-19” Stobbs discusses the importance of compassion during this time. COVID-19 does discriminate and if we are able, we need to help the vulnerable population among us. Everyone deserves compassion no matter who they are. An interesting point the article makes is that small changes in policy are not enough. We need these institutions housing a significant amount of our population to step up and meet the requirements necessary to prevent an enormous. These institutions need to be held responsible. The main point of the article is that when it comes to this issue, we are severely lacking compassion and empathy. We don’t need to forget about what inmates did to get incarcerated, but we need to have empathy for them. Incarceration is one of the most traumatic experiences a human being can go through. There is simply a lack of concern and awareness when it comes to this population. It is inhumane to think this population deserves their fate or is undeserving of protection. We need to work together to fight this injustice, we cannot fix it individually. Lastly the article states that, “Now is not the time to allow inherent biases and politically drive public punitiveness to form our responses to this pandemic. It’s time for empathy and compassion to ground policy in all institutions – including the criminal justice system.”

The second article we looked at is titled, “COVID-19 and Detention: Respecting Human Rights”. This article discusses the current state of the circumstances in the US and it is more statistic based. It mentions how many people have died from the disease and how many diagnoses we have on file. The article also looks at who’s more at-risk and measures put in place by different states. Then the article narrows down its focus and looks at the severity of this issue in institutions. The article summarizes that there has generally been a limited response taken in these settings. There are quotes in this article I found to be very important. What the first one quote mentions is that according to the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, states are required to respect the right to health services and cannot deny or limit access to services. Secondly, according to the Committee Against Torture, not complying with these terms is regarded as cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Then the article concluded with different plans of action that they think institutions need to take.

In general, there is an agreement on what needs to be done. Both articles address the severity of the issue and the tremendous loss we are facing if nothing is done. Both articles also recognize that there is a lack of action and that more needs to be done faster. The lack of action seems to stem from a lack of empathy, awareness, understanding, motivation and compassion.

References

Stobbs, N. (2020). Compassion, the vulnerable and COVID-19. Alternative Law Journal. doi: 10.1177/1037969x20927806

Amon, J. (2020). COVID-19 and Detention: Respecting Human Rights. Health and Human Rights Journal. Retrieved from https://www-hhrjournal-org.proxy.lib.pdx.edu/2020/03/covid-19-and-detention-respecting-human-rights/

Michael Cohen, Trump’s former attorney, is shown returning home to finish his sentence in home confinement. Paul Manafort, Trump’s ex-campaign manager was also released earlier this month due to COVID-19. We need equal justice regardless of wealth or connections. I urge our readers to contemplate about who’s being prioritized here?

#equaljusticeforall

Stakeholders

Within the growing issue and concern of inmate safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are multiple stakeholders who hold interest for various reasons in this situation: Business, Government and Social groups. Firstly, jails and prisons are a business before anything else. The owners of these institutions are requiring inmates to still work for unlivable wages and the enforcement of social distancing or safety precautions is less than lax. These stakeholders are not affected by this current situation and their mindset and priority is largely focused on keeping their business running as usual. Secondly, the stakeholders of jails and prisons include both state and federal governmental forces whose policies affect the environment of incarcerated peoples and the practices of guards within prisons and jails. Sheriff Craig Roberts of Clackamas Corrections Facility said in an interview that the Clackamas jails make sure each new person who comes into the jail has their temperature taken and a screening, and they are quarantined for a period of time before being integrated with the general population (C. Roberts, 2020). These stakeholders are in the same environment as inmates so they are largely affected by policy and support for the safety within jails and prisons. Lastly, social groups who advocate for inmates safety and rights are a stakeholder in this pandemic. The Prison policy Initiative is an advocate group that “produces cutting edge research to expose the broader harm of mass criminalization, and then sparks advocacy campaigns” (Initiative, P. P.). They have been initiating much support for inmates during the pandemic and continually campaign to ensure the safety of inmates is at a high priority. These groups, and groups alike, have a tireless job of creating a platform and addressing advocacy for inmates who do not get media representation and are largely ignored by the societal mindset as a whole.

COVID-19: Justice Responses for Pretrial Release and Jails

The justice system is in flux right now and change is happening rapidly at all levels. From the virtual meeting we attended we learned about many changes in policy due to the current circumstances. A couple of the changes that have been implemented include citation in lieu of arrest, limiting courts ability to impose financial conditions, decriminalizing low-level misdemeanors, and requiring courts to consider an individual’s ability to pay fines before detaining them for not paying.

It is easy to see how jails can be a hotspot for the virus. They rely on communal living and are often overcrowded. Contrary to popular belief jails increase the likelihood of an individual committing a new offense. Simply put, “jails make people worse,” states Chief Justice Bridget McCormack. The jail population has tripled over the last three decades. Most people in jail are awaiting trial and never convicted. Pretrial detainees make up for more than half of the population in jails. The vast majority of pretrial detainees in jail are eligible for early release. As suggested in the meeting if we look into alternative options to incarceration, we could all benefit. When an individual is in jail, they can easily lose their job making them unable to pay taxes and contribute to society.

Change is especially slow in the justice system, although many reforms cost nothing. We must ask ourselves if the way we were doing things before was the most efficient way? It will be important to analyze all the data we develop during this time. COVID-19 has given us an opportunity to implement change quickly and it will be interesting to see which direction we head in the near future.

References

C. Roberts, personal communication, April 23, 2020

Initiative, P. P. (n.d.). Prison Policy Initiative COVID-19 resources. Retrieved from https://www.prisonpolicy.org/virus/#ourwork

Covid-19: Justice Responses for Pretrial Release and Jails. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gHaO45tpjw&feature=youtu.be

NPR: Exposing the Health Risks of Incarceration

This podcast interviews Dr. Homer Venters who spent nine years as head of New York City’s correctional health services. Dr. Venters details his time spent working in Rikers Island Correctional Facility. The interview brings attention to some of the problems that occur inside prisons including, sexual assault from correctional officers towards inmates, violence between c.o.’s and inmates, misuse of solitary confinement and neglect. Some of the stories we hear about include a diabetic who died after being refused insulin, or another story about a man who was so badly beaten by correctional officers his spleen ruptured. The man subsequently passed away. The podcast exposes the health risks of incarceration. Dr. Venters talks about how prisoners are not seen as human in many cases. He touches on some of the errors in how information is collected and mentions how sometimes he couldn’t even locate prisoners to treat them. An important quote from the podcast is that, “problems of Rikers Island prison are not just limited to Rikers. They happen in prisons all over,” states Dr. Venters.

https://www.npr.org/2019/03/18/704489427/exposing-the-health-risks-of-incarceration

This is a song of protest that is anti-Trump. It came out before Trump’s election resulting in the Secret Service investigating YG. The artists utilized their platform to share their political views. One dollar from every ticket sold on the FDT tour was donated to families of victims of police brutality.

#FuckDonaldTrump

Opposition & Opportunity for early release during COVID-19

Post by Lane, Henry, and Trey

UNST 242: Leading Social Change

Blog Deliverable #3

Oregon’s implementation of COVID-19 precautions have been creating safer environments for prisoners allowing them space for social distancing. As of today there are 21 confirmed cases among prisoners and 15 among staff. The state has successfully cut down it’s prison population by 45%. Officials with the Oregon District Attorneys Association showed their concerns by saying, “The current stressors and burdens upon all Oregonians are already significant enough without the added worries of criminals being released into our neighborhoods before they have served their sentences.” It is important to know that these prisoners have served most of their sentences and are non-violent offenders. It is also important to understand that jails are not a deterrent and often make people more dangerous. Once an individual has served time in jail they’re often more likely to commit another crime. During this outbreak we need to use alternative options and keep as many people out of jails and prisons as possible.

We already know that if Oregon prisons did nothing about their population many more would have fallen victim to Covid-19. Other members of Oregon's congress show their support by saying “As a former corrections officer, I know how impossible it is to implement social distancing and necessary hygiene in crowded prisons with 120 people to a dormitory,” State Sen. James Manning, D-Eugene, said. “Prison is not a cruise ship, it’s a petri dish” (Salem Statesman Journal, 2020). Prisoners who have been serving their sentences do not deserve to die behind bars when something can be done.

References:

COVID-19 Tracking. (2020, April 30th). Retrieved from https://www.oregon.gov/doc/covid19/Pages/covid19-tracking.aspx

Dake, L., & Wilson, C. (2020, April 9). Inmates Brace For Virus Outbreak, While Oregon Considers Early Release. Retrieved from https://www.opb.org/news/article/coronavirus-covid-19-prison-oregon-inmates/

Salem, W. W. (2020, April 13). 12 COVID-19 cases confirmed in Oregon prisons, leaders consider early release of nearly 3,000 inmates. Retrieved from https://www.registerguard.com/news/20200413/12-covid-19-cases-confirmed-in-oregon-prisons-leaders-consider-early-release-of-nearly-3000-inmates

Context and Action for Inmates During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Neglect is foremost in the story of William Garrison, an inmate at the MDOC. Garrison served 44 years for a crime he committed as a teen and was due to be released. Garrison died due to the coronavirus which he likely contracted from his bunkmate. His bunkmate told the victim’s sister he exhibited symptoms of the virus prior to Garrison’s death. The prisoners who witnessed the fatal episode said prison staff responded slowly and handcuffed Garrison when he fell unconscious onto the floor (Hutchinson, 2020).

Outbreaks of disease in correctional and detention facilities are not a new occurrence, although this particular strain of the Coronavirus is something we haven’t dealt with before. During the 2009 outbreak of H1N1, there were a high number of cases in correctional and detention facilities. After this outbreak, guidelines for jails and prisons were put into place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The guidelines reflect current knowledge we have about the virus but have not been updated since March 23, 2020 (“Guidance on Management of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Correctional and Detention Facilities,” 2020). However, these guidelines may not be enforced nor are the institutions responsible for implicating them held accountable if they don’t follow the guidelines.

While researching this issue it’s notable to add that what we hear from spokespeople or workers at correctional and detention facilities are vastly different then what we hear from inmates. What we continually hear about from inmates is the lack of action regarding safety precautions from detention and correctional facilities. How are these facilities given the responsibility to “rehabilitate” our incarcerated population when the facilities themselves have inmates’ blood on their hands due to neglect?

According to the DOC Oregon prisons are “intensifying the efforts to reduce potential exposure and transmission for the vulnerable population” but also admits to making no changes in housing. The restriction of visitation has cut down exposure but leaves prisoners unable to see their loved ones. On top of this, meals are now being eaten either staggered or in cells. If we take away prisoners' social interactions and resources to better themselves, this may result in prisoners feeling depressed and lonely. Prison is about rehabilitation and by dehumanizing prisoners, we are teaching them to be isolated and alone rather than trying to better themselves so they can be a part of society again. In order for prisoners to better themselves, they need to be able to maintain relationships with others. Advocacy organizations have been pressing state officials to provide free phone calls and video conferencing services but only 5 minute phone calls have been approved, says Noell Crombie from Oregon Live.

The United States contains the highest population of incarcerated peoples in the world, and in Oregon, every 582 people out of 100,000 are incarcerated (Initiative P. P., Oregon Profile, 2020). Being incarcerated already creates a sense of fear and lack of control, but during this outbreak those senses have been dramatically amplified. Population density, high stress environment, and lack of hygiene protocol are creating dangerous conditions for people behind bars. It can be hard to find the truth for what protocols are being followed and how inmates are being treated currently. Sources have conducted interviews with inmates who describe how they don’t feel informed, how their labor (cleaning hospital linens) is dangerous, and that some are being sent to solitary confinement when confronted with any kind of symptom (COVID-19 related or not).

The Prison Policy Initiative has been making efforts to keep people informed about policy changes being enacted to help increase hygiene performances in jails and prisons. They are also keeping people up to date on the newest initiatives being taken that are aimed to decrease the amount of people in facilities to further enforce more social distancing. The newest update they have made as of April 14th, 2020 is that Oregon’s Multnomah County Jail has decreased their population size by 30% in the past month (Initiative P.P., Virus Response, 2020). More efforts are being made around the country to decrease jail and prison populations. The Oregonian posted this statement in response to the current actions being taken for incarcerated populations, “Local police and sheriff’s deputies are issuing citations for nearly all misdemeanor crimes, giving people future dates to appear in court instead of making arrests and taking them to jail, said Sheriff Mike Reese (Bernstein, M. 2020, April 15). These efforts, and more, are examples of what is needed to provide just action for people who are incarcerated. We can not allow neglect and we will not stand for silence.

--- This post has been provided by Trey, Lane and Henry for UNST 242: Leading Social Change ---

References

Bernstein, M. (2020, April 15). Multnomah County's adult jail population has dropped about 30% due to fewer arrests, early releases. Retrieved April 24, 2020, from https://www.oregonlive.com/coronavirus/2020/04/multnomah-countys-adult-jail-population-has-dropped-about-30-percent-due-to-fewer-arrests-early-releases.html

Hutchinson, B. (2020, April 21). 'He was coming home': Michigan prisoner who served 44 years died from coronavirus days before release. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/US/coming-home-michigan-prisoner-served-44-years-died/story?id=70241168

Initiative, P. P. (n.d.). Oregon profile. Retrieved April 24, 2020, from https://www.prisonpolicy.org/profiles/OR.html

Initiative, P. P. (n.d.). Virus response. Retrieved April 24, 2020, from https://www.prisonpolicy.org/virus/virusresponse.html

Guidance on Management of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Correctional and Detention Facilities. (2020, April 18). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/correction-detention/guidance-correctional-detention.html

Oregon prisons respond to coronavirus: Inmates told to wash hands, given 2 free calls a week. (2020, March 19). Retrieved from https://www.kgw.com/article/news/oregon-prisons-respond-to-coronavirus/283-ea6e454f-136a-4ee5-b2aa-96e2b012df38

COVID-19 in Jails and Prisons

The COVID-19 virus is now a global pandemic and through all the safety precautions being taken by communities in Oregon, there is one population being unjustly neglected: inmates. Oregon inmates face tremendous difficulties due to insufficient protection from COVID-19. A lack in protocall for social distancing, continuation of non-essential work, for reportedly only $1.25 an hour (Wilson, M., 2020), and lack in hygienic practices are creating dangerous environments for people in jails. One inmate writes, “We all use the same bathroom, 5 stalls and one urinal ... We all touch the same soap dispenser and same buttons to wash hands after using the bathroom. We also all touch the same spray bottles of disinfectant to spray off the toilet seat before you use it. We all touch the same door” (Wilson, J., 2020). Furthermore, the same source says correctional officers are patting down inmates and some, but not all, are wearing gloves and potentially spreading the virus more.

COVID-19 has put a massive strain on healthcare systems in prisons and jails. They are simply ill-equipped. A department of corrections captain responded to a concerned inmate, “Well, if you die, then have one of your family members take it up with the [Department of Correction]. That’s not my problem (Schwartzburg, 2020).” We all deserve humane treatment whether incarcerated or not. The conditions in prisons during the outbreak of COVID-19 directly violate Amendment VIII from the US Constitution which states that, “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted (U.S. Const. amend. VIII). If we don’t consider the unnecessary death of inmates cruel because they don’t have the proper resources to protect themselves from this virus, then what does constitute cruel and unusual punishment?

Oregon prisons have been overcrowded since before COVID-19 which has made them incredibly susceptible to the spreading of disease. Now that the day of this disease has come to create room for social distancing in prisons we would need to release 5,800 inmates which is roughly 40% of the Oregon prison population according to state corrections officials (Crombie, 2020). The DOC reported only to have received 16 test results for it’s thousands of inmates; it is a fear that the prisons won’t count all those who die from COVID-19 since they won’t test all the inmates who die according to Oregon Public Broadcasting (Dake, 2020). The DOC has confirmed 15 cases within Oregon prisons but there are believed to be more.

What makes this a difficult issue to combat is that there is little to no data evaluating if prisoner’s healthcare needs are being met. The only information we have on the subject is from the DOC directly or information that has been leaked out by inmates. If history is any kind of predictor we just need to look back at how prisons and jails responded during the H1N1 influenza outbreak. Imagine going to jail for a misdemeanor and never leaving, ultimately dying, because the jail isn’t taking enough precaution. A lawsuit against the DOC and Gov. Kate Brown acknowledges, “While [the Oregon Department of Corrections] has adopted some policies in response to COVID-19, it has largely neglected critical measures to halt the spread of the virus” (Wilson J., 2020). If this issue is not addressed appropriately many lives will be unnecessarily lost.

References

Crombie, N. (2020, April 16). State said up to 6,000 Oregon inmates would face release to allow social distancing; Gov. Kate Brown said no. Retrieved from https://www.oregonlive.com/coronavirus/2020/04/state-said-up-to-6000-state-inmates-would-face-release-to-allow-social-distancing-gov-kate-brown-said-no.html

Wilson, M. (2019, April). Oregon Prison Industry Program Nets Record $28.5 Million as Prisoners Earn $1.25/Hour: Prison Legal News. Retrieved from https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2019/apr/2/oregon-prison-industry-program-nets-record-285-million-prisoners-earn-125hour/

Wilson, J. (2020, April 13). Inmate details alarming conditions at Oregon prison amid coronavirus pandemic. Retrieved April 14, 2020, from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/13/oregon-prisons-jails-coronavirus-safety

Schwartzburg, R. (2020, April 13). Freezing Jail Cells, Broken Showers, and Covid-19. Retrieved from https://www.thenation.com/article/society/coronavirus-nyc-jails/

U.S. Const. amend. VIII

Wilson, C. (2020, April 7). Oregon Inmates Sue Department Of Corrections Over COVID Response. Retrieved from https://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-inmates-sue-department-of-corrections-over-covid-response/

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