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Chris Twing
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2020-07-10
Freed From Prison, Dead from COVID-19, Not Even Counted
The Butner prison complex in North Carolina is also a medical facility. Basically a prison that is set up to take care of inmates with chronic illness and disease, like cancer, etc. This facility has so mismanaged the covid pandemic that the few people being released early in an attempt to slow the spread were released, only to find out they already had covid and died after boarding planes to travel home. -
2020-07-15
Inmates, Correctional Officers Concerned About Growing Number of COVID Cases at Miami Prison
In normal times it is customary for inmates and guards to be on opposite sides of nearly any issue. This article shows the opposite. Inmates and corrections officers in south Florida are both concerned about Covid in their facilities. -
2020-07-15
Teachers hold sit-in protest at Texas Capitol to demand changes on reopening schools
On Wednesday, July 16th, 2020 Austin, Texas area teachers held a sit in/protest around the state capital building to express their fear of being forced to go back to in person school this fall. School begins in one month. Having personally watched this protest be planned I know that the reason they chose this location was because they could not get onto the capital grounds. Entrance to the grounds are barricaded and National Guard troops are present. I also know that TEA, Texas Education Agency, has announced they will work from home until January 2021. How can they look out for themselves but send precious students and teachers back to work? -
2020-04-06
04/06/2020 The Equinox Report
An inmate at San Quentin prison in San Francisco, California, has been sending letters out to someone who is posting them on this blog. Today he explains a news story he saw on Democracy Now. The story says 16 states have begun releasing prisoners but New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, has resisted even with hundreds of inmates and facility employees testing positive. -
2020-07
Tweets from Inside a Prison 7/5-7/11/2020 by Railroaded Underground
These images show the Twitter feed of an incarcerated person. They are Tweeting on a contraband cellphone as a way to show the public what it is like to be in prison during the pandemic. This week he reveals that he has Covid and is experiencing symptoms including, headache, nausea, shivering, sweating, and diarrhea. Another friend has been hospitalized. He shared a petition to gain early release for incarcerated persons and wonders how being left in a cell 24 hours a day is humane treatment for a sick person. -
2020-07-13
Bottleneck for U.S. Coronavirus Response: The Fax Machine
One problem the United States is facing during the pandemic is a fragmented health care system that is reliant on outdated technology, like the fax machine. This article goes into detail about why we are in this situation and the effects it is having on the nations response to the virus. -
2020-06
Tweets from Inside a Prison 6/28-7/4/2020 by Railroaded Underground
These images show the Tweets from an incarcerated person who began this Twitter account on a contraband cellphone, to show the world what it is like inside the nation's correctional facilities during the covid pandemic. This week he is talking about many people around him being sick, testing negative himself and then a few days later showing symptoms, 20 "man down" calls a day, which is a way someone needs immediate medical attention, it appears they are housing some inmates in tents in the yard to help with social distancing, genocide, calls on California Governor Gavin Newsom several times, talks about the vulnerable, Black, Latinx, Indigenous, disabled, feeling like they have a knee on their necks because of covid, and San Quentin. -
2020-06
Tweets from Inside a Prison 6/21-6/27/2020 by Railroaded Underground
These images show the Tweets of an incarcerated person for one week. They started this Twitter account using a contraband cell phone to show the world what is happening inside the nation's correctional facilities during the covid pandemic. This week they are talking about immuno compromised individuals, racism, Father's Day, inmates having trouble breathing and dying while waiting for an ambulance, 23 hour a day lockdown which means no phone calls, though prisoners are paying $1000 for contraband cell phones being brought in by cops, and he questions the value of his life. -
2020-06
Tweets from Inside a Prison 6/14-6/20/2020 by Railroaded Underground
These images show the Tweets of a prison inmate who chose to use a contraband cell phone to show the public what is happening inside of the nation's prisons during the coronavirus pandemic. This week he discusses defunding prisons, the ongoing brutality inside prisons, San Quentin, outbreaks from transfers, Juneteenth, taking action not just paying lip service to the holiday, black communities, and early release beginning with the elderly and others most at risk. -
2020-06
Tweets from Inside a Prison 6/7-6/13/2020 by Railroaded Underground
These images show the Tweets of a prison inmate using a contraband cell phone to let the public know what it is like inside the nations prisons during the coronavirus pandemic. This week he talks about the "racist violent system", George Floyd, wishes the momentum for change in policing and Black Lives Matter isn't lost, encouraging voting, #ClemancyNow, San Quentin in San Francisco, and being put in the hole after a prison guard handcuffed and kicked him in the face repeatedly. -
2020-05
Tweets from Inside a Prison 5/31-6/6/2020 by Railroaded Underground
These images show the tweets from an incarcerated person, using a contraband cell phone to tell the world what it is like to be incarcerated during the pandemic. This week he continues to talk about the murder of George Floyd by the police, protestors and violence against them, his own fear of white officers in his prison which he blames on systemic racism, states his views on defunding police and the need for new politicians and laws, as well as fear of prison transfers spreading the virus. -
2020-05
Tweets from Inside a Prison 5/24-5/30/2020 by Railroaded Underground
These images show the tweets of an incarcerated person who is posting them by using a contraband cell phone to show the outside world how coronavirus is effecting their community inside the prison. This week he reacts to the murder of George Floyd by the police, asks us to imagine how badly people incarcerated are treated where there are no cameras if a man can be killed on camera, that the prison population is getting some satisfaction watching the public reaction to George's murder, notes that he saw (on tv presumably) a police office pull down the mask of a black man to pepper spray him, targeting, and discrimination. -
2020-05
Tweets from Inside a Prison 5/17-5/23/2020 by Railroaded Underground
These images follow the Tweets of an incarcerated person using a contraband cell phone to educate the public on how coronavirus is impacting people inside of corrections facilities. This week he talks about missing his baby brothers graduation, inmates feeling panic about eighty prisoners being transferred in and their worry they could bring covid with them, the tension and fights breaking out, being in a human cage, and the prison administration. -
2020-05
Tweets from Inside a Prison 5/10-5/16/2020 by Railroaded Underground
These images show the Tweets of an incarcerated person utilizing a contraband cell phone to let the outside world know about prison conditions during the pandemic. This week he talks about how mother's are the ones that never give up, Mother's Day, justice, socioeconomic factors that lead to prison, death, politicians, voting, lethal injection, and the words of a six year old child. -
2020-05
Tweets from Inside a Prison 5/3-5/9/2020 by Railroaded Underground
These images are of the Twitter feed of an incarcerated person using a contraband cellphone to tell the world what is happening inside the prison during the covid pandemic. This week they discuss guards still not wearing masks but inmates are required to, retweeted about #dreamers and #carenotcages, the public beginning to recognize the humanity inside of prisons, empowerment, #clemancynow, the state of California disallowing inmate grievances to be filed, stagnation of the movement to release inmates early to slow the spread, and the fight for their rights. -
2020-04
Tweets from Inside a Prison 4/26-5/2/2020 by Railroaded Underground
These images follow the Tweets on an incarcerated person who is sharing what it is like to be incarcerated during the covid pandemic. In the Tweets they mention the inmates discussing their obituaries, that a Vietnam veteran went "man down" which I believe means he has covid, and they retweeted a call for people to help a woman who is now in ICE detention after fleeing her abusive husband. -
2020-04
Tweets from Inside a Prison 4/19-4/25/2020 by Railroaded Underground
These images follow the Tweets of an incarcerated person from April 19th through April 25th, 2020. In them they discuss their feelings of anger and depression, worries about mental health from being in lockdown 23 hours per day, overcrowding, begins defenseless, politics, elections, self medicating, like others on prison wine called "pruno", how they are not supposed to wear masks at all times but the guards are not, and that though it was declared by prison authorities would not transfer inmates due to concerns over spreading covid that has not been the reality. -
2020-04
Tweets from Inside a Prison 4/12-4/18/2020 by Railroaded Underground
These tweets are from an incarcerated person using a contraband cell phone to let the world know about the conditions inside the prison. This week he is talking about choosing between a shower and exposure because their showers are communal with over fifty people. He also mentions the prison employee that brought him his meals and lead him around has tested positive and that the first inmate is positive and has been sent to solitary confinement for quarantine. He mentions a lack of soap, receiving fruit snacks with his lunch because they contain vitamin C, injustice, #clemancynow, and inmates at other facilities being retaliated against for speaking out. -
2020-04
Tweets from Inside a Prison 4/5-4/11/2020 by Railroaded Underground
These images show Tweets from a prison inmate using a contraband cell phone for the week of April 5th through April 11th, 20202. He talks about waiting in a cage for covid to get him, the poor are the ones imprisoned and now they are at higher risk of getting covid, he sees depression and hope, talks about how old the facility is and the black mold he can see growing outside his cell. -
2020-07-01
Risking exposure to vote
Yesterday I found out via Facebook that someone who works in the Leander city offices has test positive for Covid-19. The city sent everyone home and closed the building to deep clean. Later in the evening I learned that the city will be holding their biweekly city council meeting tonight, in person! To make matters worse we are in the early voting period for several runoff elections and the room where the city holds the city council meeting is also the room where we vote. I personally find this infuriating and unconscionable when other options are available. I was already thinking that my husband and I should go to two separate locations to vote thinking that the chances of us both being exposed are less if we go to different locations. This would hopefully leave one of us healthy to take care of our son. While people across the nation have been advocating for mail in voting Texas has taken a firm stand on the issue and said no. The only people that can request a mail in ballot are those over 65 or a person with a disability. While I plan to vote in the general election come hell or high water, I’m not sure if the runoff is worth the risk. No one should have to choose between voting and their health. Here is a local news article that explains the situation. https://www.kxan.com/news/your-local-election-hq/leander-closes-pat-bryson-municipal-hall-after-employee-tests-positive-for-covid-19-early-voting-still-allowed/ -
2020-07-01
Government Officials Send Coronavirus Safety Tips via Text Message
Yesterday, late in the afternoon, I received two text messages which appear to come from Austin, Texas officials warning me of the increase spread of coronavirus in the area and encouraging me to take precations. They also encouraged people staying home and enjoying the upcoming fourth of July holiday with only their household members. After receiving these two text messages, in both English and Spanish, I also received a phone call with a recorded message expressing similar things. It should also be noted that I do not live in Austin or Travis County. I'm in the suburb of Leander in Williamson County. -
2020-07-01
Supply and Demand: The strange things that now cost a small fortune
With everyone trying to maintain social distancing to prevent the transmission of covid-19 during the heat of summer one thing has become very expensive, swimming pools. While inflatable back yard kiddie pools like the one pictured usually cost about $25 this one, and numerous others that look the same, are going for five times that on Amazon. Getting a pool isn't only extremely expensive in the inflatable variety, the same is true for larger above ground and inground pools. Our neighbor ordered an above ground pool back in late April or early May. The company delayed shipping for weeks and finally canceled the order because they couldn't fill it. At my house we decided to have an inground pool built. Though we started the process in early May the pool isn't scheduled to be finished until early October because the demand for pools to be built is enormous. Our builder told us they usually get about 120 inquires per month and in May they received over 600. -
2020-07-01
Alabama students throwing 'COVID parties' to see who gets infected: Officials
As covid cases explode across the U.S., especially in the southern and western portions of the country, young people in Tuscaloosa, Alabama are doing something unthinkable. They are hosting covid parties. While authorities thought this was a rumor upon first being notified, further investigation showed it was really happening. Unlike previous generations who held "chicken pox parties" in an effort to expose their children to the disease while they were young and less likely to suffer complications (prior to a vaccine being available) the covid parties do not appear to have any purpose other than entertainment. People are hosting parties and inviting people known to have the disease. Everyone then puts money in a pot and the first person to come down with covid gets the pot. -
2020-06-16
Here’s a look inside Austin’s COVID-19 isolation facility
Austin, the capital of Texas is offering hotel accommodations at no cost to allow people to isolate themselves if they have covid or are waiting on test results. -
2020-06-28
Signs Displayed by Inmates at the Bradley County Jail
This is a Twitter post (social media) illustrating the plight of incarcerated person in the U.S. during the coronavirus pandemic. -
2020-06-28
Protest Supporting San Quentin Early Release
This is a Twitter post (social media) and the responses it received about a protest urging California governor Gavin Newsom to give early release to inmates to protect them from contracting covid-19. Here is a link to an article referenced in the thread https://www.orlandomedicalnews.com/article/3545/letter-to-the-editor-why-increasing-number-of-cases-of-covid-19-is-not-bad-news -
2020-06-21
Incarcerated person dies while waiting for healthcare
This is a Twitter post (social media) from an incarcerated person using a contraband cell phone telling about their experience with covid-19. He saw a father die on Father's Day while struggling to breath and waiting for an ambulance. There are numerous news articles exposing similar stories. They say sources tell them inmates are not receiving medical attention either before or after being tested for covid-19. -
2020-06-28
Is the governor of California committing genocide by transfering inmates?
This is a Twitter post (social media) from a prison reform advocate. In the post he poses the question is the governor of California, Gavin Newsome, committing genocide by transferring inmates from a correctional facility with known covid cases to facilities that have no cases. The Tweet and responses show people's feelings on the subject. -
2020-06-22
Judge Cries Over Coronavirus Outbreak in Prisons
This is a Twitter (social media) post discussing the large outbreaks of covid-19 within U.S. correctional facilities. The Tweet and responses reference a news article and online petition also linked to this. -
2020-06-22
Covid Continues to Take the Lives of People Who Are Incarcerated
This is a Twitter post and replies discussing the risk of people in U.S. prisons and jails of dying from Covid-19. The main argument is whether incarcerated people should be released early or placed on house arrest so they can effectively prevent themselves from being exposed to covid-19 or does this present a public safety risk. -
2020-06-29
Pretrial Policies Drive Jail Growth
This Twitter screenshot of a graph illustrating the number of people in the nations jails waiting for trial far outweighs the number of people who have been convicted of a crime. The covid crisis has exposed the make up of the jail population and has also brought to light the reason so many people are awaiting trial in jail. They are awaiting trial in jail, more often than not, because they cannot afford to pay bail to be released. While the pandemic, like all disasters, effects people of color and low income disproportionately, it has also shed a light on the inequity of the bail system and caused people to wonder if those in the nation's jails and prisons deserve to risk dying from the virus. -
2020-06-27
Massive COVID-19 outbreak at a southern NM prison hits just one type of inmates — sex offenders. That’s by design.
While the headline on this article seems extremely alarming it is less so after reading the article but still concerning. This prison offers a sexual predator rehab program and explains why only sex offenders are being housed here. Except that there were still a small number of prisoners that were serving time for other offenses and these people were transferred to other facilities. At this point 80% of the prison inmates have tested positive for Covid-19. While small numbers of inmates have been released early from prison to aid in slowing the spread of covid within the correctional facilities no one from this prison has been released early because sex offenders are specifically exempt from the option for early release due to the public safety risk they pose. -
2020-06-24
New York imposes travel restrictions on visitors from Texas, the latest coronavirus hot spot
Early in the pandemic states like Florida wanted to force people from New York to quarantine upon arriving in the state. Now New York state New Jersey, and Connecticut want people from the states with large outbreaks now to self quarantine. These states include Texas, Florida, and California. Both Texas and Florida were two of the earliest states to reopen after almost the entire country found themselves under some variation of stay at home order in March and April. -
2020-06-24
COVID-19 Outbreak Among College Students After a Spring Break Trip to Mexico
While the coronavirus was likely in the US in late 2019 or very early 2020 the pandemic was declared for a few months and the public didn't begin reacting until March. In March a large group of University of Texas (Austin) students traveled together over spring break to Mexico. Upon returning a large number of them came up positive for the virus though many were asymptomatic. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has published this document, a morbidity and mortality report, on the group. -
2020-06-24
North Texas family shaken after 18 relatives test positive for COVID-19 following family gathering
At about five months into the pandemic in the U.S. almost all states have lifted their stay at home order and many people are going back to business as usual. One north Texas family held a surprise 30th birthday party. The host, who thought his cough was due to working construction, unknowingly infected 7 people at the party of 25 attendees. Those seven people went on to infect others in the family and now 18 within the family are positive for covid. Within the family are also a couple, one an EMT and the other a doctor, who both refused to go to the party. -
2020-06-25
US coronavirus: 'Apocalyptic' surges feared in some cities
While New York City, state, and surrounding areas were hit hardest initially, five months into the pandemic it is Texas, Florida, and California that appear to be the next hardest hit areas. These states also happen to be the most populous in the nation. All three are concerned about the record breaking number of new cases each day and are putting various amounts of legislation into practice to help slow the spread of the virus but they are mainly relying on people using good judgement, which as a resident of central Texas I can tell you has been lacking. Governor Greg Abbott of Texas has rolled back some of the states reopening plans but is mainly telling people to wash their hands, wear a mask, and maintain social distance. -
2020-06-25
Should we buy school clothes or pajamas?
When the covid-19 pandemic hit the U.S. almost all schools sent students home and continued school through virtual learning online or by offering education packets for drop off/pick up. It's the end of June and many school still have not announced their plan for this fall. Will students be returning to the school building to resume learning as usual? Will they be going part time? Will they continue learning from home? Will parents remove their children from public school and start homeschooling them? No one really knows yet. This meme struck me as very funny for this reason. -
2020-06-14
Column: Hawaii’s early inmate release a health success
Corrections facilities across the nation has considered releasing inmates early to slow the spread of the corona virus. While the public has had mixed feelings about this idea Hawaii has been successful in creating a process to examine and individually decide on early release for its inmates. The mainland US has had numerous outbreaks inside of its prisons and jails and Hawaii was trying to prevent this. As the article explains, early release is not only beneficial to the inmates and employees but also to the larger community. It also touches on the impact systemic racism has had on creating the largest prison population in the world. -
2020-03-26
The push to release more inmates from L.A. County jails due to coronavirus
Early release of people incarcerated in the nation's corrections facilities has been considered everywhere to slow the spread of the corona virus. This article goes into detail explaining who is eligible, the public health vs. public safety concerns, how inmates are notified, and more in regards to early release from Los Angeles County Jails System, the largest in the country. -
2020-06-12
NYPD Brass: We're Arresting Too Many Prisoners on Early COVID Release
The architecture, system, and overcrowding in America's prisons make the spread of Covid-19 very quick inside the nations corrections facilities. To help slow the spread of the disease inside these facilities some jurisdictions have released inmates early. Most early release candidates are those that do not present a public safety risk, have served the majority of their sentence, are elderly, or immunocompromised. While some people support this plan others oppose. This article illustrates the concerns of the plans opponents. Of the 2500 people released from Rikers Island, a jail in New York, the NYPD says they have rearrested 250 individuals, for total arrests of 450. -
2020-06-20
Calls For Early Prisoner Release Amplified By San Quentin COVID-19 Outbreak
Florida, Texas, California, and several other states are experiencing their highest number of new covid-19 cases since the pandemic began spreading through the United States. This has caused prison reformers, activists, and inmates families to protest and call for the early release of those who have nearly served their sentence and inmates who are elderly or immuno compromised. The article covers the protest that was held outside of San Quentin in San Francisco. -
2020-06-18
Calls for Early Release in Florida Jails as COVID-19 Cases Grow
Activists and prison reformers have been calling for inmates that do not pose a public safety risk and have either served most of their sentence, are elderly, or who are at high risk for covid complications due to pre-existing conditions to be released early. Advocates believe this not only helps the prisoners from contracting or even dying from covid but it also protects the larger community. While many jurisdictions/states have released inmates early Florida's governor has thus far refused. -
2020-06-16
Some inmates at California state prisons eligible for early release to stem coronavirus spread
In an effort to slow the spread of covid-19 in prisons and jails across the country some inmates are being released early. The public has had mixed reactions to this plan. Some support the measure because they don't want inmates sentences to turn into a death sentence from the virus and others are concerned the inmates released early are potentially harmful to public safety. California has already released inmates early and plans to release more on July 1st. This article goes over some of the details. -
2020-04-28
7 Sex Offenders Released Early Due to COVID-19 in Orange County Despite Parole Violations
In an effort to slow the spread of Covid-19 inside the nation's correctional facilities a small percentage of inmates have been released early or have been released to house arrest. The thought behind this action is to lessen the number of people inside the facilities allowing more space for social distancing and/or to not expose inmates to a possible death sentence if they were to contract covid and not recover. Though officials have promised not to free any inmate that poses a public safety risk stories like this one appear all over the country. This article states that seven sex offenders, who had served their original sentences but had returned to jail for parole violations, were released early from the Orange County Jail in California. The article was edited a day later to include a statement from the sheriff stating these individuals were not release early but were released by court order. -
2020-06-15
Gov. Brown asks for release of some prison inmates to slow virus spread
One of the hardest hit populations with regards to covid-19 are corrections facilities. In an effort to slow the spread in the nations overcrowded facilities government officials have released some inmates early. The public has had mixed reactions to this policy. While the government officials are not releasing inmates that pose a danger to the public people are still worried. This article covers the story in Oregon and the comments add to the conversation. -
2020-04-13
How to Release People from Prison to Achieve Public Health Goals during COVID-19: Recommended Principles and Practices*
As covid-19 spreads throughout the population of the US several groups have seen it spread rapidly through their population. One such group are inmates at correctional facilities (jails, prison, detention centers). The disease spreads very quickly because social distancing is nearly impossible, facilities are overcrowded, and soap and cleaning supplies are in short supply. Advocates and families argue that it is imperative inmates that are not a threat to the public should be released early or allowed to continue serving their sentences under house arrest. This document was published by Amend. Amend is a University of California San Francisco program that “works to transform correctional culture inside prisons and jails and reduce the debilitating health effects of those environments.” -
2020-06-13
California’s Racial Justice Crisis is COVID-19 in Prisons
This article, written by three University of California professors, highlights the racial justice crisis inside US prisons. Due to their architecture and systems corrections facilities find it nearly impossible to keep covid-19 out or slow the spread of the disease. In California the incarcerated populations rate of covid is 650 percent higher than that of the general population of the state. Once introduced into a facility covid spreads rapidly due to overcrowding, lack of ability to social distance, and a shortage of soap and other cleaning supplies. While many people in the general public feel that inmates chose to commit a crime and therefor should do their time others argue that they should not be made to die for their crimes due to covid. -
2020-06-22
VICE News: Inmates Dying of Covid
As inmates across the US die, many families are not sure if they have died from covid-19 because inmates are not being tested and finding out after the inmate passes requires families to pay out of pocket for an autopsy. This video follows families in New Jersey, a state whose prison population has been hit hard by covid-19. Covid has shed a light on many inequities across American society and the inequities suffered by inmates and families are terrible in normal times but are even worse due to the pandemic. -
2020-06-21
A Father's Sorrow
Father, Scott Heshinger, expresses his fear of his son dying in prison from covid-19 in a video he posted on Twitter. He brings to light the conversation that is happening among many. The question becomes is it fair or even humane for someone who has been sentenced to spend time in prison end up dying from covid-19? Some have suggested releasing inmates early or moving them from correctional facilities to house arrest. While others argue this puts public safety in jeopardy. -
2020-06-17
California prisons to release up to 3,500 more inmates to prevent further spread of COVID-19
California is planning to release more corrections inmates early on July 1st in an effort to slow the spread of the corona virus. While this is a step in the right direction advocates point out that this group of inmates does not include those with disabilities, medically fragile, or preexisting conditions. The article also highlights how the virus is spreading from on facility to another through prisoner transfer. While transferring prisoners to facilities with lower populations sounds good to aid in social distancing the people being transferred are actually spreading the virus into new facilities.