Items
Contributor is exactly
Chris Twing
-
2020-06-22
John Oliver on prisons during Covid-19: 'That's not justice, that's neglect'
Late night host, John Oliver, of HBO's "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver," recently dedicated the main portion of his thirty minute show to highlighting the struggle of America's inmates with the covid-19 pandemic. This article provides the highlights of the show including a lack of soap, the number of non-inmate personal who are ill, covid being introduced to new facilities through prison transfer, people who have yet to be convicted but stuck in jail because they cannot afford cash bail, and the use of solitary confinement as punishment for one inmate who shared a video on Facebook. -
2020-06-15
As COVID-19 Spreads In Prisons, Lockdowns Spark Fear Of More Solitary Confinement
As the US struggles to deal with covid-19 so do the nations corrections facilities. Due to their architecture and systems the facilities are at high risk of covid spreading rapidly through their populations. Advocates are becoming increasingly concerned over a new policy in some facilities which are using solitary confinement as an answer to the problem of quarantine. While advocates of abolishing solitary confinement are concerned for all of the regular reasons this causes extra alarm because they are worried the practice will become more wide spread and more commonly used both during the pandemic and once it is over. -
2020-03-29
Texas Governor Signs Executive Order to Stop Early Release from Prisons/Jails Due to Covid
In an effort to slow the spread of covid-19 inside of US prisons and jails some inmates have been release early or sent home, on house arrest. As discussions were happening across the country regarding this idea Texas Governor, Greg Abbott, signed an executive order to stop early release from the states correctional facilities. -
2020-05-01
I Do Not Want to Die in Here, Letters from the Houston Jail
The architecture and structure of US prisons and jails make it impossible follow any of the guidelines given to slow the spread of the corona virus. Some argue it is prudent to release nonviolent offenders or those nearing the end of their sentences in an effort to provide more space within the facilities. Others oppose this idea citing fear of public safety. Inmates and their advocates worry that a prison sentence could turn into a death sentence. What about persons who have yet to even stand trial? While many people are not aware in the difference between a prison and a jail the distinction is very important. Jails hold people awaiting trial that could not afford bail while prisons are where people convicted of crimes serve their sentence. To be fair there are a small number of people in jails serving their sentence because it is short. With covid looming the question has become is it fair to keep people in jail where they have no defense against a deadly virus? This article discusses this issue and provides excerpts from letters written by inmates at the Harris County Jail in downtown Houston, TX. -
2020-06-18
The Prison Was Built to Hold 1,500 Inmates. It Had Over 2,000 Coronavirus Cases.
The US prison population quickly found it was impossible to social distance to protect themselves from contracting the corona virus. This is due to prison architecture and overcrowding. This article talks to inmates at the Marion Correctional Facility in Marion, Ohio. This facility has been the site of the largest virus outbreak in the nation. -
2020-06-18
School Mask Pack
When American's think of the most common school supply Crayola crayons are sure to be in everyone's top three. Now they are offering a special "School Mask Pack." The product includes a set of five masks, sized for children, and they come in a small mesh zipper bag for washing. This puts in perspective how different everyone's back to school lists may be this fall. -
2020-06-16
Covid-19 Isolation Facility in Austin, TX
The Austin metro area has seen a large increase in Covid cases over the last two weeks but I was still surprised to see this image appear in my Facebook feed. There is now a place for people to isolate themselves, in a local hotel, while they recover from covid or wait to receive their test results. -
2020-06-18
Texas students will return to school campuses this fall, Gov. Greg Abbott tells lawmakers
Texas, as a state, has had some of the largest one day new covid case counts over the past week. While some are calling this the "second wave" of covid cases the truth is it is still the first. While Texas was not hard hit in the beginning of the pandemic, in March, April, and May, it is clear that the governor, Greg Abbott's, decision to begin re-opening the state on May 1st has resulted in our rising case count now. To add insult to injury the governor announced today that all public schools will hold in person classes beginning this fall and mask wearing will not be required. I am lucky that I homeschool my high school age son already. I can't imagine the struggle parents will be facing this fall. I know many will wish they had the option not to send their children back to school because they fear their child getting the virus, but not everyone has the opportunity to homeschool. -
2020-05-20
'People are sick all around me': inside the coronavirus catastrophe in California prisons
Due to the closer quarters and overcrowding in the nation's prisons they are a breeding ground for easy transmission of the coronavirus. As this article states the "public health catastrophe" inside the country's prisons was "predictable and preventable." California has over 25,000 covid positive inmates as of this article’s writing (05/20/2020), and more in other detention facilities. The outbreak doesn't look like it will slow down anytime soon. This article discusses the conditions inside of California prisons based on inmate communications and talking with family members. HST580, ASU -
2020-04-24
Arkansas prisoner gets compassionate release due to COVID-19 pandemic
Since the covid pandemic reached the United States a discussion began relating to the nation's prison inmates. With the inability to protect oneself from the virus in a prison environment the question has become, should nonviolent and other inmates receive an early release to protect them from the possibility of dying from covid. This question has resulted in a deeper discussion regarding the humanity of inmates and if a prison sentence should be allowed to turn into a death sentence. This news story covers the early release of Felix Walls. ASU, HST580 -
2020-05-11
Coping With COVID-19 Crisis: Jule Hall & Lynn Novick On The Devastating Impact On Prison Education Depicted In Docuseries ‘College Behind Bars’
Once the covid pandemic settled in across the nation it was obvious that schools, preschool through university, had to be shut down. Many schools turned to online instruction and learning but this presented a problem for a large number of students who don't have the hardware or access to an internet connection. One population you wouldn't expect to also struggle with this issue are prisons. Many prisons across the country offer college to inmates. Conducted by professors who visit the prison to provide instruction. As a precaution to lessen the introduction of the virus into the prison many facilities stopped visitors including the college professors. This article discusses how this has impacted the inmates. ASU, HST580 -
2020-04-14
Unprotected in Prison: Pleas for Help from the Inside
As covid-19 spread across the nation it's inmates began expressing their fear of dying. The living situation inside prisons and other similar facilities, like jails and detention centers, make social distancing impossible and right now frequent hand washing, and wearing a mask are the only tools the world has to combat the virus. Prisoner's and their advocates state that a prison sentence should not be turned into a death sentence. In this phone interview and article published by ACLU Smart Justice Michigan, inmate, Quentin X Betty, shares his fear of dying and the reality that employees and the prison do not see inmates as humans with a right to life. HST580, ASU -
2020-06-10
COVID-19 Inside Arkansas Prisons: The Past and Future
The covid pandemic has shown the world, especially the US, how suceptible certain populaations are to any communicable disease. The virus has hit hard in places where social distancing is at best difficult. Places like elder care facilities, meat packing plants, and prisons. In the final installment of her three part series, covering covid inside Arkansas State prisons, NPR reporter Anna Stitt, looks at the history and future of the Arkansas prison system. Much of her focus has been on the Cummins Unit. A prison opened in 1902 and named after one of the plantations who formerly owned the land. Upon opening and through present day the prison operates a farm that is worked by inmates for no pay. They were still farming cotton, with guards on horseback, holding rifles, in the 1990's. An image that looks like it could have been taken one hundred years ago. This prison has been part of numerous scandals and appears to be in the midst of one today. When the NAACP Legal Defense Fund sued to gain early release for the medically vulnerable the judge denied the request saying there wasn't sufficient proof that the Corrections Department was mishandling the pandemic. Inmates report being denied testing even once exposed to the virus. When inmates attourney's requested security footage the Department of Corrections filed a motion to block the request but the judge allowed the attorney's to see the footage. The treatment of inmates has resulted in their families and friends staging a protest outside the Arkansas Governor's Mansion on May 16th and a coalition of organizations delivering demands to the governor on June 1st. HST580, ASU -
2020-06-09
COVID-19 Inside Arkansas Prisons: The Death of Derick Coley
This article is the second in a three-part series by NPR reporter Anna Stitt. Sponsored by the National Geographic Society's COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Journalists. In this article Stitt mostly focuses on the death of inmate Derrick Coley. He was a healthy 29-year-old inmate who had been up for parole since June of 2017 but once he contracted covid in the Cummins Unit, part of the Arkansas State Prisons, he passed away. In exploring his death Stitt finds that inmates who pay $3 each time they request medical attention ( this was waved from March 23-April 30, 2020) were often not receiving any medical attention and at other times would only see a nurse. The process relayed to her was that inmates must request medical attention four times before they can see a doctor and the only doctor is one whose medical license has been revoked. After several inmates died from covid some inmates began to rebel. Prison staff used tear gas to quell the uprising. This was surprising to inmates Stitt spoke with because the coronavirus is a respiratory virus and at the time over 900 people were infected. As with many large bureaucracies, the prison blames the company contracted to provide medical care, Wellpath, and they pass the buck back to the prison. The concern for prisoners, their family, friends, and advocates is that they could die. Without the ability to social distance, 100% mask wearing, and being able to wash their hand frequently the fear is that a prison sentence, even a relatively short one, could turn into a death sentence. -
2020-06-08
COVID-19 Inside Arkansas Prisons: Virus Spreads Through Inmate Populations and Staff
This article is the first of a three-part series covering the covid pandemic inside the Arkansas State Corrections facilities. NPR reporter, Anna Stitt, interviewed several prisoners and focused her reporting on the Cummins Unit, the state’s largest and oldest facility. While no cases were reported inside the prison until one month after the state had issued a stay at home order, once the virus entered the facility it spread quickly. Stitt covers the different stories reported by employees and officials as opposed to the inmates at the prison and other facilities in the state. The inmates report lack of access to bathroom facilities, being ignored when sick, and many other problems. The officials on the other hand tell a very different story. -
2020-04-04
'We need help': Alabama prisoner pleas for assistance in fighting COVID-19
ABC News video showing video from inside an Alabama prison and the inmates inability to social distance. The prisoner on the video asks for HELP. As of the date of this video no Alabama prisoner had tested positive for the virus though at least two employees have tested positive. After the interview with the prisoner the host goes on to discuss the issue with a former female inmate and a former doctor in charge of prison health in another state. The host also interviews a sheriff who argues that releasing inmates is not safe for the community. -
2020-04-19
Prison in the Time of Coronavirus
This video, produced by CBS Sunday Morning, illustrates the unique problems created by coronavirus inside America's jails and prisons. The US currently has 2.3 million people incarcerated. Many of them are in jail awaiting trial and remain there only because they cannot pay their bail. They have not yet been convicted of a crime. As they point out in the video it is easy for the public to ignore the correctional facilities across the country, but the spread of the virus has changed this. An outbreak in prison can lead to an outbreak outside the prison. While prisons have internal medical facilities there are no ICU beds, which are often needed to treat severe cases of coronavirus. Instead severely ill prisoners are taken outside of the prison to the local hospital. In non-severe cases some prisoners are placed in solitary confinement as a way to quarantine them. This video, almost eight minutes long, mentions Rikers Island Jail in New York, San Quinton Prison in San Francisco, Marion Correctional Institute in Ohio, a Tampa man released early who is charged with murdering someone the following day, Governor Greg Abbott of Texas, Orange is the New Black (book and TV show), and the podcast Ear Hustle. HST580, ASU -
2020-04-02
Flattening the Curve for Incarcerated Populations — Covid-19 in Jails and Prisons
The spread of coronavirus has highlighted people and places who are most at risk for contracting and spreading the virus and the nation's incarcerated people are high risk for both. The people entering the prison system come from already vulnerable populations and half of the incarcerated population already has at least one chronic illness. This puts them at greater odds of contracting and dying from the disease. This article explains what measures the Federal Bureau of Prisons have taken to limit the spread of the disease and the authors, three doctors, suggest a three prong approach but fall back on the real way to slow the spread is to release people who are not likely to be a public threat. HST580, ASU -
2020-03-21
DOJ Seeks New Emergency Powers Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
Almost everything has been effected by coronavirus and incarceration is no different but one request from the Department of Justice is exceptional. The DOJ has asked Congress for chief judges to be allowed to suspend court proceedings indefinitely. This would allow the suspension of habeas corpus - a defendants right to appear before a judge to seek release or bail - and would apply to criminal and juvenile cases. HST580, ASU -
2020-04-06
Prisoner afraid to leave dorm because of covid
This video shows still images of a jail with an audio interview of an inmate expressing his fear of the virus, causing him not to leave his bunk. -
2020-06-04
Supreme Court blocks order to remove inmates at prison infected with COVID-19
This article from NBC News covers the Supreme Courts ruling, blocking the release of 800 incarcerated persons from the Elkton Federal Correctional Institution, near Canton, Ohio. -
2020-05-21
Covid-19's Impact on People in Prison
This article from the Equal Justice Initiative covers the unique concerns covid causes for incarcerated people. HST580, ASU -
2020-06-01
4,000+ Protestors Arrested During Pandemic
Protests have erupted across the U.S. in response to another death of a black man in police custody. The protests have continued for seven straight days and over 4,000 people have been arrested. This creates a larger problem during the time of covid 19. With officials concerned about the spread of the virus within incarcerated populations and releasing inmates early, are they concerned about the thousands they are arresting? Are they keeping those arrested in jail or releasing them? Is the pandemic effecting their choice? -
2020-06-01
Trump focuses on law and order instead of unity
The nation has experienced a full week of protests, some violent, in response to the killing of a black man in police custody. The president has remained silent except for a few tweets. On a call with the nation's governors he shared his feelings and appears to be more focused on how we appear to the world at large and maintaining law and order, rather than uniting the country, offering solutions, or addressing the feelings of the protestors. -
2020-04-18
Interviews inside a covid positive prison
This article interviews inmates, family of inmates, employees, and officials from the Federal Correctional Complex in Oakdale, Louisiana. The interviews were conducted orally, written, over text, and social media. Both the employees and inmates tell a story of an ill prepared system, though the prison claims to have begun preparing in January. -
2020-05-26
Inmates claim their symptoms are ignored
In prison social distancing is impossible. Once covid enters a prison many become infected quickly. Inmates are saying their efforts to obtain medical care are being ignored and families are not being notified when their inmates become ill. Instead they are only being notified once their inmate has died from the virus. -
2020-05-14
Prison population remains stable during pandemic
In response to the inability to social distance within prisons government and prison officials have considered releasing some inmates early to slow the spread of the virus but this article states that has not happened. It points to the officials fear of inmates released early committing a crime. -
2020-05-29
Are inmates attempting to infect themselves to gain early release?
One response to the pandemic in the US has been to consider releasing some prison inmates early to quell the spread of the virus within the prison population. This is a valid strategy because social distancing in a prison is impossible. In this video it appears that inmates are all sharing a cup in an attempt to infect themselves. Is that what is actually happening? Are they doing this in hopes that they will be released? -
2020-05-26
California prison begins testing all employees
Testing or lack there of has been a big part of the news cycle since covid reached the U.S. In the beginning a person could only gain access to a test if they met certain criteria. This severely limited the number of people tested and was done because the number of tests available was very low. Even people deemed essential workers, such as those working in the nations prison system, had trouble accessing tests. -
2020-05-30
Bureau of Federal Prisons Covid 19 Modified Operations
Routines and processes are changing everywhere due to the pandemic. Prisons are no different. This document lists the federal prison system changes. -
2020-05-21
Can only the well connected be released from prison due to covid?
As the pandemic settled into the United States discussions began concerning inmates in all levels of confinement. Many officials, at all levels of government, agreed that some inmates should be released early in effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus within the prison population. The rules or guidelines for early release are different everywhere and as this article explains seem to change constantly. While two well connected men have been released the article explores the difficulty regular prisoners have in being released. -
2020-05-26
Prisoners released cannot get an ID with government office closed
During regular times previously incarcerated persons have difficulty re-entering society but a new problem has arisen for them during the covid pandemic. Government offices, such as the ones we all rely on to obtain a government issued ID/drivers license, are not open. Without an ID former inmates have trouble getting jobs and more. -
2020-04-29
Over 70% of tested inmates in federal prisons have COVID-19
The pandemic quickly saw the phrase "social distance" become common parlance however there are populations that cannot social distance and one of them is prisons. Without the ability to social distance or wear a mask, the only options for fighting the spread of this virus, the prison populations are particularly at risk to contract the virus. This news story explains that of those tested (which aren't many) 70% are covid positive. Additionally, it sheds light on the fact that when prisoners contract the virus their families are not being notified. #hst580 #asu -
2020-03-18
Therapy Dog Visits Seniors
Article discussing one way to cheer up and visit seniors in residence facilities. -
2020-03-18
The Power of Social Distancing (Infographic)
As American's were asked to "social distance" images like this began to pop up illustrating the difference social distancing could make to slow the spread of the corona virus. *Gary Warshaw at Signer Lab -
2020-03-18
Toilet paper seed starter
This is a common way to start avocado plants but in a time when toilet paper cannot be found anywhere someone thought it would be funny to suggest we could all grow our own toilet paper using this method. -
03/18/2020
Charmin Farmin
Toilet paper became very hard to find as the pandemic set it to the US. This meme was very humorous when it came across my Facebook feed. -
03/18/2020
King County Field Hospital
An article from the digital version of the Seattle Times discussing the building of a 200 bed field hospital on a local soccer field. -
03/18/2020
Can I come into the out?
The phrase, "can I come into the out," is from a movie that was released in 2015. The movie was about an alien, the one pictured in the freezer, that came to Earth and was learning about the world. In this scene he visits a convenience store and climbs into a refrigerator and then asks his human friend "can I come into the out now?" This meme was particularly funny when everyone was staying home to avoid exposure. -
03/18/2020
Order take out food, get free toilet paper
As it became increasingly clear the coronavirus was going to effect the United States people began stockpiling food and other supplies, especially toilet paper. It quickly resulted in no store, online or brick and mortar, had toilet paper in stock. As restaurants tried to quickly shift to pick up and deliver as their only options for remaining open many got inventive with how to attract customers. This restaurant, on the square in Georgetown, Texas, like many others, offered customers a free roll of toilet paper with their take out order. -
03/20/2020
Virtual concert
The Tennessean Newspaper online covers the "Luck Reunion" concert -
03/18/2020
Stay Home for Us
This image shows hospital workers expressing their wish for the public to stay home to lessen the number of people that would contract covid and become their patients. Basically asking people to "flatten the curve". This was the phrase that became the tag line for the second half of March. -
03/18/2020
Doctor asking us to stay home
This image, and others like it, began circulating my social media feeds around mid March in reaction to people not wanting to stay home. The doctors were putting their lives on the line to save those that became ill and the least we could do was stay home. The theory being that if we all stayed home then there would be less people infected and the rush of covid patients would be slowed. I personally took the stay at home order/ask very seriously. *This image appeared in my Facebook feed. It shows a doctor holding a sign asking everyone to stay home. -
2020-04-28
Mask fabric from a friend
As soon as the CDC announced that the general public should start wearing masks whenever we are away from home I began making masks for myself, family, and friends. Unlike most people who sew I did not have a large stash of fabric to work with and the stores were out and even getting it from an online seller was taking four weeks. I reshared a picture of empty shelves at the Walmart fabric department someone else had taken and shared on Facebook and a woman I had only met once offered to send me fabric. I live in Texas and she lives in California. This is the box of fabric she sent via priority mail. I was so excited to receive this treasure. On top of that I've been getting elastic for mask making from another friend in Oklahoma who was able to order it wholesale, right before it became impossible to get. I've sent 60 masks to a local prison, about 30-40 to the Window Rock Reservation Wellness Center, and have given and sold about another 100 to friends, family, and random people who found out I was making masks via Facebook. I've also sent mask to several other states, including Ohio, Alaska, Michigan, and Kentucky, including masks made from the material in that box. *Cotton fabric -
2020-03-19
Gloves in the parking lot
I went to the grocery store for the first time in a week and when I returned to my car I noticed someone had discarded a pair of gloves on the ground in the parking lot. Some people have taken to wearing surgical masks and latex style gloves anytime they are out in public.