Jim Ryan                                                                            Michael Mahoney
Attorney General                                                                John Howard Association
100 W Randolph Street                                                      Suite 1416
Suite 1200                                                                          Chicago Illinois
Chicago Illinois 60601                                                        60601
 

US Senator Carol Moseley Braun                                       Chicago Sun Times
230 S Dearborn                                                                   co F. David Radler
Chicago Illimois  60604                                                       401 N Wabash Avenue
                                                                                           Chicago Ilinois  60611

Governor Jim Edgar                                                            Janet Reno
207 State House                                                                 Unites States Attorney General
Illinois  27061                                                                      Unites States Dept of Justice
                                                                                           Washington DC 20535
 
 

From :  NATHSON FIELDS and RESIDENTS OF THE MENARD CONDEMNED UNIT
Date : March 1997
 

                              COMPLAINT
 

We the inmates of the Menard Condemned Unit ("DEATH ROW") are calling for a State and Federal investigation by State and Federal law enforcement agencies, upon prison officials here at the Menard Correctional Center, Death Row.

This call for an investigation is being brought against Menard officials for various and numerous abuses of prisoners rights, and state and federal laws, including but not limited to:

Sexual assualt
Beating of prisoners
Macing of prisoners
Filing of false diciplinary reports against prisoners
Illegal use of recording devices (eavesdropping) without court authorization
The targetting and filing of false disciplanary reports against political prisoners/activists for the sole purpose of silencing and isolating them.
Denial of medical care and treatment
Mail tampering
Denying inmates visitors to visit them
Corporal punishment by Menard prison officials (in an attempt to compel compliance with the new Anal Search procedural)
Violation of Department of Corrections policies, rules and regulations.
 

                                          Brief Summary

On March 2, 1997, the Menard Condemned Unit Captain verbally announced to inmates on the Condemned Unit that a new Shakedown procedure would be implemented the following day (March 3, 1997).  Said shakedown procedure would require inmates leaving the  visiting room after
visits to be forced to submit to an "Anal search" conducted by prison staff. This would require inmates to strip nude, turn around with their back facing three or four guards, bend over,  spread their cheeks with their hands, exposing their rectal cavitiy, while the gaurd standing less than two feet away, shines a flashlight into the inmates rectum,  in search for contraband.

Inmates complained and objected to this degrading, obscene, unclean procedure.  That it violated the religious beliefs of many prisoners, and there was no legitimite penological interest or correction purpose, in that no inmate in the history of Menard's Death Row has been caught concealing weapons or any contraband in his anal cavity, going or returning from a visit.  The limitation on Death Row visits (no more than five inmates at a time), being closely watched by a guard, and the former shakedown procedural has always been adequete to meet prison security concerns.

Menard officials knew that the majority of Condemned Unit inmates would not submit to the indignity of this new shakedown procedure, and would file Grievances and / or Complaints.  Therefore, key political prisoners/ activists were targeted for removal from the general population of the Condemned Unit and placed in Control Segregation status.

Menard prison officials went about the task of framing inmates, via false charges in Disciplinary reports.  Said officials also illegally equipped confildential inmate informants with electronic eavesdropping devices (recorders).  This was  done without court authorization, which is required by law.  This was done for the sole purpose of entrapment of Policial prisoners/ activists (Inmates Brisbon and Fields), thereby providing DOC officials the opportunity to segregate and isolate said prisoners/ activists.  This also stopped said activists from assisting other inmates in the filing of grievances, complaints, and civil lawsuits against the Department of Corrections regarding the new anal shakedown procedure.

After Menard officials systematically cancelled and refused visitors to visit any inmate on the Condemned Unit who verbally acknowledged that they would not submit to this degrading anal search procedure when leaving the visiting room.  The Condemned Unit was subsequently placed on lockdown status March 6, 1997.

Although the Unit was placed on lockdown status after an officer was assaulted with a cup of water, the real reason the lockdown was instituted was because numerous inmates refused to comply with the new degrading anal strip search procedure.  Evidence of this fact is that the lockdown status of the Condemned Unit has continued for eighteen days with no indication of said lockdown being lifted, despite the fact that no incidents of misconduct have occured for over two weeks and counting.

Menard officials therefore placed the Condemned Unit on lockdown and sent approximately twenty to thirty Tactical Unit officers onto the Condemned Unit to "bust heads,"etc...and force compliance with the degrading anal search procedure.

Tactical Unit official (hereinafter, "Tac. Squad") equipped with full riot gear which included helmets, sticks, shields, and pepper gas, stormed the unit to immediately start a "terror campaign".  The first act in this 'campaign' was to surround political prisoner/ activist Fields' cell.  The Tac. Squad extracted Inmate Fields from his cell, placed him in a stripped Segregation cell with nothing but a pair of underwear, and a mattress. Fields  remained in this cell, under these inhumane conditions for five days, from 3-6-97 until 3-10-97.

Next, the Tac. Squad surrounded inmate Ehlers' (B-60794) cell, extracted him and placed him in a Control Segregation strip cell with only underwear and a mattress.  He remained in the cell under these  inhumane conditions for five days, from 3-6-97 until 3-10-97.

The "terror campaign" was just beginning.  A fire was burning on the back portion of Four Gallery.  Instead of putting it out, the Tac. Squad sprayed fire hoses into the cells of inamtes on the entire back end of Four Gallery.  Then they went back to Two Gallery, in front of the Segregation cells, and sprayed the fire hoses on an underneath said cells.  This caused inmates cells to flood, damaging personal property and legal papers.  This act, along with other forms of harrasment, was repeated into the evening, throughout the night, and the following morning.  Bars were beaten with steel pipes at all hours of the night and inmates were cursed at, threatened, and taunted with racial slurs such as "nigger" and "monkey."  Food trays were thrown into the chuck holes of Segregation inmates and some inmates were not given all their food.  Inmate/ activist Fields, and many other inmates, including, but not limited to, Ehlers, Nielson, Towns, Ganus, Easley, Wiiliams, Jackson, Wolley, Mahaffey, Sutherland and Henderson, were not fed at all for over a week by the Tac. Squad.

The following day, March 7, 1997, false Disciplinary reports were written on inmates of the Condemned Unit for allegedly assaulting members of the Tac. Squad.  These false Disciplinary reports were written as a smokescreen, to cover the Tac. Squads abuse and assault with hoses on Condemned Unit inmates. (see , exhibits). The Tac. Squad sexually assaulted inmates, they also BEAT, CHOKED, TWISTED ARMS AND LEGS, BODYSLAMMED, and SPRAYED AN INMATE WITH PEPPER GAS WHILE IN HIS CONTROL SEGREGATION CELL.

MENARD CORRECTIONAL OFFICIALS HAVE VIOLATED STATE LAW BY COMMITTING SEXUAL ASSAULT UPON PRISONERS AS WELL AS VIOLATING DOC POLICIES.

Illinois Revised Statutes, Chapter 30 5/12-14 states; AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT. (a) THE ACCUSED COMMITS AGGRAVATED SEXUAL IF HE OR SHE COMMITS CRIMINAL SEXUAL ASSAULT AND THE FOLLOWING AGGRAVATED CIRCUMSTANCES EXISTED DURING THE OFFENSE:
1)THE ACCUSED DISPLAYS, THREATENS TO USE, OR USED A DANGEROUS WEAPON FASHIONED OR UTILIZED IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO LEAD THE VICTIM UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES TO REASONABLY BELIEVE IT TO BE  A DANGEROUS WEAPON.  2) THE ACCUSED CAUSED BODILY HARM TO THE VICTIM; OR 3) THE ACCUSED ACTED IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO THREATEN OR ENDANGER THE LIFE OF THE VICTIM OR ANY OTHER PERSON.  THIS IS A CLASS X FELONY.

                       MENARD OFFICIALS COMMITTED SEXUAL ASSAULT

On March 7, 1997 at approximately 9:25 am Warden(s)  Page and Cowan, and Superintendant Pierson stopped by Inmate Ike Easely's (N-21627) cell.  Easley expressed to them his feelings about the new anal search procedural, that it was degrading and obscene.  The wardens thereupon in a blatant show of abuse of authority, ordered the Tac. Squad to extract Easley from his cell in an attempt to make an example of him for all condemned prisoners to see, and fear, and submit to the new shakedown procedure.  Easley was extracted from his cell by numerous members of the Tac. Squad, instead of taking him to a segregation cell, he was taken to the front of the unit in an office area.  Easely was forcefully thrown to the floor, by at least nine members of the Tac.  Squad, his clothing was cut off of him.  His arms were twisted, legs were forcefully spread, and while nude, face down on the floor, members of the Tac. Squad forcefully spread his buttocks.   This sexual assault occured in the presence of Warden Page, Assistant Warden(s) Cowan and Hinsiley and Supt. Pierson.

                           MENARD OFFICIALS COMMITTED SEXUAL ASSAULT

On March 7, 1997 at approximately 10:00 AM, inmate Andre Jones (N-10582), was extracted from his cell by the Tac. Squad, allegedly for assaulting members of the Tac.  Squad.   Instead of being taken to a Segregation cell,  he was taken to the front of the unit to an office area.  At this point some nine to ten members of the Tac. Squad then proceeded to rip and tear his clothing from his body, he was slammed on the floor, stripped nude, his arms were twisted, he was choked, his legs were forcefully opened, and the Tac. Squad then forcefully spread his buttocks.  This is sexual assault.

                          MENARD OFFICIALS COMMITTED SEXUAL ASSAULT

On March 7, 1997 at approximately 4:00 AM, Inmate Jackson (N-10765) was extracted from the cell by the Tac Squad and was taken to the front of the unit in the wee hours of the morning to go on a writ to appear in court in Livington County.  He was taken to an office area in front, ordered to strip nude, turn around, bend over and spread his buttocks for an anal search.  Said inmate refused the order, stating his Islamic beliefs forbid him to do such an act.  Thereupon, he was attacked from all sides, by at least nine to ten members of the Tac. Squad with sticks!  He was being hit from all sides to the arms, ribs, and stomach areas.  One member of the Tac. Squad grabbed his nose in an attempt to tear his nostrils.  Jackson fell to the floor, in a sitting position, as the members of the Tac Squad continued to jab him with the sticks in the ribs and stomach.  He was ordered to roll over and spread his buttocks, as he rose back to his feet, the Tac Squad forced his head down into a chokehold while other members of the Tac Squad continued to beat his  ribs, twist his arms, while another member of the Tac Squad forcefully spread his buttocks.  This is sexual assault.

***It must be noted that none of the aforementioned inmates received any medical attention despite their pleas for medical assistance.***

These vicious acts committed by members of the Tac Squad were solely designed to instil fear into all of the inmates of the condemned unit who refused to comply with the new degrading anal search procedural rule.  DOC rules governing searches of anal and vaginal areas in no way implies that prisoners will be brutally handled, beaten, or tortured into complying with such searches.
See DOC rules 501.221 (b) 2,3.

                     USE OF CHEMICAL AGENTS FOR RETALIATORY PURPOSES

On March 6, 1997 at approximately 1:20 PM moments after inmate  Niels Nielson  (B-80285)
allegedley assaulted Lt. Taylor, Captain Young and Lt. Mitchell, who were present during said assault, stood back from inmate Nielson's cell.  Inmate Nielson was not hostile, nor did he attempt to assault any other staff.  In fact, he was sitting peacefully on his bed.  Suddenly, Captain Young whispered something to Lt. Mitchell.  At that point both Young and Mitchell approached said inmate with tear gas cannisters in hand and sprayed said inmate with chemical agents.  This retaliatory attack on Inmate Nielson was in complete violation of DOC rules Section 501.70. (use of chemical agents in cells. Consent decree).

                      USE OF CHEMICAL AGENTS FOR RETALIATORY PURPOSE

On March 8, 1997 at approximately 3:00 PM five to six members of the Tac Squad all walked the entire length of Two Gallery, stopping at the last cell which is a control Segregation cell, which Inmate Neilson (B 80285) is housed in.  The members of the Tac Squad proceeded to open said Inmate box hatch at the top opening, then opened the lower slot (DOC rules prohibits the opening of both of these slots at the same time), then one  of the members of the Tac Squad said loudly, "So you're the tough motherfucker" and then proceeded to spray pepper gas into inmate Neilson's cell.  Both slots were then closed and all six members of the Tac. Squad left the scene of the crime.  Inmate Neilson was coughing and suffocating, all inmates on the Condemned Unit began to bang on the bars, yelling and screaming for Neilson to receive medical attention and to be taken out of the cell before the gas overwhelmed him.

Neilson was removed from his cell and was given medical attention.  In an attempt to cover up this assault by a member of the Tac Squad,  a false disciplinary report was written on Neilson by the officer who sprayed the pepper gas on him, stating Neilson has assaulted him by throwing water on him??? This assault (spraying of gas) was clearly a retaliatory strike!

Further retaliatory actions were taken against Inmate Neilson, when he was being escorted to see the Med. Tech by the same members of the Tac Squad who had ambushed him in his cell.  For no reason, the Tac Squad jumped on Neilson, placing him in a chock hold.  One tac Squad member stated, "shut up, no one can help you." A false displinary report was written accusing Neilson that while they were escorting him to see the paramedic after being sprayed with pepper gas, that Neilson assaulted him???  Once again, this member of the Tac Squad outright lied and fabricated the disciplinary report.  Inmates on Two and Four Galleries witnessed this attack on Nielson and the fact that Nielson did not do anything to justify the assault upon him by the Tac Squad.  It must be further noted that no camera was used to record  the extraction of Neilson from his cell, as mandated by DOC rules and regulations and has been done every time the TAC Squad has extracted an inmate on the Condemned Unit from his cell previously.

Taq Squad wrote false, fraudulent disciplinary reports on condemned inmates for assaults that never happened for the sole purpose of covering up their own assaults on condemned  inmates and to pressure them to submit to new degrading anal search rule.  Menard Disciplinary Committee systematically found all inmates guilty of every ticket / report, imposing the maximum penalties allowed; plus additional punishments of loss of yard, commissary, etc; despite some inmates being role model prisoners with no disciplinary reports ever being written them for rule violations, and despite DOC rules not allowing loss of priveleges which are unrelated to rule infraction.  Menard disciplinary committee failed to investigate any of the disciplinary reports, as they were clearly false upon close examination.

                             FALSE, FRAUDULENT DISCIPLINARY REPORTS

Inmate Towns (B-06365) was written a disciplinary report for assault.  According to the disciplinary report, this assault happened on March 6, 1997 at 2:00 PM.  The report alleged he threw a can of spaghetti at a Tac Squad officer, hitting his shield.  THIS ASSAULT NEVER OCCURRED!  Inmate Towns was never placed in a Segregation cell despite the fact there were three segregation cells open and unoccupied the following morning when three segregation inmates were transferred to Pontiac.  Why, if he assaulted this Tac Squad officer on 3-6-97, wasn't he extracted from his cell and all his remaining can food and property taken from his cell as required by DOC rules and regulations?  Furthermore, at 2:00 PM , the time the assault allegedly occurred, two segregation cells were open and unoccupied, as Fields and Ehlers had not been placed in segregation at that time.  This ticket / report clearly was falsified.

The punishment imposed upon Towns was one year segregation, one year C grade, 90 days yard restriction, 90 days loss of commissary, and 90 days loss audio video.  ***Towns was not allowed to call any of his defense witnesses***
 

                             FALSE, FRAUDULENT DISCIPLINARY REPORT

Inmate Sutherland was written a disciplinary report for allegedly throwing hot water on a member of the Tac Squad on March 7, 1997 at approximately 12:00 noon.  This is a false, fraudulent disciplinary report!  At the time this assault is alleged to have occured, all segregation cells were filled, thereby leaving no control cells to place him in.  However, the most compelling fact of Sutherland's innocence in this assault is the fact the Tac Squad did not extract him from his cell and remove his property from his cell as required by DOC rules.  And even more compelling evidence, if Sutherland had threw hot water, why didn't the Tac Squad shakedown his cell and confiscate his stringer (stringers are used for heating water) to prevent him  from assaulting them again.  No assault ever occurred!  For if it had occurred, this hostile, brutal band (Tac Squad) would  surely have extracted Sutherland from his cell, sprayed him with chemical agents, beat him, spread his buttocks, took his personal property, especially his stringer.

The punishment imposed upon Sutherland was one year segregation, one year C grade, 90 days yard restriction, 90 days loss of commissary, and 90 days loss of audio video.***Sutherland was not allowed to call any of his defense witnesses***
 

                             FALSE, FRAUDULENT DISCIPLINARY REPORT

Inmate Mahaffey (N-12780) was written disciplinary reports for allegedly assaulting the same Tac Squad officer on March 6 1997 at approximately 4:00 pm and again on March 7, 1997 at approximately 12:00 noon.  These are phoney and false disciplinary reports!  Both of these assaults was allegedly done by Mahaffey throwing hot water over Four Gallery railing, down onto Two Gallery where this officer was standing both times he was assaulted.  Mahaffy's innocence  is shown clearly by the fact that he was never extracted from his cell after the first assault, shakendown, nor was his property removed from his cell.  Why after the second assault was none of the above action taken?  Certainly, if this Taq Squad officer was assaulted twice in two days by the same inmate, some action would have been taken by this brutal crew (Tac Squad) against Mahaffey to insure he could not strike again.  Nevertheless, no action was taken against Mahaffey, which in and of itself reveals that no assault ever occurred.

The punishment imposed upon Mahaffey for both tickets / reports was two years segregation, two years C Grade, 180 days loss of yard, 180 days loss of commissary, and 180 days loss of audio video. ***Mahaffey was not allowed to call witnesses in his defense.***

                                FALSE, FRAUDULENT DISCIPLINARY REPORT

Inmate Wooley (N-71935) was written a disciplinary report for assault by Tac Squad officer on March 7, 1997.  Said alleged assault occurred at approximately 12:30 PM.  This is a false disciplinary report!  Inmate Wooley is housed in a segregation steel fronted cell,  so he could not possibly throw hot water out of his cell while his chuckhole was locked.  Furthermore, segregation inmates are not permitted to possess electrical stringers to heat hot water and said inmate did not possess a stringer so how can the Tac Squad officer claim Wooley threw hot water on him.  Falsely, thats how.  This is an obviously false disciplinary report!

The punishment imposed upon Wooley was one year segregation, one year C grade, 90 days yard restriction, 90 days loss of commissary, and 90 days loss of audio video.***Wooley was not allowed to call any witnesses in his defense.***

                             FALSE, FRAUDULENT DISCIPLINARY REPORT

Inmate Ehlers (B-60794), was written a Disciplinary report for assault and conspiracy.  This is a false disciplinary report!  The incident is alleged to have occurred on March 6, 1997 at approximately 1:30 PM.  The report states that Assistant Warden Cowan observed   Ehlers in a "threatining" manner, ready to throw a cup of hot liquid on Warden Page who was walking the gallery with numerous prison staff members and deputy director Neal.  Cowan alerted Warden Page and no water was thrown.  The report further states, based on an investigation, Inmate Ehlers was ordered by Inmate Fields to throw water on Warden Page...?  This is clearly a false report, whereas no assault of Warden Page ever occured nor was an assault going to occur, so how it is Ehlers was ever charged in the first place?  Although Fields never ordered Ehlers to do anything, including throwing water on Warden Page, assuming for the sake of argument that someone had ordered Ehlers to throw water on Page, there is no evidence that Ehlers ever agreed to do so, therefore how can he be convicted of conspiracy?  Furthermore Deputy Director Neal, who was walking write in front of Warden Page did not notice anything unusual as he passed Ehlers' cell.  This is a clear case of Warden Page suffering from paranoia and delusions after coming on the Unit minutes after a guard had hot water in it and was going to throw it on him.  This is clearly a false report.

The punishment imposed upon  Ehlers  was one year segregation, one year C grade, 90 days yard restriction, 90 days loss of commissary, and 90 days loss of audio video.***He was not allowed to call any of his defense witnesses***
 

   REMOVAL FROM UNIT PRISON ACTIVIST HENRY BRISBON (A 01072) AND
                            ILLEGAL USE OF EAVESDROPPING DEVICE

At least eight Tac Squad officers with helmets, shields, riot gear, tear gas and four foot long oak sticks, rushed on the Condemned Unit and surrounded inmate Brisbon's cell  (Brisbon is a well known prison activist, who has written numerous grievances, complaints against prison staff for violating prisoners rights at Menard and Pontiac. )  Tac Squad officers ordered Brisbon to "cuff up". Brisbon asked them where he was going? They replied "to the adjustment committee".  Brisbon was taken to the front of the Unit, surrounded by the Tac Squad being handcuffed behind his back.  Upon arriving at the front of the unit, Brisbon was blind folded, taken to an undisclosed area of the prison , stripped of his clothing, given a jump suit and placed in a strip cell with none of his personal property or legal papers.  This cell has a flourescent light which stays on twenty four hours a day.  There are no windows, so Brisbon cannot determine if it is day or night.  There are no other inmates in this area where his strip cell is located.  A guard is posted outside his door twenty four hours a day.  Brisbon was told he would remain in this cell and under these inhumane conditions until he is executed. (It must be noted, Brisbon is NOT on his last appeal, nor  does he have an execution date scheduled.)  Brisbon recently received a visitor and was taken to yet another specifically made for him area, located in yet another undisclosed area of the prison.  As his female visitor approached the door to this room,  there were a dozen prison guards standing at the entrance.  One of whom cautioned her that "this was a non contact visit".  To her horror, when the door was opened, she saw Brisbon standing, handcuffed and his legs chained and shackled to this huge concrete block.  Brisbon's visitor said the scene was reminiscent of the days of slavery in America, when blacks were chained to concrete blocks and auctioned off to the highest bidder.  It must be noted that since Brisbon was transferred to the Menard Condemned Unit from Pontiac, he has not assaulted anyone.  Many feel that this isolation of Brisbon, with no TV, radio, and personal property etc, in an unknown area of the prison is an attempt to drive him mad, and or worse still, murder him.  This inhumane treatment of Brisbonis also being used to threaten other inmates with the same inhumane treatment, in fact one inmate has already been indirectly threatened when complaining about the degrading new anal shakedown rule.

The Captain of Menard's Condemned  Unit has stated to inmates that Brisbon was placed in the aforementioned barbaric, oppressive, and inhumane environment, after one of his confidential death row informants provided him with an audio cassette tape, alledgedly of Brisbon conspiring to harm warden and other staff.  However recording devices are not allowed on the condemned unit or to be possessed by inmates.  Moreover, state evesdropping laws have been violated, which states "no agency could record anothers conversation without their knowledge and that this could only be done after a court order." (see chapter 38 article 14 Eavesdropping 5/14 (14.1 c 1-3)  Captain Young permitting his death row informants to possess these recording devices, for purposes of incriminating other prisoners, then use these said conspiratorial incriminating tape conversations at adjustment committee hearings, etc, leading to severe punishment by adjustment committee and prison wardens to single out and punish key death row prison activists (Brisbon) is prohibited and unlawful.  That these aforementioned prisoner abuses must be investigated by state and federal authorities and action taken.

THE PLACING IN CONTROL SEGREGATION OF PRISON ACTIVIST NATHSON FIELDS A 01682  AND ILLEGAL USE OF EAVESDROPPING DEVICE  BY CONFIDENTIAL INFORMANT ON BEHALF OF D.O.C

On March 2, 1997, when the new degrading anal search rule was announced, inmate prison activist Fields and others began preparing complaints to the Governor, Congress persons, to activists.  this angered Unit Captain Young, who knew he had to remove prison activist Nathson Fields from the general population, by any means, to ensure that there would be no interference in the implementation of this new degrading shakedown rule.  At this point, it must be noted, Captain Young is despised by condemned unit inmates and the prison guards who work with and for him.   many of whom have confided their disgust with how Young has destroyed the peaceful working relationship between staff and inmates on the Condemned Unit.  There is clear evidence that there has been more turmoil on the Condemned unit since Young was assigned as Captain than at any other time in recent history.  In addition, Captain Young has had officers removed from the Condemned Unit who have refused to treat prisoners harshly, etc, creating a lot of tension for all those on the Condemned Unit, both inmates and staff.

On March 6, 1997, the entire unit was placed on lockdown  (lockdown means no movement and loss of all rights and priveledges) after a guard was assaulted when a cup of water was thrown on him.

The Tac Squad was unleashed in the Condemned Unit at approximately 2:00 pm.  Dressed in full riot gear, they came on the unit like a band of drunken pirates, spraying water hoses to put out one small fire, then turning these powerful hoses unto inmates cells, inmates, their personal property and bedding.  They were yelling, cursing, threatening and using racial slurs towards Condemned inmates.  Suddenly approximately 12 to 15 Tac Squad officers ran up the stairs to prison activist Fields' cell and ordered him to step up to the door and cuff up or chemical agents would be used.  Fields asked where he was going and why.  Again he was threatened with chemical agents which were being pointed at him.  Fields was handcuffed and escorted to a stripped control  segregation cell, where all his clothing were cut off, with the exception of his underwear.  The cell was filthy, with only a mattress in it.  There was no sheets, pillow, toilet paper, soap, tooth brush or paste.  Fields was left in this cell under these inhumane conditions for five days, from 3-6-97  to 3-10-97.

Fields had no understanding as to why he was placed in Control Segregation under these cruel and inhumane conditions until the following day (3 7 97) when he received a disciplinary report for assault and conspiracy.  The ticket stated Fields ordered inmate Nielson to throw water on the guard  who was assaulted on the day of the lock down and that Fields ordered Inmate Ehlers to throw water on Warden Page.  (no water was ever thrown on said warden).   It must be noted , that the Tac. Squad placed Ehlers in control segregation after placing Fields in segregation.  Fields disciplinary ticket went on to state that the evidence relied upon in support of these charges were confidential death row informants and an audio cassette tape of Fields giving these orders to the above stated inmates.  (As with the case of activist Brisbon, here again the DOC makes mention of an audio cassette tape.)

                                    BIAS OF MENARD ADJUSTMENT COMMITTEE

The Department of corrections rules were flagrantly violated when Fields went before the prison adjustment comittee.   According to DOC rules, no one who was involved in the incident which an inmate is written up for,  who witnessed it,  helped write the report,  should serve on the adjustment committee.   That inmates charged with a major infraction of rules must appear only three member board.  These rules were violated at activist Fields' hearing,  as the following will reveal.

When activist Fields entered the tiny area where the adjustment committee hearing would be held, the following persons were present ;  Cellhouse Captain Young (Young was a witness who was present when Lt. Taylor was assaulted.) ; Lt. Taylor (the victim of the assault Fields was charged with) ;  c/o Ramsey ; Paramedic Jack Moore : the three members of the adjustment committee.   Furthermore,  Fields stood before this large bias committee,  handcuffed behind his back,  both of his ankles were shackled, one Tac. Squad officer held Fields handcuffs tightly behind his back and had one foot on his shackles between his legs, while another four Tac. Squad officers with full riot gear, helmets, shileds and sticks,  stood all around him on either side.   At this point,  it was clear to Fields that he was about to be quote-unquote "Lynched".   Fields had sent in to the adjustment committee,  days before the hearing, a list of two key witnesses he wanted to call and a request for a short continuance to prepare.   But the adjustment committee chairman claimed they never received it...?

At this point Fields made a verbal request for these two witnesses (Neilson and Ehlers) to be called.
Both witnessess would have testified that "Fields never ordered them to assault anyone" This request was swiftly denied.  The adjustment committtee chairman glanced towards Captain Young and Lt. Taylor, as Fields noticed out of the corner of his eye, Captain Young did a 'thumbs-up' signal, at which time the adjustment committee chairman pronounced Fields guilty of all charges.  Fields had no way to defend himself whatsoever !
 

                               ILLEGAL EAVESDROPPING LAWS VIOLATED

Menard officials, namely Captain Young,  have violated Federal and State eavesdropping laws, which requires that electronic eavesdropping recording devices cannot be utilized on unknowing persons and must be court approved by a judge.  (see Illinois revised statutes, chapter 38, 5/108A-4)  This law was violated by Captain Young who permitted and provided confidential informants (agents) with recording devices for the sole purpose of illegally eavesdropping on other inmates, on behalf of the Department of Corrections.  (See Ill. Rev Stat Chapter 38 5/108A-4).  This is a Class 4 Felony.   That said evidence procured from such illegal eavesdropping cannot be admissable in any civil or criminal trial, or any administrative or legislative inquiry or proceeding. (see Ill Rev Stat Chapter 38 5/14-5 evidence inadmissable).

Recording devices are not allowed in any prisoners possession within the Department of Corrections.  It is contraband and any inmate with one in his possession must be written a disciplinary report.  No report was written on Captain Young's confidential informants for having this device, which shows bias, abuse of authority, and hypocrisy on the part of DOC.  Therefore, the DOC cannot expect to benefit from allowing said confidential informant to possess contraband devices and DOC on the other hand trample their own Departmental rules, solely for the purpose of silencing two prison activists (Brisbon and Fields), and placing them in control segregation, simply because said inmates disagree and complain about certain DOC policies.  Fields has requested that a polygraph test be given him as he has never ordered either inmate  to assault any staff, and both
Neilson aand  Ehlershave provided sworn affidavits supporting Fields.  (Brisbon has vehemently denied any and all alleged allegations in confidential informant tape cassette, used by Captain Young to have placed Brisbon in a control isolated segregation cell.)

It is truly sad to see that DOC (Captain Young, etc) stoop so low, to take advantage of poor death row inmates who are unable to buy cigarettes, coffee, etc and the DOC officials offer them these items for their services of being "agents," informants. The DOC officials should be ashamed of this practice upon vulnerable men, with no family, friends or support, being under a sentence of death.  This practice causes tension and animosity amongst inmates and could lead to violence.

The punishment imposed upon Fields was one year segregation, one year C grade, 90 days yard restriction, 90 days loss of commissary, and 90 days loss of audio video.  ***As noted above,  Fields was not permitted to call two requested defense witnesses on his behalf***
 

                                               CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

Inmate Williams (B80007) was written a disciplinary report, for allegedly assaulting a Tac Squad officer, said assault is alleged to have occurred on March 7, 1997 at approximately 12:30 PM.  The report stated, Williams threw a plastic trash can and plastic mirror at said officer, then punched said officer's shield with a closed fist...?  At this point said officer sprayed an excessive amount of chemical agents on Inmate Williams.  This is a false report.  A careful review of the Condemned Unit cells would reveal that an inmate cannot reach his arms through the bars, as the bars are too close together, and surely not throw a punch through said bars without seriously damaging his hands.  Said officer was in no danger, as he had a shield and gas mask on.  The spraying of chemical agents on Inmate Williams, especially in such an excessive amount, while in his cell, is prohibited by DOC rules.  Williams was extracted from his cell, instead of being taken to segregation, he was taken to the front portion of the unit by the Tac Squad.  The video camera was turned off, as he was forced to the floor, face down, his legs were spread and his clothing was cut and torn off, which constitutes aggravated sexual assault.  This degrading procedure was done to Williams solely for inflicting corporal punishment on him.

The punishment imposed upon Williams was one year segregation, one year C grade, 90 days yard restriction, 90 days loss of commissary, and 90 days loss of audio video.
 

                         CORPORAL PUNISHMENT: VIOLATION OF DOC RULES

On March 17, 1997, Condemned unit counsellor Whittenburg finally came on the unit.  When he was asked why he had not been on the Unit before inmates disciplinary reports were heard, he replied, "Captain Young wouldn't let me".  Whittenburg went on to state that he had been ordered by Captain Young to talk to only two segregation inmates, then he must leave the unit.  This misconduct by Captain Young was to insure inmates received no help in preparing  for their hearing before the adjustment committee, nor any help from counselor on filing grievance and civil suits.
 

                                                PERSONAL PROPERTY

Inmates Williams,  Ehlers, jJones, Fields,  Nielsonand Easley's personal property was taken for five days.  Inmate Easley is still without any of his property to this day, 3 24 97, and is in a strip cell with him having only a jumpsuit to wear.  The other named inmates received only a small portion of their personal property, however, legal papers, crucial trial transcripts, commissary food and clothing items have disappeared and are missing according to Captain Young. These items were all deposed of to further inflict more punishment and is in violation of DOC rules.

MENARD ADMINISTRATORS HAVE VIOLATED THEIR OWN RULES; CORPORAL PUNISHMENT; DENIAL OF MEDICAL ATTENTION; VIOLATION OF MAIL TAMPERING
 

                                                    MAIL TAMPERING:

From March 6th thru 21st, 1997, during Condemned Unit lockdown, inmates mail, both incoming and outgoing was dissappearing; legal mail was returned to inmates opened and not sent out.  Mail from family and friends was never given to Condemned inmates.  Inmates sending mail to Congresswoman Mosely Braun was overcharged for postage.

                                            DENIAL OF MEDICAL ATTENTION:

Inmates Easley; Jones; Ehlers; Fields; Williams; Jackson; and Nielson were all denied medical attention after recieving various injuries after being extracted from their cells by the Tac Squad, after being beaten and sexual assault was forced upon them by the Tac Squad.

No medical attention was given to inmates of the Condemned Unit after the excessive amount of chemical agents were sprayed on March 7, 1997.

Captain Young denied inmate medical passes to the hospital. (No call passes nor doctor call lines were ran from March 6th through 18th 1997)  Captain Young also denied paramedics on the galleries for the first few days of the lockdown, exept to pass previously prescribed medications to a few inmates.
 

                                            MENARD VIOLATED OWN RULES

Adjustment disciplinary committee failed to do any independant investigation on various reports written Condemned inmates and simply replied on reporting officers who wrote the tickets.

The adjustment committee also allowed Captain Young to sit in during the committee hearings, take part in said hearing and the extremely excessive punishments imposed upon those inmates.  Said committee also allowed numerous other officers to be present during said hearings, including the victim of one of the assaults.

The committee refused to allow said inmates to call witnesses on their behalf and failed to grant requested continuance, despite their knowledge that the unit had been and still was on lock down status, and that the inmate counselor was not permitted to come on the Unit to help inmates prepare their defense as is allowed by DOC rules.

Said committee was clearly biased towards all condemned inmates who received disciplinary reports during the lockdown, evident by the way in which the hearing were conducted and the excessive punishments imposed as set forth above.  This is especially true in the cases of Fields and  Ehlers w
who were charged with assaulting the warden of the institution, where no assault ever occurred, in that the committee was  reluctant to dismiss these false  reports and / or find said inmates not guilty for fear of reprisals, etc, from their boss, Warden Page.

Other rules were violated when the Taq Squad failed to use video cameras during the extractions of certain inmates from their cells and when inmates were being forcefully sexually assaulted.
 

                                                CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

Corporal punishment was inflicted when Captain Young and the adjustment restricted inmates (who received disciplinary reports during the lockdown) all yard priveledges for 90 days, despite the fact that the charges were not related to yard priveledges in any form or fashion.   This is a violation of DOC policy and clearly shows 'vindictiveness'.  This practice of taking inmates yard priveledges for non yard related infractions has been going on for months here on the condemned unit via Captain Young's directing the asjustment committee to punish said inmates in this fashion.  This can be verified simply by examination of all disciplinary reports written on condemned inmates and compare them with inmates in general population, MSU Farm etc over the past year.  The truth will be clearly evident.

Corporal punishment was also inflicted when Captain Young and the adjustment committee restricted inmates of commissary priveledges  ("no shop") for 90 days, despite the fact that the infractions were not related to said commissary priveledges, and despite the fact that the punishment of C Grade already punishes said inmates to a limited commissary once a month.
 

                                                CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

Since March 6, 1997  inmates on the condemned unit visitors have been systematically turned around and refused visits with their loved ones on the condemned unit.  A check of the visitors log will show this.  Captain Young personally denied inmates Guest and Field's visitors to visit them on 3/5/97 .  Young repeated the same denial of visitors with inmate Neilson on 3 16 97.
 

                            CORPORAL PUNISHMENT: DENIAL OF LEGAL PHONE:

Captain Young has denied inmates written disciplinary records during lock down the use of the attorney legal telephone.  Captain Young has not allowed Inmate Fields to make any attorney-legal telephone calls at all, during the entire lockdown nor to this day (3/24/97.)

                                           CONLUSION:

We, the men on the Menard Condemned Unit, Death Row, humbly request a State, Federal and Congressional probe into the numerous charges of abuse begun immediately.  Before the Illinois Correctional System can be cleaned up it must first start with its own corrupt, criminal, brutal, drug smuggling employees, not the inmates....this we pray!

Sincerely
Prison Activist Nathson Fields
and Menard's Death Row Inmates.