I’ve been asked more than a few times to write letters and/or articles
for different reasons by different people but I have not. But recent
actions here caused me to re-act! These actions are not or have not been
directed only at me but the entire death row community here on 12 bldg
at Polunsky Unit in Livingston, Texas. It started upon transfer and
arrival – to me personally it was nothing less than traumatizing and
de-huminizing both physically and mentally. Not one single man was
sentenced to the physical and mental psycological torture and abuse we
daily must endure not to mention the in-humane treatment and living
conditions. We were sentenced to execution – not to suffer toture!

Actions and Re-actions – former provisions of or for „death row inmates“
have been temporarily suspended for 3 years now, but we here are
constantly told what is eventually going to be done! No longer do you
have death row inmate, we are now all classified as death row agg-seg
inmates there-fore categorized with or as the worst of the worst of
Texas prisoners.
Actions and Reactions – a 1998 escape brought about the changes we
endure – not because we all escaped (or even attempted to) but because
the „snitch system“ failed and a single man did indeed escape! Guards
who are paid to prevent this from happening are not being punished for
this but the entire death row population here in Texas is. In light of
the prosperity of prisons here in Texas I realize that politics govern;
I also realize that the policies and the selective enforcement of them
are in-acted and innitiated by Warden’s Zeller and Massey and Major
Lester on down through the ranks. Cival and Human Rights are daily being
violated here on the Polunsky Unit – these officials attempt to totally
control us and not just with the obviously seen (solitary cell
confinement, handcuffs, cages) but by way of deprivation, intimidation
threats taunts use of chemical agents and physical abuse of at least 5
man assult teams (even when inmates are secure in cells or restrained by
handcuffs with no weapon or intent to harm anyone).

Since I’ve been on Polunsky Unit, I’ve known of only 4 physical assults
on guards by inmates (3 were the results of female guards disrespecting
the inmate and the other involved a mental patient). The most violent
dangerous criminals in Texas are most commonly assultive when reduced to
throwing body waste. Flooding, starting a fire or simply refusing to be
handcuffed when being removed or moved to one place from another,
jacking the handcuffs or the food-slots, or simply sitting down in
non-violent protest (all done usually only to speak to a ranking
official as to a simple yet serious personal matter). One man (Roy
Pippin) refused to eat for 35 days! For all these actions (with the
exception of Roy Pippin’s hunger strike) all have been punished and not
one time for one infraction but in general for ongoing periods of time!
The cells we live in were specifically designed to break a violent
offender who could not be managed in the general prison population or
was the threat of another – the cells alone were specifically designed
for this but to add the sick intentions and actions of the officials
here this definately falls under cruel and unusal punishment. I
personally see this as only an experiement. I’ve been personally told by
officials that the did something simply to see how I or another would
re-act (this is done to us daily). The officials here have crossed the
line, and for their actions this is my re-action.

I’ve recently been classified to the lowest custoy level for recent
agressive behavior (what is known as jacking the tray slot that is
guards open on the cell doors to serve and remove trays). I put my arm
out and refused to put it back in until I spoke to a ranking officer (at
his direction) as to the returning of my personal property that was
illegally confiscated by other ranking officers 2 months earlier. This
is not the first time my personal property has been confiscated
(illegally), discarded and trashed by officials here and I’m not the
only one to suffer this treatment. As with much of what daily goes on
here you probably would not be made known, but since I’m being so
severally (and will be for the next 7 months at least) punished on the
leveling system for this single act of aggressive behavior, I’ll simply
continue to re-act to actions in this aggressive nature (with this pen
and paper as I never have before for as long as I’m allowed by the
prison officials to have the privilege of pen and paper! Believe me it
is indeed a privilege ...).

I am an insulin dependant diabetic and I am forced to be administered my
shots in areas where chemical agents are being sprayed and body waste of
others is thrown and not cleaned. If one man is gassed all those in the
immediate area suffer as I have at many times. Often the chemical agents
used are in excess and are not necessary and protocol in use is not
followed. Inmates who are secure in their cells, at the whim of an
official can be subject to the use of chemical agents by simply refusing
to be harrassed by officials in any number of ways. I have been forced
to live in cells with the body waste of the previous occupant (and not
allowed nothing to clean with as all personal property had been
confiscated and held in the property room and no cleaning supplies were
made avaliable to me). I have been forced to live in cells that flood
when it rains outside (and leak as well). I am forced to live in cells
where the ventalation system doesn’t work, plumbing doesn’t work – all
because of my aggressive behavior (writing this is the most aggression
I’ve shown about all of this thus far). I have a big box on my cell door
(designed to keep inmates from throwing on guards) and my food is placed
in this box for me to eat. I am not supposed to be allowed to clean it
and the guards won’t clean it but it is filthy with food, juices,
coffie, etc. from previous meals – very unsanitary. My aggressive
behavior merits this I guess.

Actions and re-actions ... This only scrateches the surface and I am
only speaking as I’m personally experiencing and I’m sure that I’ll
suffer some form of retaliation due to this „show of aggression“ but I
already have been so at least now it’ll be for a reason. This will be
the first of many articles to follow and I’ll go into different aspects
of the sick situation that is our daily reality here at the Polunsky
Unit. If not daily, „weekly surely“ inncidents will be chroniclized and
posted on web-sites (until my privilege of mail service and free speach
are taken). Every man is not simply willing to roll over and die, many
will fight back and show aggressive behavior (as with me and this pen);
each will do so in this own way but I must tell you that all is
initiated by the environment which controls us – the people and policies
etc. The officials will quickly tell „even us“ that they’d not treat
their pets (animals) as they do us here! „Ask them to explain it“. None
of use deserved to be treated like this, and we weren’t until we got
tothe Polunsky Unit. There is not much we can do for ourselves being in
the position we are and not cause unfavorable results that will have us
here seen in the exact light desired by the officials (asd or of
animals)! They’re attempting to create animals and label us and present
as such so now my aggression has prompted me to re-act the same way.
These people are sick people!

I can answer any question from anyone reading this in the presence of
any official and with stand any challenges from the concerning my
answers. They cannot do this. They’ll point fingers and attempt to stand
behind policies to avert accusations and responsibality. Someone has to
be held responsible for all the actions and re-actions stemming from the
1998 escape and/or the 1999 hostage situation (which the hostage was
released unharmed), or from inmates refusal to be woke from sleep in the
middle of the night, stripped naked and allowed to be handcuffed so
officers can search his cell and possibly discard and trash personal
property because of something another inmate has done. This is an
ongoing and escalating situation that immediately needs to be addressed.
It’s not any one thing in particular that can be complained about but I
do know that many problems that exist now didn’t before we came to the
Polunsky Unit. Also the re-actions for actions (how-ever justified) will
continue to occure until changes are made – the blood is already
starting to flow here „literally“; we need help to stop the bleeding as
it is not our choice to inflict any wounds but we also refuse to suffer
as we await our fate.

Actions and Re-actions ... before I finished writing this at a little
past 2 pm, Jan. 25th, inmates were pulled out and all cells here were
searched for thermal underwear that was confiscated if found at the
time! Although we must go outside at 6 am (chilly early morning hours)
if we want to recreate and although many cells do not have the heat
working that they all whould. A jacket is avaliable, the same jacket
that’s avaliable to the inmate who showers once or twice a month! I
guess that thermal underwear are now some sort of security risk because
Ms. Howell, the woman in charge of property didn’t return those who
requested to get their thermals returned (from property confiscated) to
wear during the winter months. Another thing that Major Lester has done
that I don’t understand is he’s now made avaliable toilet brushes and
small brooms and mops to us to use in our cells to clean. It’s nearly
impossible to get even a towel when your cell floods for what ever
reason or state issued cleaning supplies upon request! What is weekly
allowed (when avaliable) is only good for 2 uses a most. Major Lester
has even went so far as to regulate the amount of soap, deoderant,
toothpaste and shampoo that an inmate can purchase with his own money
from the commissary. As before mentioned I was forced to live in a cell
with human body waste (from toilet overflows and the drainage system
backing up) for 4 days without being given any cleaning supplies (not
even a rag) while all I owned was confiscated and held in the property
room. It wasn’t until I refused to go back in the cell (when I came out
to see the nurse about my blood sugar concerns as I ony ate when I had
to in this contaminated cell and could not take my insulin shots as
perscribed) unless I was physically forced by the guards that I was
moved to another cell (I just couldn’t keep living like that). This
particular incident went unheard as do much here on 12 bld. I do not
have the contacts or support that many here have such as Roy Pippin
and/or Paul Colella so I do thank them and their friends for getting
this info where it needs to be. Both Roy P. and Paul C. have taken a
very firm stand against the will of the officials here and the tortious
dehumanizing environment and both have asked me and inspired me to do
what I can (with the help of their person friends and contacts) so I
must. Hopefully I can continue to report Actions and Re-actions offering
first hand accounts from Polunsky Unit 12 bldg „Death Row“. This is a
desperate cry for help from the depths of hell – an exibition of my
aggressive nature!

I welcome letters of support and encouragement and any question as well
you may have. Major Lester also limits our correspondence (by only
allowing so much correspondence supplies, pens, stamps etc., bi-weekly).
I may not be able to respond to everyone immediately but I will do so if
need. A close personal friend, Dawn Clark, has assisted me in setting up
a personal web page for the purpose of establishing a legal defense
fund,  http://www.geocities.com/derrickjackson_2000/justice_for_jackson.htm
Emails to her are welcome (she’ll get any and all to me) at
dawn-clark@home.com
or mail directly to me at the prison
Mister
Derrick Jackson
# 999263
Polunsky Unit
12002 FM 350 South
Livingston, Texas 77351
USA

I’ve been inspired to write Actions and Re-actions by Roy Pippin and
Paul Colella. I want to thank them both and Nancy Bailey and Dawn Clark
as well. Dawn has been seeking other web sites to link my webpage, to so
please Email her with any and all help full info and or support. Thanks
from all of us here to all of you who are re-acting to our desperate
needs!

Derrick Jackson # 999263
http://www.geocities.com/derrickjackson_2000/justice_for_jackson.htm

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