"That is the whole beauty of prisons - the benefit is not to the
prisoner, of being reformed or rehabilitated, but to the public. Prisons
give those outside a resting period from town bullies and horrible
characters, and for this we should be grateful." - Roy Kerridge, The
Lone Conformist, 1984.

"The prison rationalizes revenge through retribution ... punishment -
the revenge ritual - is the actual goal of the prison system." - Larry
E. Sullivan, The Prison Reform Movement: Forlorn Hope.
Arizona: A new dungeon for Death Row

You know about all the events that have occurred here recently with the
chain gang killing, the failed escape, and the suicide (On Dec. '96
Richard Dean McMillin, 32, hanged himself using an extension cord in his
cell as Missouri's Potosi Correctional Center - On Aug. '97, James
Gunter, 33, was found hanging from a bed sheet around his neck at
Huntsville, Texas). We had numerous shakedowns and they took all the
razors from us. On Sept. 2 they stormed into our cells and took
everything we had - even the clothes off our backs. They gave us bright
orange jump-suits to put on. They would not tell us what they were doing
or had in their minds. We figured out that we were all going to be
shipped off to the Special Management Unit II. Th is is the maximum
security control unit that houses the gang affiliates and incorrigibles.
The next day it came true.

One at a time we were rounded up and taken eight at a time to vans.
There was a tremendous show of force and macho-ism. We were cuffed
behind our backs and led through a gauntlet of armed police. When we
were loaded on the van, we were told that there would be zero tolerance.
They would mace us if anything happened. Outside the gates there were at
least 20 police vehicles, K-9 units etc . Along the way, there were
numerous detachments of Dept. of Public Safety vehicles; cops around
with machine guns at all cross-sections. Unbelievable show of force! A
DPS helicopter hovered above.

When we got to SMU II, we were shoved around like sacks of potatoes.
They took the eyeglasses off our faces (didn't get them for four days)
and a cop on each arm hurried us inside. Once inside I was pushed into a
5' x 5' room. Through a window, I was told to undress, run my hands
through my hair, my mouth, under my arms, lift my nuts and penis, turn
around and spread my cheeks and then squat, lift up my feet. I was then
given a different bright orange jump-suit to put on. My boots were not
returned. I was then cuffed from behind and rudely pulled out of the
room. I was made to walk a long distance to my new cell in just my
stocking feet.

It took a week to be given a change of underwear and a $2.00 pair of
deck shoes (made in China, most likely by prisoners). I have been here
over two weeks and I have not received my property. I succeeded in
getting may legal boxes, which are missing a lot of items. They went
through every piece of paper and removed all staples and paper clips,
they also took the small brass clips off the manila envelopes.
The sink/toilet is a trip. The water runs for one minute and doesn't
come on again for five minutes. The lights come on at 5 a.m. and goes
off at 10 p.m. We have no control over them.

When they feed us, we must stand at the back of our cell until they open
the trap door and place our tray down. Then they say, O.K., and you can
approach and get your tray. One guy was pissed off that he didn't get
his radio, so he decided to hold back his tray. The guards put on gas
masks, then maced him. After they got the tray, they told him he was on
report.

When we do get our property, we will not be getting our hot pots along
with a bunch of other stuff. I was told I will not be getting my 3-piece
component stereo (home unit), nor will I be getting my word processor
over here. The contraband slip simply said, "Word processors are not
allowed at SMU 2." A staff member told me about an article in a
newspaper detailing the reasons why D.O.C. brought Death Row over here,
one reason being that two inmates had their own pages on the internet.
So it is true that they are very concerned that we get the message out.
I am devastated. First my component stereo, then my "voice" are declared
contraband. No sounds can enter my head and no words can exit! It is at
times like this, that it is so easy just to give up, to roll over and
play dead. After all, when one is treated like a dog long enough, you
begin to act like one. I am now at the very bottom of the barrel. I
can't go much lower.

This control unit is a humiliating and dehumanising place. There are ten
of us in a pod - five above and five below. You can't see another
inmate, only hear them. These guys act like Gestapo's and we are in the
gulag.

Additional note from Richard:

It is one year now since we were moved here. Things have only got worse.
Most of our property has been taken from us. It seems as if this is
where we will remain until they execute us.