COVID and State Farm (The Prison not the Insurance Company)
Here at State Farm Enterprise Unit during this COVID-19 pandemic, we have been locked down more than usual. Early on when someone complained that they were not feeling well that person and his cellie were put in the hole and everyone else was locked into their very cramped cells (2 men in a less than 70 square foot bathroom with bunkbeds) for several days until it was determined that they did not have COVID-19. Since then no-one has complained of any illness though I have seen at least one inmate who had “the flue” that lasted over a week and he had trouble breathing for a time. Luckily he is a very fit man in his mid-late 30’s.
Shop workers in this building have not been allowed to work, thereby not earning any income. Yet we do get to watch the shop workers from the building next door go to and from work.
I currently have a court date at the VA court of appeals in early June. Since the beginning of this emergency all visitation, religious services and programs have been cancelled–even access to the law library–which consists of a small room with two computers with various cases on it and two typewriters. Contrary to popular belief, even during situation like this, we have to meet deadlines or our appeals are automatically denied due to not meeting deadlines. For the state deadlines do not matter, they are allowed to miss them without prejudice. Without access to the law library or any other legal materials–we, as inmates–constitutional rights are once again trampled without recourse.
I am worried that I won’t be able to ever see my family. As mentioned earlier, in person visitation is cancelled which makes total sense due to the current situation. However, due to the category that my charges fall into, I am not allowed to have video visits. Even though those video visits are monitored. The fear that folks have is that DOC will change its policy on visitation and require that all visitation is on video for “safety” while at the same time stating how important it is to maintain ties to our family, friends, and community at large.
As the saying goes “never let a crisis go to waste” and DOC has time and time again used crises both real and manufactured to punish, isolate, and dehumanize us so to continue to profit both from us and our friends and family. And this worries me, my friends, and family and it should be concerning to you too.