Prisoners Family Union P.F.U

09/12/2023

PART 3…

warehouse for inmates, with lack of things to do, often lock downs do to a majority of officers calling in sick, when its a nice day
out this happens especially on the weekends. The condemned conditions of Maximum Security don't help, the lack of real rehabilitative services, not having any vocational training programs, most days the Law Library is closed inmates can't work on their criminal cases, appeals and civil cases pending in court, along with the gym. Leaving inmates standing in the yard doing
absolutely nothing all day.The quality of life is hopeless here, The Budget for The R.I.D.O.C. is 260 million a year, how is it that
The R.I.D.O.C.Maximum Security where all the people in here are serving lengthy sentences for some the most serious to minor offenses lack resource to rehabilitative services and vocational training programs ? It would make since that the resources should focused mainly on these prisoners cause they are in need of most of the rehabilitation. Also the majority of these prisoners are of color housed in Maximum Security. The legislature and people in charge has failed this population of society. It has been a recipe for disaster for a long time and it needs to change it will take tax payers Governor Mckee and legislatures along with family, friends and loved ones to fix things. You might ask how I know all this because I am housed in Maximum Security and have been for the past 9 years we need all the help we can get from all out there to our P.F.U Family Call Every News Station You Local Representatives and Demand This Stop Now We Need An Intervention ASAP. Prisoners are Peacefully Protesting on the Yard Right Now Refusing to go in until they are Heard and Things Change. Thank You.

Send a message to learn more

09/12/2023

PART 2…

How can they continue to operate a prison that has written policies ,established rules which all inmates and all staff are to follow. The policy and rules are for all who reside and work at The R.I.D.O.C. to be strictly followed per The Director who has been delegated that power by Rhode Island Legislatures under R. I. General Law § 42-56-10 (22) . The policy is established by law.The rank and file along with their R.I. Brotherhood of Corrections Union ( R.I.B.C.O.) spread the word to disregard the new policies, by still taking inmates to solitary confinement for minor infractions, Two inmates got into an altercation near the phone it was over before the officers even realized what was going on. Based on this an officer shut off all the phones in the yard while other prisoners spoke to there children, wives and families. When the inmates express their displeasures for the phones being turned off, the officer who tuned the phone off began to swear cursing at them for speaking up. This is not standard protocol to turn the phone off when an altercation occurs in the yard unless it's something thats very serious, in which the yard would be shut down and all inmates would return to their cells.This was not the case here the situation was well under control. As a result of expressing their displeasures regarding the phone a gang of officers started trying to cuff them up and take them to solitary confinement simply violating the new policy. Knowing that the policy was being violated the inmates refused to be cuffed which led to cops assaulting inmates in the yard during rec. They wildly sprayed the whole population of inmates with peppers spray, who did not have anything to do with what was going
on. This is not the first situation that has occurred, things have been boiling for a while amongst the staff and inmates its a variety of things that has led to the events of tonight. Maximum Security where inmates are serving the most time has become a
wareh

09/12/2023

THIS IS A MUST READ!!!!!!!!

Correction Officers @ the Rhode Island Department of Corrections A.C.I. Maximum Security have continued provoking the inmates. Staff @ R.I.D.O.C. are pushing back against new ( Policies) surrounding solitary confinement and disciplinary punishments.
These policies which took effect on August 01, 2023 an agreement between the R.I.D.O.C. Acting Director Wayne Salisbury, The Rhode Island American Civil Liberty Union ( A.C.L.U.), United States District Court of R.I. and prisoner Richard Piavia. Who initiated 1the civil action against The R.I.D.O.C. for violating a civil consent decree established in the 1970's regarding inmate discipline policies which gave prisoners many more rights when it came to the disciplinary policy. This new policy will assist with restoring those rights, and also has went further it's studies with new evidence from mental health professionals and doctors that established the declaration of mental health and physical health of prisoners who are put in solitary confinement. The R.I.D.O.C. rank and file officers are upset with the changes that are taking place so much so that they have disobeyed the new policy. i.e. under the
new policy implemented on August 01, 2023, inmates should not be receiving solitary confinement as punishment unless they are a threat. A threat to themselves, security, or others inmates. Rank and file at Maximum Security along with enablers such as Deputy Warden Hahn from Maximum Security who wants to keep running business as usual. Still allowing officers to take inmates to solitary confinement for minor interactions such as talking back to an officer. Where is the threat there ? The rank and file view it as a challenge to their authority, so they abuse their power by locking inmates up in solitary confinement. What transpired the night in Maximum was a total disregard for the policy which lead to prisoners rebelling against the officers by refusing to go inside, enough is enough.

01/28/2023

CHECK THIS OUT!!

Years after the trial, the family of Kerry Mello learned that one of the men charged in his death was allowed to have s*x in the AG's custody. Now, they wonder if it influenced his plea deal and sent…

01/28/2023

**COME OUT AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT** BRING A FRIEND**
There is going to be a march on Wednesday February 1st from 9:30am until 1pm. The march will be held at 150 South Main Street.
The reason for this march is they are calling for James Baun to be removed from office and also for a conviction integrity unit to be opened to look into all of his prior cases.

01/05/2023

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftinyurl.com%2FShutDownMax%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1-6MeUSa38azlwSIDwhuDFvSCBeNmkxYVJPJLql2C7IZZB90Y2g9-deIM&h=AT0PWvGxOuFX0b2wCtvTFuftv_uN9vXChELv7bjOfaoc2Yyrfsk8XP29aTh_JM5iZcrhsOCLtg7oBU93sC_UPfyW3KebsydKyeIpPeuGWhT5OkYCLSg8pfcdnkHJR5dV7k6E_MiNafMunJUTfRHQQg

Dear Governor McKee, The living conditions at Maximum Security Prison are inhumane. We ask that you take immediate action to address this crisis and move individuals out of this facility. Maximum Security was built in the 1870s. It is solid brick, with no air conditioning or ventilation system in an...

01/05/2023

Governor McKee, take immediate action to address inhumane conditions in the Maximum Security Facility of the RI ACI.
Dear Governor McKee,
The living conditions at Maximum Security Prison are inhumane. We ask that you take immediate action to address this crisis and move individuals out of this facility.

Maximum Security was built in the 1870s. It is solid brick, with no air conditioning or ventilation system in any cell. In 1977, U.S Chief Judge Raymond Pettine issued a legal opinion stating: "the record here overwhelmingly supports, and no one seriously disputes, the concession that the present Maximum Facility is irremediably obnoxious to constitutional standards and that it must be closed." He further states that Max's heating and non-existent ventilation system cannot be made to comply with Public Health Standards.

45 years later, our state continues to house incarcerated people in this building. During the summer of 2022, this facility incurred indoor temperatures of over 100 degrees. When community members made calls to RI Department of Corrections (RIDOC) requesting that fans be provided, we were informed that incarcerated people must buy their own from commissary at the cost of $18/fan, when they are making wages of $1-3/day. We were met with equal indifference when we then requested fans in solitary confinement, where incarcerated people are housed in windowless, cement cells 23+ hours every day, for weeks and months on end.

In the coming winter season, opposite but equally unacceptable conditions will occur. While RIDOC policies allow staff to wear coats, hats, and gloves to protect themselves from intolerably low temperatures, incarcerated people in Max are prohibited from doing the same.

Incarcerated people additionally report toxic mold; dirty water; and rodent and rat infestations. They inform us that mold and rust are rapidly painted over before inspections.

We have addressed complaints to the Department of Health and the Department of Capital Asset Management. However, at every turn we are told that ONLY RIDOC can respond to complaints about conditions inside the prison. For example, the Department of Environmental Management informed us that they can only investigate the quality of water being piped into the facility, not the water running inside the facility.

We have repeatedly requested inspection reports from RIDOC since 9/28/22, and have yet to receive them as of 11/2/22.

How can RIDOC be expected to provide oversight of its own facilities? Why is the incarcerated population held separate from other Rhode Islanders when it comes to government standards of safety and health? Why is there no external oversight or enforcement of health codes at the ACI?

As Governor, you are responsible for the wellbeing of ALL Rhode Islanders, including incarcerated people, and you are the only external party who can affect change behind the walls. We call on you to:

1. Facilitate a third-party, unannounced inspection of the Maximum Security facility;

2. Require RIDOC to release internal inspection reports to the public within three business days after a request is made;

3. Provide incarcerated people with free hats, gloves, thermals, coats, and boots in preparation for the winter (the cost of these items for one incarcerated individual would cost anywhere from two to ten months pay); and

4. Commit to closing down this facility if you return to the Governor's Office.

Sincerely,

Melonie Perez, Realtor, Cranston
Jazz Pierce, Johnston
Elisha Liberty, Coventry
Michael Millington, Newport
Anusha Alles, Staff Organizer, Direct Action for Rights and Equality, Cranston
Cameo Carr, Cranston
Martha L Perez, Cranston
Jaime H Perez, Cranston
Nikole Papi, Cranston
Alexis Morales, Cranston
Alexander Dominguez
Neha Reddy, Medical Student
Tessa Palazzo, Providence
Christopher T. Wilson, Johnston
Rachel Bishop
Leonard C Jefferson
Susan Miller
Tunji Yerima
Francis Strickler, Special Education Teacher
Andrew Mueller
Jocelyn Teixeira
Tyler Mills
Elijah Puente
Stephanie Strub, Pawtucket
Andrew Wright, Pawtucket
Kiana Avlon
Morgan Wieck
Jess Huetteman
LB Rodzinak, state resident
Sarah Palomo
Tasha Kaluzynski
Judi Little
Jada Wooten, Brown Student
Sam R
Kaylee B
Judy Legette, Providence
Robert C. Rastella, Cranston
Alijah Case, Pawtucket resident and educator
Jeffrey Barbieri
Nevin Chin
Girolama S Barbieri
Kaylee Bochner, Pawtucket
David Raileanu
Debra Harris, Outreach Recruitment Coordinator, Direct Action for Rights and Equality, Providence
Alex Denisevich
Heather Harmon
David Chavez, Providence
Tina Scott, Central Falls
Toni Wallace, Direct Action for Rights and Equality Board member, Providence
BLM RI PAC
Harrison Tuttle, RI
Jazzlyn Jaxzyn, Pawtucket
Bianca Cardoso, Pawtucket
MJ Robinson, Providence
Ryan mcdonough, Newport
Jordan Jace, Providence
Haley McKee, Providence
Rahsaan Mahadeo, Providence
Melaine Ferdinand-King, Providence
Monica Huertas, Providence
Libby Merrill, East Providence
Patrick Gaynes, Jamestown
Todd Le, Providence, RI
Amanda Carosi RN, Johnston
Beka Yang, Providence
Adam Friedberg, Providence
Abby L K Myers, Pawtucket
eb saldaña, Providence
Dr. Brashani Reece
Stop Torture RI
Yvorn Aswad, MD, Providence
Aaron Jaehnig, Providence
Ben Evans, Pawtucket
Deborah Marini, Providence
James Vita, Providence
Malika Abbajebel, Providence
Jennifer Magaw, Esq., Pawtucket
Rassmeay Morm, North Providence
David Morales, State Representative, Providence
Tim mcvieh, Providence
Heather Jackson, LMHC, Providence
Sofia Sacerdote, Providence
Tiara Mack, Senator, Providence
Albahiris, Independent Contractor, Providence
Jennifer Muñoz, Pawtucket
Katherine Muñoz, Pawtucket
Stephanie Gamboa, Pawtucket
Margarita Cruz, Pawtucket
Nashelly Carrasquillo
Hakim Pettus, Community Activist, Providence
Devra Levy, Providence
Terri Wright, Providence
Martha Yager
Susanna Yim, Community Advocate, Cranston
Jackie Goldman, Providence
Sheila W, Providence
Sherry Brown, Providence
Caroline Ballerstedt, Providence
Fatema Maswood, Providence
Devon Pinkus, Providence
Simone Fournier, Providence
Rev. Dr. Donnie Anderson, Providence
Maggie Chung, Providence
Annabelle Everett, Providence
Brittany Palumbo, Barrington
Ellen Asermely, Scituate
Amelia Wyckoff, Providence
Kyra Duhaime, North Providence
Treasure Tunstall, Providence
Ramaar Logan, Direct Action for Rights and Equality/Behind the Walls Member, Providence
Danni Elias, Providence
Juan Turbidez, Communication Specialist for DARE (Direct Action for Rights and Equality), Providence
Mimi Wunsch, Providence
Daria-Lyric Montaquila, North Providence
Sandra Carvalho, Cranston
Kathleen Barbieri, Lincoln
Dana Heng, Providence
Lucia Perluck, Providence
Laura C Benoit, Providence
Maya Gutmann-McKenzie, Providence
E Smizer, Providence
Jasmina De Leon Gill, AMOR Deportion Defense Organizer / Case Manager, Providence, RI
Ciana Ayenu, Providence
Kelsie Walker, Cranston
Malick Santoz, providence
Abigail Knapton, Warwick
Wesley Sanders, Providence
Bianca Roberts, Boston College student,?Massachusetts
Kristen Haines, educator at community libraries and RISD museum, Providence
Maya Stevenson, Boston
Down The Road Movers, Providence
DaMario Walker-Brown, Boston
Hannah Meyer, Providence
Enna Spivak, Boston
Ilda Fontes, Pawtucket
Megan Elizabeth Jackson, RWU 2L, Providence
Benjamin D, Coventry
Cody Ross, Providence
Eric Larson
Suzette Cook, National Council FreeHer Campaign, Providence Ri
Peter Donegan, MA
Sherena Razek, President, Graduate Labor Organization at Brown University, Providence Kaitlyn Vicente, Providence
Rahul Vanjani, MD, Cranston
Nova Mcguirk, Providence
Lisa Hawkins, Providence
Joann Manning, Behind The Walls Member, Providence
Alex Pizzuti, Providence
Meredith Brandt, Providence
Jesse Smith, Providence
Ashley Perry, Providence
Wren E. Jackson, Bryn Mawr College Student, South Kingstown
Alexandra Perkins, Artist, Providence
Jeffrey Yoo Warren, Providence
Woodzie Dandy, Providence
Sy Bedrick, Providence
Leonela Felix, State Representative District 61, Pawtucket
Rosie Gillies, Providence
Greta Scheing, Providence
Aidan Wilder, Providence
Alyssa Peachey, Providence
Jeffrey Matteis, Cranston
Emily Nomura, Providence
Tycho Horan, Cofounder, Binch Press, Providence, RI
T. Deutch, Providence
Dan Mitrovic, Educator, Providence
Rachel Boatman, MLIS, Providence
Gabrielle Purchon, Providence
Natalie Cohen, Providence
Natalie F
Sam Merrick, Providence
Erin Perfect, Providence
Annabel Lyman, Providence
Kathryn Behan, Newport
Julia Gualtieri, Providence
Joshua Wilcox, Providence
Hayden Pfeiffer, Providence
Sean O, Providence
Penina Gal, Providence
Cynthia Mendes, State Senator, District 18, East Providence and Pawtucket
Daria Phoebe Brashear, Cranston
Joshua Rosales, Providence
Delaney Whitaker, Providence
Emeran Irby, Providence
Jules Zuckerberg, Providence
Kara D.
Anna Gray, Richmond, RI
Alby Pearson, Providence
Mandy Wencus, Providence
Liza Burkin, Providence
Corrina Banks, Central Falls
Harper Keehn, owner Sharper Harper LLC, Providence
Maru Attwood, Providence
Cristiane C., Providence
Veronica Pesak, Providence
AnneMarie Wolfe, small business owner, Providence
Luke Dani Blue, Pawtucket
ses fable, Providence
Kelly C, Pawtucket
Erica Zanghi, Providence
Carlton Williams, Massachusetts
Victoria Stilwell, Providence
Colleen Keenan, Providence
Zooey Kim Conner, Providence
Abigail Huber, Providence
Alicia Joo, Resident, Providence
Alexa Barriga, Organizing Coordinator for SISTA Fire RI, Providence
Arenal Haut, Brown Student
Lucy Williams, Providence
Emily Boucher (teacher, activist), Narragansett
Ben Taylor, Wakefield
Melissa L, Providence
Charli Canoll, Providence
Jamel Brown, Providence
Martha K, Cranston
Alicia Gauvin, Cranston
Ogechukwu Uwanaka, MD, Providence
Iman Sigman, Medical Student, Providence
Mateo Ríos, Providence
Timothy Fischer, LCSW, Providence
Hanna Aboueid, Providence
Isis Van Putten, Providence
Ella Satish, Medical Student at The Warren Alpert Medical School, Providence
Madison Emond, Providence, RI
Thomas Boettner, Providence
Trent Manning, Providence
Daphney P, Providence
Lizz Malloy, Providence
Grace Nickerson, Cranston
Tina Brown-Stevenson, previously Hope Valley, RI
George Wiley Center, RI
Ditra Edwards, SISTAFIRE Executive Director, Providence
Anita Bruno, North Scituate
Dannie Ritchie MD, MPH, Providence
Samantha Reisman, Providence
Adria, SFRI, JOHNSTON
Sarah Hashem- Youth Programs Director Groundwork RI, Providence
Jena M. Gaines, Providence
Suzanne Pages, Providence
Casandra Inez, Providence
Reina J Thomas, Providence
Mayra Paulino, Barrington
Christopher Murphy, Barrington
Henry Aybar, Chimney Professional, Providence
Mely Taveras, Pawtucket
Yuselly Mendoza, Olneyville Neighborhood Association
Lynnette Daveiga, Providence
Andre' Fullen, Providence
John Rosenwinkel, Providence
Sam Coren, PhD Candidate, Brown University, Providence
Elizabeth Costa, Providence
Formerly Incarcerated Union of Rhode Island
Cherie L. Cruz, Representative Elect, District 58, Pawtucket
Elizabeth Costa, Providence R.I
Sage Morgan-Hubbard, Providence, RI
Bernice Morris, Cranston
Jordan Schmolka, Providence
Elizabeth Costa, Providence R.I
Ryan Laughlin, Providence
Justin Lang, Providence
Chandra Dash, Providence
Meghna Tummala, Providence, RI
Elizabeth Truskoski, licensed mental health counselor, Providence
ERO, Burlington
Melanie DeSantis, teacher & librarian, Westerly
Edwin Otero, Warwick
IU, Pawtucket, RI
Sally Bozzuto, Providence
Quetrin Kunhardt, RI Notary Public, Central Falls
Indigo Forbes, Providence
Emily Dix Thomas, Providence
Sara Dunn, Providence
Marc Dure, Providence
Selene Means , RI citizen, Providence
Nicole Paynich, Warwick
Tatiana Reis, Community Member, Central Falls
David Durstewitz, Providence
Sara Chace Dwyer, Cranston
Marquise Bean, Providence
Erika Young, Newport
Danii Carrasco, Providence
Yasmine Hassam, Providence
Lynn Blair, Providence
Emily G, Warwick
Milo Giovanniello, Providence
Kyle Gray, Providence
Independent Socialist Group organizer, medical student
Jai Chavis, RI
Alexis Hall, Providence
Brittany Kraft, Warwick
Christopher Duffy, Providence
LG Levesque-Gottlieb, Portsmouth
Emilie Lum, Cranston
Ellie Blumberg, Providence
Hannah Saiger, Providence
Christopher Samih-Rotondo, Providence
Rojin Sharifi, Toronto
Franklin Mercado, Providence
Danielle Isom, New Bedford
Rachel Perry, Providence
Eli Nixon, Pawtucket, RI
Rae Hebron, Providence
Matthew Perry, MD, ScM, Providence
Jessica Cabral, South Kingstown
Ms Maria Sanchez Collins, Cranston
Eddie Franco, formerly incarcerated convict, Cranston
G Murphy, Newport
Diane Pimentel, Cranston
Kevin Ouimette
Kevin O. Lynch, Cranston
Eric Menard, Providence
A.K. Menard, Scituate
Isabel Irizarry, Providence
Rhea Lovell, social worker student, Providence
Keesler Gomes, Pawtucket
Chloe Davis, civil rights attorney, Cranston
Cathy G. Johnson, Teacher, Providence
Ellen Zahniser, Warren
Tyler Joseph, Providence
Dennis A. Bailer, Central Falls
Jori Ketten, Cranston
Mira Goodman, Providence
Marc Peskin, Cranston,R.I
Hannah Barnet, Registered Nurse, Providence
Charlotte Abotsi, Providence
Mimi Chrzanowski, Providence
Anya Talatinian, Providence
Ginger pop, Minneapolis
Brandon Perras, Providence
Claire N, East providence
Ruth Madsen, Pawtucket
Juli Anna Herndon, Providence
Catherine Druken, Newport
Alan Cohen, Pawtucket
Lisa Pina-Warren, East Providence
Melanie Fuest, Providence
Delaney Rauch, Providence
Milo Heard, College Student, Cranston
Eliza Dexter Cohen, Providence
Jessica Damicis, Scituate
Cristina Soto, Providence
Michelle Robinson, Pawtucket RI
Cimmaron, FANG Community Bail Fund and Behind the Walls Meeting, Providence
June Kramer, Bail Fund Coordinator, FANG Community Bail Fund, Providence
Ezra McPherson, Providence
Breanna Canning, Providence teacher, Cranston
Sarah Ogundare, Providence
Brenda Plante, Providence
Marta Abrams, Cranston
John James Duarte, Pawtucket
addie boyd, Providence
Black & Pink Providence
Dawud Alexis, Founder: Daddy Dearest Designs, Providence
Angela Qian, Providence
Dewayne Boo Hackney, Providence
Jessica Repose, Warwick
Francesca Gallo, Providence
Evelyn O’Regan, Providence
David Mann, Providence
Riley Nedder, Narragansett
Courtney Caldwell, Cranston
Andrew Eberly, Exeter
Jacqueline Swisshelm, Providence
Charlie Best, Providence
Abby Wright, Cranston
Madalaine Vericker, Providence
Katarina Ezikovich, Pawtucket
Spencer W Santos, Providence
George Fougere, Cumberland
Vito Deluca JR, Pawtucket
Matthew Ramsey, URI Professor, Richmond, RI
Anna Kastner, Providence
Jamie Buck, East Providence
Xia Josiah-Faeduwor, community organizer, Providence
Nick Carter, Providence
Ariel Tavares, Providence
Brianna DeLuca, Cranston
Dana Kretzmann, Cranston
Raquel Baker, Riverside
Julianne Dugas, North Kingstown
Alexandra Tilden, Providence
Kristin vegh, Providence
Nayelis Correa, Cranston
Cosette Boucher, South Kingstown
Steven Thompson Supervisor Mens Substance, Westerly
Daniel Parra, Brown Medical Student, Providence
Fenda Konte, Pawtucket
Jillian Winters, Providence
Victor Xia, Providence
Jessica Minker, Providence
Abigail Burr, Providence
Nat Hardy, Cranston
Caterina Maina, Providence
Sadie Elliott-Hart, Providence
Sasha Kusnetz, Providence
Yuna S. Providence
Pastor Sherrod Jones -senior pastor of restoration church providence campus, North providence
Allison Bailey, Warwick
zuri arman, Providence
Zaidee Everett, Providence
Haley De La Rosa, Providence
g druken, providence
Sally Caruso, Barrington
Su Chu, PhD, Harvard Medical School, Pawtucket
Stephanie Maclean, Providence
Sidney Lane, Providence
Alexandra Fasano, Bristol
Kwana adams, Providence
Funmibi Yusuff, Providence
Cory Ross, Providence
Laura Hodges, MD, Providence
Nelson Lin
Ayanna Searight, Providence
Robert Mirabella, Cranston
Zoé Samudzi, Assistant Professor at RISD, Providence
Brianna Dewornu, Pawtucket
Diandra W
Thomas Lumpkins, Providence
Becki Marcus, Providence
Sage Mueller MSW student, Foster
Charles Young, Seekonk
Erika DeCataldo, East Providence
Thomas Porraro, Providence
Steve Ahlquist, Uprise RI, Providence
Terrence Green, Providence
Thomas Wallace, Pawtucket
Tobias Gray, Pawtucket
Nithin Paul, physician, Providence
Jessica Simas, Pawtucket
Michael Carvalho, Cranston
Yijing Huang, RI
Chloe Castaneda, constituent, Providence, RI
Anna Glass, Providence
Allyson Quay, Portsmouth
Kay Belardinelli, Providence
Peter Nightingale, Kingston
Pamela Poniatowski, RI Poor People's Campaign, Riverside
Christian Torre, Providence
Yaniri Contrera, Providence
Rev. Duane Clinker, Cranston
Tanya Velazquez, Providence
Eric Young, Providence Rhode Island
Ilana Rose
Alex Purdy, Providence
Kate Gronner, Providence
Barbara BOTELHO, Warwick
Tara Cimini, Providence
Sarah Robbins, Providence
Alex Leonard, Providence
Anthony Tinaro, Providence College Student, Warwick
Sally Mendzela, North Providence
Christina Crockett, Providence
Natalia Friedlander, Attorney, RI Center for Justice, Providence
Lee Rodman, Providence
Sydney Hebert, Pawtucket
Ashlee Dennis, North Kingstown
Jai-Me Potter-Rutledge, public health practitioner, West warwick
Trina P, West Warwick
Kyleah Benton, Providence
Joshua Nadeau, RI
Sylvia DeBritto, Providence
Lisa Alvarez, Cranston
Iverca Arrendell, Miami Fl
Jen-ie lawson, Providence
Josie Rodriguez, Providence
Alison Carroll, East Providence
mckaylha rohrbach, pawtucket
Jenycia Soares, Pawtucket
Anelyn Jimenez, Providence
Lillivette villanueva, Providence RI
Michelle Ennis, Johnston
Jashira , CNA New Bedford, resident Pawtucket, RI
Brian Wilder, Cranston

01/05/2023

A call to all family, friends, and organizations out there, as you probably already heard, Rhode Island Department of Correction (R.I.D.O.C. ) Adult Correctional Institute ( A.C.I.) Director Patricia Coyne-Fague is resigning as of January 13, 2023. We all need to come together and ask Governor Dan McKee to select an individual who truly believes in reforming The ( A.C.I.) someone who is dedicated to truly rehabilitating our incarcerated loved ones, this is the chance to bring transformation to that antiquated system that has not been working, bring R.I.D.O.C. into the 21 century. If Governor McKee select someone who is already apart of the current establishment it will most likely be more of the same, business as usual, because of that person's connection to the R.I. Brotherhood Union (R.I.B.C.O.).

** IF YOU WANT A CHANGE IN THE A.C.I. CALL THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, CALL YOUR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, CALL THE MEDIA AND DEMAND THAT OUR GOVERNOR SELECT SOMEONE WHO WILL MAKE A TRUE CHANGE TO STOP THE REVOLVING DOOR @ R.I.D.O.C. THAT COST SO MUCH TO US TAX PAYERS **

12/05/2022

Terms Limits

America was established for the people by the people, right? I pose the question, how is it that a (non) elected officials i.e., appointed judges have lifetime appointments? In most cities and states across America, Mayors, Governors, Attorney Generals, District Attorneys and other elected officials have term limits. Most developed countries with heads of state have term limits, even The President of The United States, one the most powerful persons on this green earth has term limits and can only hold power for eight years. The Vatican also has age term limits allowing bishops to serve until the age of seventy five and then they also must retire. There are elections held for judges in many places around the world, as well as here in The U.S. allowing the people in the communities to put them on the bench by their votes. Local judges ,federal judges and our U.S. Supreme Court judges, are the third branch of our government, their decisions are vital and has an effect on everyday american life. Especially our U.S. Supreme Court, who rulings are final and become law of the land, everyday shaping the trajectory our country for a very very long time to come. Take a look at some of the most recent controversial decisions handed down in this last year. I can't really think of many pros of a life time appointment, it only really benefits the judge who has been appointed in the sense of '' job security '' and not really the people who they serve.

All judges enjoy absolute immunity based on all actions taken while sitting on the bench and don't answer to the people once they are seated. There are Judicial Codes of Conduct a judge shall abide by, in many states and districts you can file complaints with The Ethics Commission and Commission on Judicial Tenure a process that is established to hold a judge accountable. The problem with that is the members that hold positions on these commissions and head them are fellow jurist and Bar Association members from the same Bar Association of the judge you have filed a complaint against. Judges can be recalled by congress and also impeached, unless there exist extraordinary circumstances and anything short of a crime that has been committed, it is highly unlikely they will be removed from the bench. Analyze this a (non) elected official who has a life time appointment and absolute immunity, who do they answer to ? Certainly not the people, that is essentially a king or queen . Let's look at Rhode Island, were the judges here are appointed for a life term, some R.I. judges have been sitting on the bench for 37 years mainly in the superior court .Think about it, so many things has changed in the last three and half decades, i.e. race relations, same s*x marriage, LGBTQ inclusion, even the culture has changed drastically. One particular Judge Robert D Krause who was appointed to serve on The R.I. Superior Court in the year of 1987. Judge Krause has held a seat through at least seven gubernatorial administrations in R.I., seven U.S. Presidents, Judge Krause has been seated longer than any of the existing U.S. Supreme Court Judges, wrap your head around that for a minute. R.I. Courts are broken down into four jurisdictions, Providence County, Kent County, Newport County and Washington County. Providence County Superior Court is where Judge Krause hears cases daily, is where the majority of the states population of African Americans, Hispanic and minority ethnicities reside. Over 90% percent of the defendants that appear in his courtroom are economically deprived black and brown men. One of the well known things in R.I. Justice system amongst lawyers defendants, sheriffs, c/o's, and other judges is that if you are a defendant and you appear before Judge Krause in his courtroom there is a unusually high chance you will be convicted and you are going to prison for a very very long time without a doubt, the sheriffs call this getting Krausafied. Why is this? you might ask, Judge Krause came from the United States Attorneys Office as a prosecutor before his appointment 36 years ago, in his courtroom he operates as a third prosecutor, he threatens defendants into taken harsh plea agreements, where he offers them draconian sentences or, face maximum penalty on each conviction if defendants choose to exercise their right to trial and found guilty, Judge Krause openly offers advice to the prosecution on how to go about getting a conviction from defendants, when petitioners file post- conviction ( habeas petitions) to redress their unconstitutional convictions he denies them a right to a hearing, despite Rhode Island Law and Rhode Island Supreme Court reversing his decision to deny them hearings on numerous occasions, he displays bias and rush to judgement before hearing all the evidence, refusing to recuse himself when obvious conflicts of interest exist, denying fair trials to a lot people. Judge Krause is responsible for the sentencing of over 90% of black and brown prisoners in R.I. Maximum Security facility, young black and brown men serving very long prison terms. This judge has built his career off of railroading and maxing out (generations) of our youths who come from the same broken school system I talked about in last weeks article. A lot of people are aware of the racist court system here in R.I. along with its Good old Boy way of doing things (Please Read The Providence Journal Article dated November 14th, 2021 titled: Survey finds inequities, bias in R.I. legal system )

Appointing a judge for a life term creates a king or queen without checks and balances, leaving seventy-eight-year-old white men, that are out of touch with the times to literary rule, we've seen this movie before . Term limits will give room for new blood diversity, inclusion of those from different ethnicities, with varieties of different life experiences. This article is not to say all judges are bad people, I have encountered some very brave and brilliant ones, brave in the sense that they have empathy, understanding and don't use a heavy hand when they have the opportunity to but do what is just and serve the people. Judge Krause needs to be retired from the bench because he's been there way too long not only that but his racially bias treatment of economically deprived black and brown defendants who appear before him, he has not even rotated out of The Providence County Superior Court as do most judges in R.I. handling the same gun court calendar for over 25 years, how is this possible ? Life time appointments without and because the surrounding counties are all white. No one holds him accountable for his actions, its the elephant in the room that no one cares enough to address or don't know how to. Elections would allow the people who communities he's effected for 36 years to vote him out or term limits of 15 years would have removed him. This is why term limits are needed on all (non) elected officials in America, especially here R.I. Judicial system. Did you know out of 21 Superior Court Judges only is African American and One is Hispanic, also The R.I. Supreme Court out of 5 Justices one is African American and and the rest are white. One more fact before I go, did you know that within the last 10 -15 years in R.I. 4 past Justices who were appointed to life terms and one magistrate retired, making room for their children to be appointed to the bench in Superior Court for life time appointments as well ? Are we living in The U.S. or under a Monarchy ? Sit on that for a while in the future I will discuss nepotism in R.I. We need to demand our elected officials start passing legislation on term limits for (non) elected.
By Elohim Yachin
Founder of The P.F.U.