Tag Archives: medical neglect

“Yes, this is medical neglect”

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My name is _____. I come from New Jersey. Been in Durham 40 plus years. My parents are deceased. My mother passed here in Durham 7 years ago. I come from a family of 5. I am the middle child: 2 sisters younger, 2 brothers older. Me and my brother been in and out of jail and prison. We’re all locked up now. My oldest brother got 14 months and my other brother got about 2 years or less to go. So I am 47 and unemployed, but a jack-of-all-trades, master of none!!! I applaud what you’re doing and if I was free I would be standing beside you.

I am in here for a number of charges. My first violent crimes. I had gave up on the world a long time ago. But out of 47 years, this was the first time in my life that I gave up on myself. I am not a violent person but my spirit was being pulled at my so very strong demons (stress). But I believe that things happen for a reason. But now I am in jail without the bail. …

I found out today that I’ve got some medical problems. Medical drew my blood and all they state to me is that I need to stop eating fatty food. But I been here since February and now my legs are swell and they do not wish to do nothing at this time but give me a pill for three weeks and an ice pack for my triglycerides count, which is 469 and should be 200 and below. I’ve got to wait even longer to start a diet here. The nurse said that “she would let the doctor know.” Okay, it will be Monday of next week before I hear anything. … Yes, this is medical neglect. Just to give me a pill that does nothing. Something donated to the jail.

I think your Feedback is on point, and I wish to further this, because I and others need to be heard.

The Sheriff race I do not have no information on any of the candidates, but I am unaffiliated. So I received a late ballet. It was too late by the time I received it. These people here at the jail had something to do why I got it so late. …

Thanks for everything from all in here that I tell about your stand and where you stand.

– The Ferret

‘In the Durham County Jail, private medical business is allowed to exploit the poor & impoverished inmates’

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The Expanding Medical Business

The medical business spread across the country is a deadly viper lurking around every impoverished corner. It’s deadly policies on insurance spreads to every inch of every poor and uninsured individual all over the U.S. Here in the Durham County Jail, private medical business is allowed to exploit the poor & impoverished inmates from Durham County. At the moment of intake, your Medicaid is stripped from you. The longer you are jailed the more likely you are to develop major if not additional health problems due the harsh conditions the inmates are subject to. Health conditions get overlooked if they are not ‘serious’ or ‘life threatening’ or if you do not have the funding on your books to cover the $20 ‘co-pay’ charge. People are literally afraid to go to medical because they cannot or do not want to be charged or owe a $20 co-pay to handle health problems that arise within these walls. Among the many health problems inmates can develop in DCJ are high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, eye problems, UTIs, Flu and the common cold. This is due to the conditions of the inmate’s environment. The thin mat placed on the mental slab alone is enough to cause many body aches $ issues. Cold temperatures stiffen joints. The type of foods, lack of fresh water & strange, highly dyed juices cause malnutrition & UTIs. The medical unit offers nothing if you catch a cold or the flu. Canteen sells Halls & 2 Ibuprofen tablets for health issues, but that is all that is offered. Medical gives inmates Tylenol or Motrin for damn near every issue that comes to them. Here are several individual issues that have happened since my incarceration at DCJ. All are [examples] of how [Correct Care Solutions] DCJ’s medical contractor neglects the inmates:

  1. A guy requested medical for 3 days straight & was not seen until he passed out.
  2. A woman’s swollen knee, which appeared to have fluid in it, was neglected for several weeks. Once the pain became unbearable she was treated with Tylenol & a heat pack for 2-3 days. She was more than likely charged for her treatment.
  3. A woman who thought she had a UTI was turned down for the treatment because she could not pay the $20 co-pay (no funds on her books). Later she discovered her urine was discolored because of her diabetes, which was at a very high level & was developed inside DCJ. She could have died from neglect & mistreatment of DCJ medical.
  4. A young girl, age 17, went to medical due a torn hernia. She was treated with Tylenol & because the pain was so severe, she got an X-ray. Once the doctor confirmed it was a torn hernia, she was told they couldn’t do anything for her.
  5. I recently had pain in my right shoulder due to the thin mats & metal we have to lie on. I was treated with Tylenol & a heat pack for two days & was not told in the medical room that I would be charged $20. I went on a Tuesday. They stopped giving me the treatment after Wednesday evening. All day Thursday my arm continued to ache. Friday morning I discovered that I owed $17 because of my trip to medical, which I rushed to finish speaking to my attorney to go to.

Many inmates are in DCJ right now because the law enforcement are lazy & are always reaching to make cases. Durham deals with a high level of petty crimes & they fill the jails to the brim with petty criminals or low level crimes or people who are not even criminals. Then, to add injury to insult, the inmates’ medical needs are neglected! I am not sure if it is because I am not from down here or what. All I know is that to many people are far too accepting of the injustices in Durham County & all across the country. Something needs to be done & just must be served!

– Conscience Mind

“This jail is getting worse by the day”

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Dear C—-,

How’s it going? Me? Sitting in this shit hole taking it a day at a time trying to stay out of the way and keep my head up with faith and prayer. I’ve been in here going on 14 months for murder awaiting a good plea so I can move on and put this hell hole behind me. I’m on lock back doing 20 days for having pain medication for my gunshot wounds during a shakedown. Sgt. Cole that works here took an extra mattress from me that I have medical paperwork for just to get a reaction out of me hoping to send me to the hole. I give respect to everybody that works here even when they don’t deserve it and most times it seems like its hopeless. I’ve been coming in and out this jail since I was 16 years old, I’m 29 years old now, that’s 13 years and it seems as if this jail is getting worse by the day. We don’t get let out of our cells on time, canteen comes late most days not at all and we get little to no respect. I know that this is a punishment and all but we all are still human beings and the difference between us and everybody else is that we got caught. I don’t like the way the female inmates only have one pod and the way they get treated.

Call-in for Shatique Skinner

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On Monday, we ask folks to call the Durham County Jail (919-560-0912) to put pressure on them to provide Shatique Skinner with proper medical care. Shatique has been locked up in solitary confinement for two years now and has been consistently denied his regular medication for schizophrenia. His parents are incarcerated and his sister has been advocating on his behalf. She asks that any and all who are able call the jail on Monday and demand that Shatique be released from solitary and that the medical provider, Correct Care Solutions, administer his proper medication. Please use the script below if you would like.

Call 919-560-0912 and ask to speak to someone in medical.
Script:
Hello, I am calling to demand that you release Shatique Skinner from solitary confinement and administer the proper medication for his schizophrenia. Shatique deserves to receive appropriate care for his medical condition. Care is not locking someone in an isolated cage because they have a mental health challenge. I demand that you provide Shatique with the medication for his condition immediately.

You can also write to Shatique at the following address:
Shatique Skinner
B31370
PO Box 1353
Durham, NC 27701

We Need OSHA: “We’re not the animals they’re treating us like”

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3-27-16

Hello,

I’m Tony King and I give I.O.A. permission to use my name and letters at anytime for the sake of awareness of all amplified voices unless I withdraw my consent verbally or written.

Update: the kitchen’s inmate staff is now being worked to the bone, just to cover any tracks of anything that shows lack in the D.C.J. staff members. We’ve experienced a hot tray for dinner for the first time. Hopefully it will continue. As far as officers go, there is another who decided to show their true colors this night of 3-24-16 by the name of Officer Perry – a male. 5-B. So, let’s dissect the issue. Majority of the time, us inmates are locked back or out in the pod, the officer is sitting at their desk usually doing nothing is the most honest thing one could say. So, after only 1 hr into his work schedule, Officer Perry at 9:00pm states he’s not going to open our doors to our cell unless he feels like it. So I had a moment of clarity which was: Officer Perry clearly isn’t satisfied with the pay he receives to just sit and push some buttons. Also, when we’re let out of cell at 9:00pm, it’s a wonderful privilege that’s appreciated 100% until you get an officer such as Officer Perry who instead of pushing the button that opens all doors so we can exit cell, the officer will walk to each door of at least 47 doors and unlock them only to cut into our free time at the least 10-15 minutes, which we do not receive back. Sad isn’t it?

Also, officers fail to follow protocol when opening your door allowing an inmate in your room without permission. This happened to me tonight. I asked was there a protocol when opening door. He stated yes, however it’s clear protocol wasn’t followed, and luckily nothing was stolen due to me catching the issue in time. Officers in general also lack respect when it comes to your personal phone calls that may be $10-$20. The officers sometimes just hang up on your phone call without notice, leaving you with the loss of money and an unfinished phone call, all with no consideration for the inmate. Last but definitely not least, there is, I repeat, there is something in the water we drink and bathe with. It is a thin foggy white film that floats in and on top of your water. Also, the water you bathe with is so harsh it chafes your skin very badly.

Well, it’s been a pleasure. Hope to talk soon.

P.S. I’m looking forward to letters and useful information, if possible.

(I’m not sure if you all wrote me back or not. I have not received any mail entirely. Please feel free to do so or maybe they’re holding mail as usual.)

Also, for all medical visits here at Durham County Jail it will cost you $20, unless you’re dying, is what the nurse told me. I asked for the medical policy and was told that they could provide me so I wouldn’t be confused about how to be seen appropriately. I stated: it was my (Right) to have this information, and was told again there is nothing to give you, but if you’re sick she said, put in a sick call not a grievance cause it usually is the least concern. I said, wow, she sure isn’t educated as the last nurse I spoke with that addressed my needs.

(And thanks to the Post Office for the 1 pair of socks donated to each inmate.)

Also, I’ve heard specifically from inmate kitchen staff that fruit flies / gnats are all over the kitchen and sometimes have crawled onto the food that they serve us. Kitchen staff has also said when they notify the kitchen authority of the issue, they threaten them to mind their business if they wish to continue working in the kitchen. So, basically if you notify staff of these health related issues you’re fired from your kitchen position. I personally witnessed the jails head kitchen officer come to 4C pod and make a mockery of the guy who found the maggots, say strip him of his blue uniform immediately. He no longer works in the kitchen anymore and never will, not while I’m working here. OSHA, please save us. We’re not the animals they’re treating us like. Even a dog deserves and receives better treatment than this. OSHA just needs to come unannounced and justice will be served. Please help us.

-Tony King

‘Racism, hate and unfairness’

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July 1 2015

Hello _____, this is B. C., returning a response to your letter. From the time I got here I felt this place was unfit! Racism, hate and unfairness. Included is a list I had started, please write back with phone number or another way to contact you. We get a diet full of starch and carbs, Dr. calls are not properly attended to. 2 women had miscarriages while here! The water is loaded with ?? They keep us dehydrated. Noodles in the store in 35¢ here 80¢ double, sometimes triple the amount! They don’t have properly working phones – so if an inmate was having a medical emergency, they could not get thru – Guards sleeping on the job – told the Sgt. the Sgt. Said well it does get a little boring — ??? We got 4 hours and yes, the medical amount as of today has increased to $20 plus they changed the phone provider that I heard costs more to use as well, how convenient on the same day. I had a cell mate that was off her anti-psychotic meds for 4 days – They do not treat us like humans at all. I got in an argument with another inmate and the guard on duty says I will let ya’ll BITCHES argue and just lock you back. This is all they do. We are treated w/ no dignity – respect – just like animals in a zoo – Dr.’s visits are 3-5 minutes long – They do not listen to you at all – They stopped my meds for no reason, causing me to put in another $10 call. I have a bad back, have I mat and take Tylenol 325 3 time a day, it doesn’t even begin to help. I told them I had constipation so bad they my butt bleeds, they say drink more water – The water is disgusting. The Food is disgusting – Not very much nutritional value to it!! Please continue to work for us and I would love for you to share this info with anyone. My release date in _____ and I would love to help this cause. The system could care less about our health – We are not allowed access to pen/pencil in our cells – no pens at all! Visits are only 20 minutes thru a thick piece of glass! THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS!! AND YES poors are targeted. Guards laugh at prejudice jokes and love to cause arguments – I can give names.

Thanks

B. C.

(We need education, literature, and family!)

Attached list of events:

5-6 – Motley swearing constantly

5-6 – Evans answered phone and says “Naptime, time to go to bed + hangs up

5-6 – Guard tries to fight inmate

5-7 – Phone gets hung up numerous times – or ringer is shut off

5-7 – Reported toilet broken – guard says nothing she can do.

5-14 – guards are sleeping

4 30 Put in medical request, Guard Smith said you are white- they will get to you fast