EMERGENCY: EXTREME HEAT INSIDE MA DOC

Update: on July 12 and 13th, Mass DPH did a surprise inspection as a result of your efforts. The following day, Wayland Coleman was put in solitary confinement. The following week, Wayland was put in a van in the middle of the night and shipped to MCI Gardner.  Read more here.

Earlier this week, incarcerated loved ones reached out to tell us about the extreme heat happening at MCI-Norfolk and MCI-Cedar Junction (Walpole). While temperatures outside have been a worrisome 100 degrees, inside they have reached a staggering 115°F, with 80% humidity.

While prisons are largely without air conditioners, most prisoners can buy fans at the commissary if they can afford them. At MCI-Cedar Junction, where some units have no opening windows, fans are banned. Prisoners have been provided with a 3 gallon cooler of ice for 45 men once a night. Those who have tried to reduce the amount of clothing on their body, such as wearing only boxer shorts, have been threatened with discipline. All guards have personal fans over their desks.

One prisoner passed out, and prior to taking him to medical, guards cuffed him while he was unconscious.

To add insult to injury, this flyer has been posted on the walls at MCI-Cedar Junction:


July 10, 2018 update (day 2)

Thank you to everyone who has called, faxed and emailed to get the Governor’s attention on this matter. As we enter another scorching July day, we urge you all to keep calling, and please, do not relent. If you have called, but are still wanting to do more, please consider using a fax service. If you don’t have a fax machine, you can use the free services below (there are dozens of such free services).

Free fax services:

https://www.myfax.com/free/ – can send up to 2 faxes free every 24 hours. Simply upload your document and press send. No account or sign-up needed.

https://faxzero.com/ – 5 free per day, max 3 pages per fax. No account or sign-up needed.

For more free services, plus reviews and tips, see this Lifehacker article.

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