Action Alert: Men starved, beaten and shackled in Dallas PA prison

Human Rights Coalition Action Alert- May 9, 2010

HRC report spurs retaliation by SCI Dallas staff

Prisoners beaten, shackled and starved by vengeful guards in campaign of terror

The situation

According to multiple reports from prisoners at SCI-Dallas prison in Dallas PA, staff there have begun a campaign of beatings and torture in retaliation for prisoners taking part in a recently-released report by HRC exposing conditions in the Restricted Housing Unit (RHU) there. Beginning April 25, prison guards embarked on a series of attacks in which several prisoners were starved, beaten, pepper-sprayed and left naked in restraints for periods of up to 50 hours. As of this action alert, several men have since been "emergency transferred" to other prisons (depriving them of all property including critical legal paperwork), while others remain under conditions of torture in SCI-Dallas' RHU.  Many of the guards involved are named in the recent HRC-FedUp! chapter's report, Institutionalized Cruelty, which features testimony contributed by several of the prisoners targeted in the terror campaign.  

Timeline of events

The recent bout of attacks started when prison staff under the direction of Sgt. Buck (with the approval of Lt. Mosier and Deputy Mooney) began depriving prisoner Anthony Kelly of his meals. When Kelly's neighbor Isaac Sanchez spoke up in protest, both men were targeted for harassment, issued false misconducts, and deprived of exercise periods, showers, and water. After three days of further retaliatory tactics culminating on April 28 in the cell extraction of Isacc Sanchez  (who was then held in a "restraint chair" for over 20 hours), three prisoners (Anthony Kelly, Andre Jacobs and Dewayne Peters) were threatened and told by staff "you're next".  According to the reports, staff were incensed by the recent arrival at the prison of the Institutionalized Cruelty report naming them in prior acts of harassment and torture.

On April 29, in an attempt to prevent further abuse and racial harassment (most if not all of the prisoners are constantly called "niggers" or "spics" by guards), approximately 10 men in nearby cells engaged in a peaceful protest of the guards' attacks by covering the windows to their cells and demanding to speak with local authorities and the media. This spurred an escalation of violence by guards. Over the next three days, they performed "cell extractions" (attacks by teams of guards wearing riot gear and armed with pepperspray, night sticks and electroshock weapons) on at least seven of the men. All victims of the attacks sustained injuries; "torture tactics" employed by guards include severe beatings, electric shock applied (20+ times) over prisoners' entire bodies including head, neck, and genitals, and holding the men naked & exposed to outside air in restraint chairs, shackles, and handcuffs for periods of up to 50 hours. As of this action alert, Anthony Kelly, Anthony Locke, Isaac Sanchez and Duane Peter are still at SCI Dallas and very likely still experiencing food deprivation and other conditions of torture.

 Take Action!

The terror campaign being perpetrated by staff of SCI Dallas must be stopped immediately! Support these prisoners' fight for their rights and lives by taking the following actions:

-- Call Department of Corrections Secretary Jeffrey Beard (717-975-4918) and demand that he take personal action to ensure that 1) the harassment, intimidation and torture of all the men (see list of prisoners below) cease immediately, that they are transferred out of SCI-Dallas and their legal property is inventoried and returned to them, and 2) all Dallas staff (see list of officers below) in the chain of command who are responsible for the abuse are immediately fired and prosecuted by law enforcement.

--Call SCI Dallas Superintendent Jerome Walsh (570-675-1101) and demand that 1) the staff named in the attacks be immediately removed from duty in the Restricted Housing Unit pending investigation, firing, and prosecution for the crimes they have committed, 2) that all evidence including video footage be secured, preseved, and turned over to law enforcement, and 3) that all of the named prisoners remaining at Dallas be transferred to other facilities with all of their property.

--Call Luzerne County District Attorney Jacqueline Carroll (570-825-1674) to let her know of your concern about these events and demand that her office begin an immediate investigation in accodance with the Criminal Complaint (click here to view) being sent by the Human Rights Coalition on Monday May 9.

When calling prisons and public officials, always maintain courtesy and be absolutely firm in demanding that they uphold their duty. They are public servants and are accountable to you! 

Prisoners (known to be) attacked by guards

Anthony Kelly (GX0834), Andre Jacobs(DQ5437), Carrington Keys (EF4010), Duane Peter(FP7306), Anthony Locke (FJ7018), Derrick Stanley (BG2548), Isaac Sanchez (GY8440)

SCI Dallas staff reported to be involved in the attacks/retaliation

Deputy Mooney, Lt. Mosier, Sgt. Buck, Sgt. Rodmonski, Sgt. McNulty, CO's Morelli, Bower, Harrison, Day, Maholts, Dipero, Gibson, Potsko, Matrillo, Lavivara, and Maholtz

click here to view the Abuse Logs, HRC's documentation of abuse at SCI Dallas

Human Rights Coalition: Fighting for the Rights and Lives of Prisoners

Philadelphia chapter:  215-921-3491        www.hrcoalition.org

Pittsburgh FedUp! chapter: 412-361-3022 ex.4        http://www.thomasmertoncenter.org/fedup/