9-29-2017
Dear APWA c/o Hamilton College
I am writing regarding issues that affect many inmate women here in TDCJ-Texas Prisons. I am currently imprisoned in Lane Murray unit a Texas Prison, one of many womens' prisons that are without an air conditioner, without cold-water fountains, no programs to rehabilitate 1st time aggravated offenders.
Texas Prison Administrators are continually putting my and the other offenders/womens' life in danger and at risk. Here are a few, but severly dangerous issues:
*No constant/mandated outdoor recreation
*No nutritionally adequate meals
*Exposed daily to deathly high heat temperatures in dormitories/living areas
*No proper or adequate ventilation-suffocation risk in dormitories
*Non accessible cold drinking water during high heat extreme temperatures
*Excessive medical neglect - verbal abuse from medical staff
*Exposed to non-safe environment - black mold, tainted faucet water to drink, recycled drinks served to inmates, re-used razors, burning metal beds/walls, etc.
*Improper meal portions
*Officers eating offenders food paid by Federal Government
*No education/vocational programs offered to immigrants with detainers
*Slippery metal moldy showers
*Environment exposure full of verbal abuse and mental abuse, inhumane treatment
*Slave labor - no payment for any work in Texas prisons
*Much more corruption
There is no reason for these issues to happen on a constant basis in a prison here in the U.S. The prison administrators continually break laws and do not follow established laws.
I urge intervention and advocacy from our fellow communities, we need your voice out there - we are with our hands tied, our mouths covered.
None of us in this prison have the death penalty - all of us are going to be re-united with our community - Please help us to stay alive, and not die in these prison walls.
Someone is waiting for us outside these walls. We are not afraid to talk - we look forward to hearing from you -
Respectfully -
Lily Archuleta
Gatesville, Texas