Transcript
WHY THE ABUSE CONTINUES A fine example of why abuse on prisoners continues to flourish is Harry Nicoletti, a former Pennsylvania prison guard, not receiving the 18 months of prison time that he should have been sentenced to. The Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Judge, David Cashman, spared Nicoletti from the danger he posed to the inmates he was in charge of, by not sending him to prison. However, Judge Cashman fails to see that he has just sent a message to all the other abusive prison guards that they will be spared prison time if charged with abuse. Judge Cashman placed many more prisoners at risk by not sending a proper message to all correctional officers that you can’tjust abuse human beings and get away with it. Nicoletti received a slap on the wrist for his criminal conduct. Because the charges were made by prisoners, people who are viewed as liars and untrustworthy, Judge Cashman made Nicoletti’s actions seem acceptable. Nicoletti was convicted of three counts of indecent exposure, numerous counts of official oppression, simple assault, criminal solicitation and terroristic threats. What more is needed in order to lock correctional officers in prison for their criminal conduct? The charges he was duly convicted of are all serious in nature, and have left many victims behind because of his abusive behaviors. Judge Cashman’s lenient sentence shows how the American Justice System fails to properly administer justice as it proclaims. Judge Cashman’s lenient sentence also show how the State of Pennsylvania cares nothing about what happens to prisoners in their custody. All because we are prisoners, that makes it perfectly acceptable to abuse us. I thought this was the Department of Corrections, a department meant to rehabilitate. As it turns out, this is a Department of Corruption where a group of six correctional officers are allowed to freely abuse inmates psychologically and physically. Five years probation and six months house arrest is not enough punishment for Harry Nicoletti. Nicoletti’s actions have left people to suffer for the remainder of their lives. Nicoletti gave all his victims a sentence far worse than what he received, a sentence handed down by a man who preyed on the weaknesses of prisoners. His sentence to them was to degrade, dehumanize, and psychologically torture his victims. Judge Cashman supported Nicolettti’s sentence when he spared Nicoletti the danger he posed on the prisoners he was in charge of by not sending him to prison and allowing Nicoletti’s victims to suffer. This is why the abuse continues. Christopher Balmer GX-5754, SCI Greene ©2012 58
