May 25, 2000
C.C. Donna Brorby, San Fco. CA
Amnesty International
322 - 8th Ave.
NYC, NY 10001
Honorable William Wayne Justice
U.S. District Judge
P.O. Box 330
Tyler, Texas 75710
Dear Judge William Wayne Justice:
Incidental to TDCJ asking to be relieved under PLRA provisions from any and all RUIZ attachments, enclosed are Three (3) sketches representatives of:
1) Gatesville-Riverside's Cellblocks "A" (medium) and "B" (close custody) housing each two (2) prisoners;
(2) Gatesville-Reception's "normal" cells, all cells in wings "a" and "b" and all cells in wing "c" except "torture cells" #9, 10, 11 and 12;
(3) "Torture Cells" #9, 10, 11 and 12 in Wing "C", area was reduced by 11.3 sq. ft., the in-cell light switch was taken out, the ample-size window was sealed with brick, the whte ceramic tile toilet and sink was replaced with a new one, stainless steel, in which one cannot drink water unless one has a cup (cups normally taken of course).
The bests of these categories of cells are in Reception Winds "A", "B" and "normal" "C"; because they have a clear view outside and good ventilation. Even these "nicer cells" do not meet the RUIZ standards for existing construction, for double occupancy.
None of the cells meet RUIZ double occupance standards: whether those in Riverside of the "normal" Reception cells. It appears that these cells should be limited to single occupancy, not double.
As to the "torture cells" shown, these should be foreclosed, to house no one (unless TDCJ re-refurbishes them to what they used to be before they "transformation": they used to be like the rest of "C" wing cells).
From what knowledgeable friends tell me, none of these cells meet either the American Corrections Association's standards for double occupance cells. On information and belief, TDCJ is torching off in other units the top bunk in very similar cells, because the cells are too small for double occupancy. Unfortunately not so at Gatesville Unit: they keep cramping us into these mini-cubicles, often without any recreation outside or in dayroom, often without any newspapers, magazines or reading materials: so not surprisingly tensions, fights and violence proliferate at the Gatesville Unit.
TDCJ should not be allowed to get away with this. It will be much worse if TDCJ are taken off RUIZ supervision.
Sincerely,
Ana Lucia Gelbert #384484
1401 State School Rd. -RS
Gatesville, TX 76599
DATE: 8 June 2000
To: SGT. Dugger
Complaiance Officer
GV Unit; TDCJ
FROM: Ana L Gelabert
#384484
CBB24; Riverside
Correcting an earlier note on Riverside, Reception and Terrace cells not complying with A.C.A. standards.
The non-complying cells are only those in close and medium custody:
Because close and medium must be inside cells over 10 hours daily (even on work days that is so), A.C.A Std. 3-4128 Q2 requires at least 80 sq. feet total gross area per occupant (before deducting bed, toilet, table, etc.).
At present these cells only have about 82 ft2, and house two (2) prisoners, when to satisfy above A.C.A Std. the should only have one.
Because TDCJ is powerless to go back to hourly in & out access to dayroom (as was in 1995), because it was the Texas Legislature and Governor who eliminated/reduced dayroom recreation, the only thing TDCJ can do to comply with A.C.A. is to reduce occupancy from 2 to 1 per cell.
Affected are 50 cells in Riverside, 50 cells in Terrace and 26 cells in Reception. (4 Reception cells, C-9 thru C-11, have less than 60 sq. ft gross area, so they wouldn't comply ever per 1 prisoner.)
ALL of Hobby cells have about 82 sq. ft. gross area. It's ok for minimum custody cells, with constant of hourly dayroom/outside rec. access. Std. 3-4128 only requires 35 ft2 "unencumbered space" [less bed, table, etc.) for double occupancy.
But for close and medium custody, with over 10 hrs. in cell time, we have the same problem: at least 80 ft2 gross per prisoner. So Hobby Bldg. 1 wing A (medium, 80 cells) and wing C (close, 80 cells), possibly also wing B (variously used for PHD and close custody) would need to be single cells; not double.
Same goes for Neal unit, in fact for Wynne unit (except Mt. View).
It's a BIG problem.
IF TDCJ chooses A.C.A accreditation to get off the hook with RUIZ.
Ana, we are not ACA accredited
so this does not apply to GV unit.
SGT. Dugger
Note: Sept. 2004 update;
"Sgt. Dugger" who in 2000 was the
GV unit Compliance Officer,
is now "Captain Dugger",
still in same GV unit.
