Post by ScotKaren on Jun 21, 2006 6:22:52 GMT -5
www.petitionspot.com/petitions/PrisonerRights
Women inmates have constitutional rights
Created by Grassroots.org on April 14th, 2005 at 4:32 am AST
The poor treatment of women inmates in US prisons and correctional facilities require your prompt attention.
Pregnant women are shackled: During labor, pregnant women remain shackled which presents a health risk to the woman inmate and her newborn.
Male guards dominate women correctional facilities: In federal women correctional facilities, as many as 70% of the correctional guards are male. As a result, records evidence that many female inmates are subjected to rape, sexual assault, sexual extortion and groping, at the heads of correctional guards.
Guards retaliate against women inmates if they complain: Women inmates who complain about sexual abuse are often retaliated against. Their visitation rights are withdrawn. They are verbally abused, placed in solitary confinement or even raped again. They are also given rule-infraction tickets which unjustly extends the inmate?s sentence.
There is no justice: Correctional guards, guilty of sexual abuse, are simply transferred to another facility, free to abuse again against other women inmates.
No access to medical treatment: Seriously ill women inmates are often denied access to medicine and treatment. This is particular for those who suffer from HIV/AIDS. This results in death or permanent injury.
Correctional staff do not have physical and mental health training: Because of this, inmates needing medical attention often endure delays in treatment, resulting in further physical deterioration especially for those with chronic and degenerative diseases.
Many prisons and jails charge inmates for medical attentions: This practice is used as a method of deterring prisoners from seeking medical attention. This practice impedes the inmate?s access to health care.
Poor and inadequate reproductive health care: Many prisons do not offer required services such as mammograms and Pap smears.
Inadequate mental health services: At least 50% and as many as 90% of women inmates have experienced sexual and physical abuse before entering prison. Many prisons do not provide counseling services.
Please petition our elected representatives to support the Prison Rape Elimination Act, so that it be given full funding to help curb the problem of rape against women inmates. Please support any federal legislation that would compel states to criminalize sexual misconduct against women inmates. Let us call for the justice system to provide a secure means for women to report rape and sexual assaults. Please support any legislation that would prohibit correctional facilities from hiring guards who have previous history of sexual abuse against women inmates. Although incarcerated, they are still entitled to treatment that is fair, humane and supportive of their constitutional rights.
Sources used:
Prisoner Rape Elimination Act Becomes Federal Law (http://www.spr.org/)
Retaliation Against Women in Michigan State Prisons (http://www.hrw.org/reports98/women/Mich-04.htm#P279_63986)
Women in Prison: A Fact Sheet (http://www.prisonsucks.com/scans/women_prison
Women inmates have constitutional rights
Created by Grassroots.org on April 14th, 2005 at 4:32 am AST
The poor treatment of women inmates in US prisons and correctional facilities require your prompt attention.
Pregnant women are shackled: During labor, pregnant women remain shackled which presents a health risk to the woman inmate and her newborn.
Male guards dominate women correctional facilities: In federal women correctional facilities, as many as 70% of the correctional guards are male. As a result, records evidence that many female inmates are subjected to rape, sexual assault, sexual extortion and groping, at the heads of correctional guards.
Guards retaliate against women inmates if they complain: Women inmates who complain about sexual abuse are often retaliated against. Their visitation rights are withdrawn. They are verbally abused, placed in solitary confinement or even raped again. They are also given rule-infraction tickets which unjustly extends the inmate?s sentence.
There is no justice: Correctional guards, guilty of sexual abuse, are simply transferred to another facility, free to abuse again against other women inmates.
No access to medical treatment: Seriously ill women inmates are often denied access to medicine and treatment. This is particular for those who suffer from HIV/AIDS. This results in death or permanent injury.
Correctional staff do not have physical and mental health training: Because of this, inmates needing medical attention often endure delays in treatment, resulting in further physical deterioration especially for those with chronic and degenerative diseases.
Many prisons and jails charge inmates for medical attentions: This practice is used as a method of deterring prisoners from seeking medical attention. This practice impedes the inmate?s access to health care.
Poor and inadequate reproductive health care: Many prisons do not offer required services such as mammograms and Pap smears.
Inadequate mental health services: At least 50% and as many as 90% of women inmates have experienced sexual and physical abuse before entering prison. Many prisons do not provide counseling services.
Please petition our elected representatives to support the Prison Rape Elimination Act, so that it be given full funding to help curb the problem of rape against women inmates. Please support any federal legislation that would compel states to criminalize sexual misconduct against women inmates. Let us call for the justice system to provide a secure means for women to report rape and sexual assaults. Please support any legislation that would prohibit correctional facilities from hiring guards who have previous history of sexual abuse against women inmates. Although incarcerated, they are still entitled to treatment that is fair, humane and supportive of their constitutional rights.
Sources used:
Prisoner Rape Elimination Act Becomes Federal Law (http://www.spr.org/)
Retaliation Against Women in Michigan State Prisons (http://www.hrw.org/reports98/women/Mich-04.htm#P279_63986)
Women in Prison: A Fact Sheet (http://www.prisonsucks.com/scans/women_prison
