The Committee to Decarcerate the Garden State
decarc@DecarcerateNJ.org
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JUSTICE SUBCOMMITTEE ALERT #2
NJ CARCERAL STATE ON TRIAL IN ELIZABETH - SUPPORT LAWSUIT AGAINST SOLITARY TORTURE IN NJ IMPORTANT TRIAL ON EXTRAORDINARY SOLITARY CONFINEMENT
at
East Jersey State Prison: Alford v.
Hayman
PLEASE POST AND DISTRIBUTE WIDELY to all parties interested in prison justice. CONTACT = Jean Ross, 609-924-6508 When: COME ON Monday August 4 at 9:00 a.m
Where: Union
County Courthouse
2 Broad Street,
Elizabeth
Presiding
Judge Grispin - 7th Floor
Why: State and federal courts have increasingly dismissed cases involving challenges to prison conditions, but the facts alleged here are so compelling that Union County Judges have allowed this case to be heard by a jury. It is very important that the Court see people from the community in the courtroom, to show that the community is interested in enforcing constitutional rights and learning about what happens in the prisons. Why: State and federal courts have increasingly dismissed cases involving challenges to prison conditions, but the facts alleged here are so compelling that Union County Judges have allowed this case to be heard by a jury. It is very important that the Court see people from the community in the courtroom, to show that the community is interested in enforcing constitutional rights and learning about what happens in the prisons. Note: The State is attempting to portray Mr. Alford as a presently dangerous gang member, an inaccurate portrayal, and they have intimated that we are inviting dangerous gang members to the trial (we're not ) so the Court is providing extra security and is going so far as to check for outstanding warrants. Please don't be intimidated. With respect to the real problem, which is how the State treated Mr. Alford: Mr. Alford writes, as follows "I was placed in a specially built steel caged cell for three (3) years and for the entire duration I was refused any and all human contact, the right to legal aid or assistance, to clean or sanitize the caged cell, phone calls, religious service, to shave or receive a hair cut, visitation, clean clothes, and or bedding, electricity, light, air ventilation, and or proper sleeping conditions.
I was filmed on numerous occasions by a Female staff member, refused recreation and any and all other activities that were afforded to all other inmates. 1 was refused the right to call my lawyer or any lawyer for that matter. My living conditions were atypical and significantly harsh as compared to ordinary prison life. I was the ONLY Person to ever be housed like this in the State of New Jersey." L.A. |