News about Sam’s treatment from his jailers

April 28, 2009 by Sam Dodson
Filed under: Hypocrisy, News, Obscured Truth Network, Personal Freedom, Police, Thuggery, Update

[I received a letter from a fellow inmate of Sam's, who wishes to remain anonymous. This inmate describes how the jailers are refusing to give Sam food! I have not yet verified that this person is who he claims to be (i.e., whether this account is trustworthy), but the company he says he works (worked?) for does exist. I have not yet heard back on whether this person works there and is currently incarcerated. -Mike Barskey]

26 April 09

Dear Mike -

I am an inmate at the Cheshire Country Jail. I am in the same area of the jail as your fellow protester “John Doe,” “Sam D-.” When we are not locked away in our individual cells, Sam & I share a day room with 24 other inmates. During these time of congregation I have had the opportunity to talk with “Sam” of his politics, beliefs and convictions. I agree with some of his ideals and fully support his efforts to “inform the public” and make changes.

I am writing this letter to make known to the outside some occurrances here regarding “Sam.” As you know “Sam” has been on a hunger strike…I believe, he has been on this strike since his arrest. Recently the correction officers here in jail have started a new strategy against Sam. At various times they are refusing to give him food. During the 3 times a day we are fed in jail, we line up and are each individually handed a tray of food by a corrections officer. Sam has been taking his tray, and after everybody is seated to eat, Sam gives his tray of food away to another inmate. Today, April 25 @11:30am, at lunch, when Sam approached to receive his tray of food he was refused. The corrections officer, officer Anderson, refused to give Sam a tray of food and Sam moved on and returned to his cell, without food while the rest of us sat down & ate. I have witnessed this type of incident happen to Sam several times before. Also, it must be said that this does not occur all the time.

It is one thing for an individual to be on a hunger strike, it is another to refuse them food – regardless whether they will eat it or not. I am no expert in the field of international rights, but I would venture to guess that refusing food to prisoners violates some international lw and would warrant extreme scrutiny from human rights watch dog organizations.

To validate my letter I give you my name. I do not wish to jeopardize myself while in jail, so please to not share my identity. I have not been to trial as of yet and do not wish to have undue prejudice against me from the courts.

I support the cause you represent and look forward to reading more of your exploits in the media.

Veritas

Comments

12 Comments on News about Sam’s treatment from his jailers

Mikearchy on Tue, 28th Apr 2009 7:36 pm

Oh my God, how horrible and barbaric.

When can we call in some human rights organization? What is it going to take?!

Would this qualify as a human rights violation????

YES on Tue, 28th Apr 2009 8:10 pm

Yes, call UN!

George Donnelly on Tue, 28th Apr 2009 8:19 pm

It has to be independently verified before raising holy hell… Can Sam verify?

Alex Libman on Tue, 28th Apr 2009 8:36 pm

OMG!!!

jzacker on Tue, 28th Apr 2009 9:10 pm

Sam should write a grievance. The jail would hate to have a record of this treatment. Most inmates do not write grievances because they either don’t know they can, or they are afraid of retaliation. Sam won’t be scared so easily.

Writing grievances may seem silly and bureaucratic, but I think writing formal grievances would scare them the most because they are legally obligated to pay attention to them (or ignore them at their own peril). The laws pertaining to inmates (both in prisons and jails) are complex, but every inmate lawsuit starts with a grievance.

Also, they are refusing him food most likely because they do not want him giving it to other prisoners. I know jails don’t like inmates trading things, even food. It probably has nothing to do with their dislike of Sam (that is, if they do dislike him for some reason)

Russell on Tue, 28th Apr 2009 9:29 pm

This is better than being force fed or being fed through needles and tubes, which may happen later.

Zeus on Tue, 28th Apr 2009 9:30 pm

Trust but verify. This could easily be some sicko who works for the system looking to get a rise out of us so he can point and giggle to his buddies as we all get ticked off at the prospect of such inhumane treatment.

Before crying wolf, confirm the wolf.

-Z

Lpviper on Tue, 28th Apr 2009 10:22 pm

I can’t believe they haven’t found some retarded excuse to let him go. They know what a mess they’re rolling in. Like watching a train wreck.

Ian on Tue, 28th Apr 2009 10:35 pm

Mike, the jail maintains a list of inmates on their website. In firefox they appear in white text, so unless you highlight the page, you won’t see them:
http://co.cheshire.nh.us/hoc/

Vix on Wed, 29th Apr 2009 12:20 am

IAN- Is Sam listed 2 times??

Rance "Larry the Dwarf" Muhamitz on Wed, 29th Apr 2009 8:12 am

IAN- Is Sam listed 2 times??

Dobson, Sam No Visits (1)
Doe, John Sam Schedule B

They might be playing some kind of childish game. If you ask for “Sam Dodson”, you’ll probably be denied. But if you ask for John Sam Doe, you’ll be allowed to see him. I guess this is the kind of stupid shit you need to expect from these thugs.

jzacker on Wed, 29th Apr 2009 1:40 pm

Well, during inmate count, if they are using this list, then they will always be short 1 prisoner. Someone should audit them to make sure they have the correct count of inmates.

Hehe can you imagine if some dummy who didn’t know that Sam was ‘John Doe’ actually thought they were missing an inmate? It would be chaos.

Post your comment below. Login in the far right column to get rid of CAPTCHA. If you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!