by Sam Dodson | May 18, 2009 |
Wednesday, May 13:
Yesterday I wrote about the “MPR,” the group of prisoners who work, and specifically the work release program where some are allowed to leave for outside jobs. While I’m sure all of their rules exist for a reason, government involvement typically results in a never ending series of unintended consequences. Despite the best of intentions, government solutions often end up missing the forest for the trees. The MPR is no exception.
The idea is a simple one. Take prisoners about to be released, and acclimate them to a structured work environment similar to what they may encounter once released. Unfortunately, the punitive authoritarian environment makes this objective impractical if not impossible.
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by Sam Dodson | May 18, 2009 |
Tuesday, May 12:
I was reclassified earlier in the week and sent down to the gymnasium, aptly renamed the MPR because housing prisoners in a gym is considered inhumane. There are 27 metal cots, 4-6 of which are typically empty. There’s one bathroom, no shower, a multi-function workout station, and a door that leads to a fenced-in yard. The door is opened sometime in the morning and closed sometime after dark.
The prisoners here don’t seem to care much about the room. They don’t bother cleaning the tables after eating, trash is often left lying around, and the bathroom 20+ guys use is pretty disgusting. The last group had a sense of community. Here the prisoners are primarily in their 20s, many are self-centered, immature, most hold a very negative outlook, and at least two can’t read. The guards (same people) are much more talkative and friendly down here compared to upstairs. The vast majority of their crimes stem from a drug problem exacerbated by the drug war and punitive government system.
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by Nick Ryder | May 17, 2009 |
The Keene Sentinel, which was present on April 13th for the arrest of Sam, and 6 others, has finally published an article specifically about him and his in-jail protest.
Testing the system behind bars, Free Stater chides court, gains recruits
Sam Miller talks about his experience in the local court system during a visit at the Cheshire County jail in Westmoreland.
By PHILLIP BANTZ
Sentinel Staff
Published: Sunday, May 17, 2009 8:07 AM EDT
WESTMORELAND — A battle of wills is playing out within the cinder block walls of the Cheshire County jail in Westmoreland, where an activist has spent more than a month protesting a judge’s order that he identify himself to police.
John Doe walks into the jail cafeteria, a faded orange jumpsuit draped over his lanky frame and a folder of legal documents tucked under his arm. He sits at a stainless steel picnic-style table and when he smiles the tendons in his long, thin neck bulge.
Doe says he hasn’t eaten solid food since he’s been behind bars because he’s on a hunger strike. When he came to jail he weighed 180 pounds, and now he weighs 116, he says.
Court and jail officials know Doe’s real name — Sam A. Miller, a 33-year-old former telecommunications specialist from Texas who moved to Keene earlier this year to join the Free State Project. They have Miller’s Texas driver’s license.
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by Dale Everett | May 16, 2009 |
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by Dale Everett | May 16, 2009 |
This interview will air on several NH channels over the next week. You can find air times on the Capitol Access website. Meanwhile, you can watch the video online.
by Ian | May 15, 2009 |
Listen live at 7pm Eastern as the Motorhome Diaries‘ Jason, Pete, and Adam appear on Free Talk Live to tell the story of their roadside attack and abduction at the hands of the criminal gang of men and women calling themselves the “State of Mississippi”.
UPDATE: Here’s tonight’s archive.
by Ian | May 15, 2009 |
Hear a very disturbing call to WKBK’s Talkback and my response here. Unfortunately, it appears that liberty activist participation in Talkback has fallen off a cliff. Please join us for our weekly listening, chatting, and calling sessions on Saturday mornings from 9a-12p in the Free Keene Chat room. If you’re online, you can listen to Talkback streamed live via the Liberty Radio Network and if you’re in the Keene area you can tune in to WKBK 1290 AM or 104.1 FM. The Talkback discussion thread is here on the Free Keene Forum.
