Edward Sanders
VOD UPDATE: An earlier VOD story on a brutal attack on Edward Sanders, #141545, at Kinross Correctional Facility, elicited a number of comments emailed to me by family members regarding mistreatment of other prisoners there, including the use of racist remarks by white guards such as the “N” word and “boy,” and false allegations made by white prisoners against Black prisoners which were used by prison officials at Kinross to the detriment of the Black prisoners.
I have sent the 83 signatures collected from around the world asking that Edward Sanders be transferred, to Deputy Warden Thomas Mackie, by email and by regular mail, and a copy of this story as well. If there is no action on the case of Edward Sanders, we will be broadening the struggle to call for an investigation of the entire prison at Kinross from every organization available.
I made a phone call to the warden’s office on Friday, Sept. 23, during which the assistant warden assured me that I would receive a return call from the warden by Monday Sept. 26, with respect the package of petition signatures sent to him.
Edward Sanders after the violent attack which nearly took his life July 11, 2011; the other prisoner attempted to stab him in his kidney, spine and his only good eye, but Edward was able to deflect those attacks because he works out every day; however he was slashed as seen in photo and came to the unit station, where the guard somehow had ignored the event, with blood "dripping from head to toe" according to prison records.
Shortly thereafter, I instead received a call from an assistant attorney general in the state AG’s office absolutely denying every allegation made in the earlier story on Edward Sanders. No information was given to me regarding what he based his version of events on: no witnesses, no records, etc. VOD is already in possession of numerous prison records related to the July 11, 2011 attack on Edward Sanders, and is expecting soon to receive both central office files on Edward and the prisoner who attacked him shortly, pursuant to a Freedom of Information Act request that was granted, as well as other information Edward has given permission to obtain. All prisoners’ famlies should be aware that it is the common practice of MDOC under Governor Rick Snyder, as well as Republican state attorney general Bill Schuette, to issue blanket denials of abuse. DO NOT BE FOOLED BY OFFICIALS TRYING TO ENLIST YOU IN THEIR VERSION OF EVENTS.
Kinross
I am asking that everyone with a loved one at Kinross who is experiencing abuse to please contact me (Diane Bukowski, editor VOD) at 313-825-6126 or diane_bukowski@hotmail.com) to give me the information. It does not have to be published on this website, to avoid retaliation by the administration. I will keep records and together with prison advocacy organizations including legal assistance we will see what can be done.
VOD has published several stories on the People’s Task Force to Free the Wrongfully Convicted, one of whose founders is at Kinross also. See below for links to these stories and contact information for the People’s Task Force, as well as information to contact Warden Thomas Mackie. Kinross is a Level One/Two facility, basicially for low-risk prisoners.
There is no excuse for the reports coming out of there involving prisoner on prisoner attacks (which may have been set up by the guards), as well as problems from the guards. The Muskegon Chronicle reported recently that there are numerous prisoners at higher risk levels housed at Kinross as was the prisoner who attacked Edward. Click on: http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2010/07/near-escape_at_upper_penninsul.html for that story.)
(Click on http://voiceofdetroit.net/2011/09/06/sign-petition-to-transfer-edward-sanders-victim-of-brutal-prison-attack/ to read Edward’s story.Please continue signing this petition, as further signatures will be turned in at a later date, and we are still concerned for Edward’s safety. Link for the petition is http://signon.org/sign/justice-for-edward-sanders.
http://voiceofdetroit.net/2011/09/04/internet-rally-sept-6-12-noon-for-investigation-of-crime-labs/
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE’S TASK FORCE:
To contact the Detroit People’s Task Force to Free the Wrongfully Convicted, call Marilyn Jordan, at (313) 784-4021, Kevin Carey, at (313) 887-4344, or Roberto Guzman, at (313) 272-1406. This story is being forwarded to them as well.
Deputy Warden Thomas Mackie’s contact information is:
| A/Warden Thomas Mackie 16770 S. Watertower Drive Kincheloe, MI 49788 email: mackiet@michigan.gov |
TELEPHONE: (906) 495-2282 OPENED: 1978 |
Roberto St Clair #250382 A INMATE AT KINROSS CORRECTION FACILITY Is being denied the right to timely medical attention . His foot is purple He injured his knee in 2015,Doctor said he needs su
Has there been any updates on this? My boyfriend is there at kinroso and has emailed me and told me there are stabbings and robberies every day there. And there is a man who told him he wanted him. And now I have not heard from him in a week. No calls. No emails. Nothing. I know this is not what your talking about but. There are no cameras. And 1 guard per floor. Too much happens that they get away with.
Kinross is feeding inmates dead crickets, the prison is not up to code and there is black mold growing in the walks.They have racists gaurds overseeing inmates and are acting as though this is still the 1800’s..They are provoking inmates to become upset so they can inflict bodily harm..I understand this is prison and there are crazy people in there bit at the same time it is not the job of the guards or officers to violate them in any way shape of form this is why they are there in the first place, to do their time for whatever. These people are still someones loved one and made mistakes and are paying for them all the added I am the master over you and wanna be robot cop acting crap is unnecessary and is not in the job description. The guards are there to make sure inmates don’t get out of control and not to provoke them together out of control…They may not haverights as far as being free but they do have the right to be men.They ate still men.Whether locked up or free Boone wants to be bullied and messed with for someone else’s pleasure ..This ace needs to be shut down because it is also sinking and poses a great health risk for inmates and staff. ITS TIME to investigate this prison.
This is so sad, as I read the comments all I can do is shake my head. My boyfriend continues to call and complain about being harassed. I’ve contacted the warden and the state police, what can a person do to protect their loved ones. Many people are complaining of the CO’s harassment and it’s not fair that they continue to get away with it. The unnecessary tickets given to increase and inmates time because they would rather see them fail. Inmates are people who have made mistakes but it doesn’t mean they are bad people. My boyfriend is a great person who has made one mistake, he has a little time but with the harassment they mite be sneaky and add more time. We have a family with two young daughters who has never been without their father. They can’t wait until he comes home. These people need to realize inmates are someone’s loved one. I pray that these issues are addressed immediately.
my son is being picked on also at Kinross,within three days got 4 tickets then got transferred from level next door to the hole…been out two weeks messing with him again he’s marked as he told me he would be…this prison doesn’t care for the inmates or their families they took my visits away from me for two years…now since i’ve been out here making calls on my sons behave they are on him more….we need help for our loved ones from the abuse that takes place at this prison asap
11/13/13
I do not think it has anything to do with the color of ones skin. You are correct there is illegal behavior and wrong doings going on by the guards in the upper State prison’s this is because no one travels that far to investigate anything. A man was killed by another inmate two months ago at Chippewa facility and then again at Kinross only I think he lived. This is so crazy and I also wish something could be done. My husband is White and at Kinross and i have contacted the placement gentleman about moving him and they say he will go on a list. What BS and I am contemplating contacting the Senator. These guards need to be stopped, but at hte same time so do these young gang bangers going to prison and thinking they are the shit and stabbing people. They are just as guilty if not more than the guards all the prisoners should be sticking together against the guards but no these young want a be’s are acting as if they own the place.I hope they are not in there long because there is always someone bigger and better than you and i would hate to hear of some young kid getting killed just because he was scared.That is why they ac tlike that they are scared.
It is about color.Your not black so how would you know.
My husband is at the kinross correctional facility and they keep trying to creat a hostil environment for him so that they can do bodily harm to him.These guards and officers are very racist and have the slave mentality and when my husband goes against their nit picking and lies they become upset and write him ticketss just to punish him by taking away his privileges which is what they are good at and setting inmates up.These guards now have tasers and have used them which i am pretty sure they enjoy inflicting pain on these black inmates.If something happens to my hisband it was a deliberate ,racist and prejudice act of murder or intent to do bodily harm and i am gonna sue the state of michigan because i have already fore warned the warden and the state that my husband is not safe at the kinoss correctional facility.The guards are the real criminals and this placeneeds to be investigated before another homocide or brutal beating occurs ASAP.
Families who have experienced abuse and racial intimadation can also contact their local office of the NAACP, they are very interested.
The whole Michigan Department of Corrections needs to be investgated, there are racist corrections officers working in each and every prison. Johnnie Williams housed at Gus Harrison in Adrian recently recieved a letter written on a misconduct form, stating he would be stabbed and the CO’s would look the other way, signed Aryan Within. I spoke to the Attny General’s office and he trfied to tell me Johnnie wrote the note, I’m not believing that story. It’s crazy that someone has not investgated them yet.
If this is the Johnnie Williams who is the brother of Eric Williams, who was killed by a State Trooper in Greektown in Detroit, I have been in contact with him in the past. The AG’s office contacted me after I called the warden’s office Sept. 21, and completely denied every allegation made by Edward Sanders as quoted in the story, based on absolutely NO solid evidence or witness statements. It is extremely clear that the MDOC and the AG’s office are determined to prevent all such reports from reaching the public. So again, I am asking everyone with a loved one in the MDOC to please report all incidents of abuse. You can report them in the comment section of this story, you do NOT have to use names, as it appears there has already been retaliation against one of the prisoners originally named. This is commonplace in the fascist prison nation we call the United States, and to be expected. However, I can access your email addresses if you leave your reply with them and I will keep a record of all such complaints for future action. Or if you prefer, you can email me directly at diane_bukowski@hotmail.com or call me at 313-825-6126.
My brother has recently been transferred from Gus Harrison..an let me tell you we couldn’t of been happier to hear the news!! I have heard a lot of terrible & unbelievable things happening in this facility…