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Employees of a federal penitentiary complex in Victorville, California, where the government recently sent 1,000 migrants in detention despite workers' worries about inadequate medical care, speak of a worsening of diseases infectious.
HuffPost revealed last week that staff members were concerned about the dangerous conditions, which resulted in 10 cases of scabies and one case of chicken pox. Now, the epidemic of scabies, a highly contagious skin condition, has more than tripled – spreading to at least 38 inmates. And, according to a letter sent to staff on June 30 and shown to HuffPost, another inmate contracted chicken pox.
It is so bad that staff members call the units of both groups of infected inmates housed in the "chickenpox" and "scabies unit", and those who are exposed to chickenpox live in a separate unit in quarantine for 21 days. John Kostelnik, President of Local 3969 of the American Federation of Government Employees and case manager of the Victorville Penitentiary Complex.
Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) Visited Victorville on Monday morning with his district director and two staff members from the office of Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). Takano said that he was horrified when some of the detainees told him that they had not been able to wash their clothes, underwear and sheets since they arrived more than three weeks ago. , and many had not been allowed to use recreational clothing. installation at the northeastern Los Angeles complex. Many did not understand why they were being held in a prison.
"I fear for their safety in the sense of their sanity, of their human spirit, that the feeling of hopelessness and depression may cause some of them to take them. The employees who spoke to HuffPost have stated that, if medical conditions continue to worsen, they fear that a riot may break out – endangering detainees, prisoners and staff – as it has occurred in the past. Other prisons with similar medical conditions
I think that riots or injuries may unfortunately be imminent
A current medical employee at Victorville Prison
Employees reported that medical conditions were already dangerous because of the lack of personnel in the Mojave Desert prison before the arrival of the detainees, bringing the total prison population to 4,500. 19659009] was hired to help the 1,000 detainees who arrived around June 8th. Staff say initial intake screenings were rushed and inadequate physical examinations were conducted.
Officials demonstrated outside the prison last month about the arrival of detainees, holding placards saying that "budget cuts will result in death!"
And while the extra inmates exacerbate the problems of the prison, Victorville is not alone. The Sheridan federal prison, in northwestern Oregon, has hosted more than 120 inmates, including only 50% of the medical staff required, said Travis Ray, president of 3979 Local 399. AFGE and prison officer.
The inadequacy of medical staff within the Bureau of Prisons was highlighted as a key issue in a report of the Inspector General 2016 and the Trump Administration is currently putting implementing reductions in overall BOP staff to reduce costs. Victor Kostelnik told HuffPost: "It's a fucking shit," Kostelnik told HuffPost, saying staff, inmates and detainees are all dangerous due to staff shortages and epidemics. "It could have been avoided."
According to Kostelnik, the detainees still have not received any shower shoes or ordinary shoes that are usually distributed on arrival, which, he says, has aggravated the unhealthy conditions. Many detainees also told Takano that they could not join their family, including 14 men who had been separated from their children or siblings.
"They do not understand why they are there, they do not understand how long they will be there and they complain that they are treated like criminals," Takano said
. It is clear that although the BOP did its best with what it had, the Victorville complex was understaffed before the 1,000 inmates arrived at its doors, which put the office under even greater pressure. the criminalization of migrants.
The congressman emphasized the need for community reporting programs rather than locking detainees in jail, saying it would be "much cheaper and much more humane". The treatment of these 1,000 people in Victorville's places of detention was a sign of poor overflow planning that could result from President Donald Trump's zero tolerance policy, which requires that migrants who cross the border illegally be prosecuted in criminal law.
We do less with more every day. How long before something happens?
Travis Ray, Local President of the Union and Officer of the Oregon Prison
"We do not do it right The mere fact that these inmates still do not have shower shoes, I can not stop shaking my head, "said Kostelnik. "Containment is my main concern for medical problems, and if you do not keep it, it will not stop."
There are currently only two doctors in the personnel – of which is the clinical director – for the 4,500 persons incarcerated in Victorville, the health care team is missing several nurses and medical auxiliaries needed to comply with the lines BOP . Takano added that a medical assistant told him that one of the staff doctors who receives the calls was unable to see the inmates because he was busy in other penitentiary institutions.
Kostelnik told HuffPost that the rest of the medical staff is still withdrawn from sick calls, followed by potential outbreaks of infectious diseases and other impure health checks. Expants to distribute drugs for the pillbox morning and evening – a job that should be done by
"Someone might die. Having exactly what we have [in staffing] it's impossible to catch anything unless it's too late or too late, "a current medical staff member who corroborated the story told HuffPost Kostelnik on the medical situation. This staff member asked for anonymity for fear of reprisals after the staff was warned not to speak to the press.
At Sheridan Prison, Oregon, they see some of the same problems, but on a smaller scale. They have had 12 cases of scabies so far, and have ended up delousing the entire population of inmates to fight it, "said Ray, the union's president.
Ray told HuffPost that he only received a notice of more than 24 hours before detainees were transported to them by bus. He noted that the prison has already paid 300% of its overtime budget with half a year of work.
"Our staff is working extremely hard every day to do their best, but the lack of resources and staff has taken a toll," Ray said. "We do less with more every day, how long will it be before something happens?"
Eric Young, National President of the Council of Local Sections, shared its concerns about the impossibility of housing detainees at their current level. The medical staff is mostly present in all the establishments, then brings back 1000 prisoners, which is equivalent to a recipe for a disaster, "said the union president at HuffPost. "Inmates who complain of inadequate medical care cause someone to be killed."
He reported an earlier riot at the Willacy County Correctional Center, a private security prison that housed non-custodial prisoners. citizens at the end of their sentence. This riot, which destroyed the prison, began on inadequate medical care and resulted in a riot after the detainees saw someone die,
"My fingers are crossed that the things are stable, but I do not think that's the case, especially when [detainees] sees outbreaks of scabies, chicken pox, etc. People do not like being in a bad health situation, no matter who they are "said Young. "They do not like this kind of situation, and that will put [detainees] off."
Someone might die. Having just what we have [staffing-wise] there is no way to catch anything unless it's too late or too late.
A Current Medical Worker at Victorville Prison
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" When you put a thousand of these guys into an institution, [improper medical care is] is not going to just be magnified – it's going to explode, "Kostelnik m & # 39 said. "It's only a matter of time before we end up with a very bad riot or an inmate attacking a staff member, and the support staff is not there because they are concentrating on these detainees. "
Young also pointed out others lobbied for detainees to be separated so as not to overburden Victorville with a massive influx. Their request remained a dead letter – perhaps because Victorville is only a few miles from the Adelanto Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detention Center.
ICE referred the interview requests to the Bureau of Prisons, which stated that it could not meet Monday's deadline for comment. Both institutions reported to HuffPost at the onset of scabies and chickenpox outbreaks 11 days ago that staffing and safety were adequate in Victorville
Agents continue to call Kostelnik day and night to file complaints. but most are convinced that it will only get worse.
The current medical staff went to the shooting range to train this weekend.
"I think riots or injuries may unfortunately be about to happen," said the staff member at HuffPost
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