Time to end torture
The Black Bird Legal Collective would like to thank Lance Tapley for his continued exposure of Maine prison issues (see "Torture for the Hostage-Taker?" by Lance Tapley, July 11). Any illegal retaliatory act against Michael Chasse can serve only to highlight the extreme hypocrisy of the criminal justice system in this country. Our courts and prisons are predicated on legality; any illegal act perpetrated by agents of that system will continue to undermine its credibility.
In reference to associate corrections commissioner Denise Lord’s statement that “people aren’t kept for indefinite periods of time [in the Supermax],” it depends on how you define indefinite. Michael Chasse spent eight years in the Supermax. This is not uncommon. Prisoners in Maine and the US often spend years, and sometimes decades, in these isolation torture chambers.
In working to hold prison officials accountable, and to end torture in prisons and detention facilities the Black Bird Legal Collective is not alone. We are apart of a national campaign, spear headed by the American Friends Service Committee called STOPMAX. The goal of STOPMAX is to abolish the use of isolation and other forms of torture in US prisons, all of which are common in Supermaxes across the nation.
To get involved with Black Birde-mailblackbirdcollective@gmail.com orcall 207.766.8091.
Paul McCarrier
Jordan Fischer
Black Bird Legal Collective
Portland
Related:
Waves of activism, Cracks in the armor, Imprisoned facts, More 
- Waves of activism
The three federal consent decrees were a product of Maine’s previous wave of prisoner-rights activism — more than 35 years ago.
- Cracks in the armor
A couple of cracks have opened in the state’s armor of prison secrecy.
- Imprisoned facts
Although I had already written a lot about abuse in the prison, this May 21 interview with Dorney, a 28-year-old Portland man serving 20 years for assault, was what I had been waiting for.
- The loud business drumbeat
The majority legislative Dems do not share Baldacci’s enthusiasm for these cuts, but they seem resigned to them.
- Alternative victory
Each year, the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies holds an editorial contest among its 120-some member papers and announces the winners at the organization’s annual convention; this year the Boston Phoenix took home two prizes.
- Corrections Department obstructs free press
This week is Sunshine Week, a time when media organizations around the country draw attention to state and federal Freedom of Information laws.
- Letters to the Portland editor: December 29, 2006
Cheers to Lance Tapley for his quality reporting on the Maine State Prison and the apparent political persecution of Deane Brown (see “ Lockdown ,” December 15).
- Letters to the Portland editor: February 20, 2009
- Prison madness explained
More than 2 million people are imprisoned in the United States, the largest number of any country, including China.
- Prisoner gagged
I had not interviewed a prisoner for six months, since the Maine Department of Corrections wanted to impose unconstitutional restrictions.
- Dangerous waits for psychiatric evaluations?
State officials admit delays for jail-inmate psychiatric evaluations have increased considerably.
- Less
Topics:
Letters
, Criminal Sentencing and Punishment, Prisons, Denise Lord, More
, Criminal Sentencing and Punishment, Prisons, Denise Lord, American Friends Service Committee, Michael Chasse, Less
