I would like to request prayers for the inmates and staff after the full-scale prison riot broke out yesterday in Indiana. It occurred after 600 inmates from Arizona were transferred to this prison - 150 of them American Indians. They were transferred due to overcrowding in Arizona and not enough prisoners in Indiana. They said it was because the prisoners refused orders to put their shirts back on.

Yes, I know prisoners are supposed to follow orders, especially at a minimum security prison. However, they should also be treated like human beings while they are serving their punishment before returning to society. Prison terms are supposed to teach people a lesson, not turn them into ferocious animals.

What was NOT reported was the prisoners in Arizona were not told about the transfer. They were rounded up in the middle of the night and transferred. They did not have an opportunity to say good-bye to their families, and now their families won't be able to visit them - it's too far away.

The American Indian prisoners were told they could bring their sacred religious items along. When they arrived, they were told the objects were "accidentally" destroyed or misplaced. However, the State of Indiana frowns on the practice of "Native American Spirituality" in their prison system. They allow them in according to law, but destroy them shortly afterward. A friend of mine has been fighting this issue with the State for years.

These prisoners were originally charged with petty/lesser crimes. This incident and the circumstances leading up to the incident has raised their level of anger. It has also raised the level of anger in their guards and the surrounding community towards the inmates.

Thank you.

KathyM....you've got a pm. hugs

KathyM - they have my prayers.

Thanks Wren

Alffe - It's a privately owned minimum security prison. Why would the worst of the worst reside there? Has the community spoken out about this in the past, and what reason were they given?

If it had been a maximum security prison, I believe even the "worst of the worst" should still have a right to spiritual counsel and family visitation.

Kathy...I deleted my post because I don't think my dh would like me posting that info on this public forum. I will pm you.

Thanks for clearing that up ((Alffe))

http://www.topix.com/forum/source/in...VEHI1MNULHI9CT

here you can state an opinion

indiana lobotomised francis farmer i think

Thanks Clouds

Privatizing prisons and mental institutions is a little scary to me. We had a mental health/psychiatric hospital close it's doors a while back, throwing the patients out on the street. The more violent patients were sent to prison.

It bothers me because so many years ago before we knew what was wrong with mom (amyloidosis), we committed her to a psychiatric ward. It was the law back then to have psychiatric counsel, but it was the professionals that told us to commit her over to them.

It still hurts that we committed mom for being sick, but I'm glad the hospital stayed open. It would have been so much worse if she had been thrown in a jail.

Speaking of private institutions, have you heard about this place? I hear they're planning to make a movie about what happened there.

http://www.hiawathadiary.com/HiawathaAsylum.html

thanks for the link kathy -very interesting