As yall know I had a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner Bassinger of the Indiana Department of Corrections, Superintendent of the New Castle Correctional Facility Butts, Ombudsman Charlene Burkette, and Senator Taylor. The meeting was to determine the parameters of the STAND program which is to be a program my son is in to get him out of segregation. Here of the notes from the meeting: Senator Taylor, Thank you again for convening this meeting. Out of this meeting the following was revealed and agreed to: • Mr. Bassinger would look at Kofis file and determine the original reason why he was placed in segregation • I am aware that the initial reason for Kofi being segregated is because he was accused of beating Officer Semler. Although the Madison County Superior prosecutor found no evidence to substantiate the accusation the administrative disciplinary process of Pendleton Correctional Facility found him guilty of the same facts in spite of the Courts ruling. In fact, the court found evidence that points to my son couldnt have laid a hand on Officer Semlar at time he was assaulted. Electronic evidence places my son on the other side of the prison at the time of Semlers assault, plus, the physical layout of the prison would have prevented Kofi from having opportunity to place a hand on Semler. In the face of Court found evidence that points to Kofis innocence the prison still holds him as being guilty. And, Mr. Bassinger holds that since the Courts level of proof is higher that the prisons then the prison disciplinary conclusions are not affected by court rulings. Courts are to interpret the law and determine whether a law has been broken. If the court can determine no law has been broken then how does the prison rule the law has been broken which is counter to a courts ruling? Senator Taylor, I would again ask for a legal opinion from the attorney general concerning the prisons position. Please advise when this request can be honored. • Consequently, Mr. Butts was superintendent at Pendleton when my son was placed in segregation for practicing martial art. At this time DOC had no policy against inmates practicing martial arts. Mr. Butts authorized the art as being in violation of Pendletons policy which caused my son to be placed in segregation. • Mr. Bassinger stated he would implement a moratorium on DOC use of segregation is so instructed by the governor • GEO is subjected to the same restraints as DOC. However it would be best for Kofi to submit to Commissioner Bruce Lemmon his open records request for the Executive Directive for the STAND program. However, there is a document that exists that delineates the full requirements of the STAND Program. Mr. Butts, as an employee of GEO, says that document cannot be shared because it contains security information. Therefore, my son, or anyone else in the program never knows what it takes to complete the program. This is unfair and unprofessional. I would suggest that as State Senator you request a copy of this document to be shared with Senate and House committees that deal with DOC policy so the state is aware of the parameters of the program and can generate a document that can be shared with the public and inmates in the program. • No Executive Directive presently exists for the STAND Program. So when Ombudsman Charlene Burkette told Senator Taylor that my son had a copy of it her statement was untrue. This lack of truthfulness cannot be tolerated. I call for her to resign immediately. If she doesnt resign, then I call for her to be fired. I look to you Senator Taylor to guide me on how I lodge a formal complaint so this mission can be accomplished. • Mr. Butts will research why my daughters JPAY call to Kofi was cancelled. • On October 16th, 2014 there will be a forum at the Indiana University Law School with the title International Laws Impact on Indianas Use of Segregated Confinement. There will be a United nations representative at this forum. All at this meeting, to also include all elected state congressional people are invited. Senator Taylor has requested a legal opinion from the state attorney general which he expects to have by next week. Right now this is my summary. If anyone wants to add to it, please do and share with all involved. Sincerely, Rev. Mmoja Ajabu
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 16:26:47 +0000
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