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I'm Joanna Ferris, retired and long-time legal advisor for MTWT OF FLORIDA. As of today, May 23, 2003, what you see on this site are the basic facts that the CT DOC publicizes on their website. You who are close to the system; prisoners, families, ex-and current DOC employees, will write the rest. Because my husband is incarcerated in a Florida prison, I know how corrupt and destructive any system can get if it is not monitored. Mass incarceration and human warehousing creates it's own horrors. I believe we can prevent Florida's Problems from ever happening here in Connecticut by paying closer attention now.
If you have any information that will make the walls of Connecticut's prisons more transparent please contact me.
Joanna Ferris, Director MTWT Connecticut |
WHO DOES MTWT REPRESENT?
We represent over 20,000 Connecticut prisoners, and their families a number of out-of-state prisoners, their families, a few attorneys, some Connecticut reporters, a growing contingent of courageous officers, ex-officers, reformed felons, and myself along with the members of our organization have been compiling information ever since nine Florida guards 'allegedly' brutally beat and kicked prisoner Frank Valdes to death in July 1999.
In 2003 MTWT-Connecticut came into the picture to provide the same openness, truthfulness and facts as MTWT-Florida provides for the families and taxpayers.
With the hopes that we can makes a difference.Therefore, this site is dedicated to all Prisoners, whose deaths have opened our eyes so that the walls can and have began to fade and we could see inside: To all whose spirits that have motivated so many and whose stories have made us think; to all the men and women inside the prisons of America, be they officers or prisoners, because they face such negative energy day after difficult day that all of them need the energy of Love:
And most of all to all our readers, this site is dedicated to you - for when the change comes, it will be because you got educated and got involved.
WHAT DOES MTWT DO AND WHY DO WE DO IT?
We name names and provide details for investigation. We do this at great risk in an honest effort to make the walls of Connecticut's prisons transparent so that you, the citizen, will understand that when you shut people behind walls, and lock them down for 23 hours a day, officer or inmate, and ignore their pain or wrongdoing, great evil will result and it will spread outside the walls, perhaps affecting you or someone you love.
All MTWT asks is that staff follow the rules. All MTWT expects is professionalism in uniform. All MTWT needs is prison to be a healing place that reflects our conscience so that we will all be safer when prisoners pay off their debt and come home. MTWT takes a stand now in hopes that abuses like Frank Valdes' murder by Florida guards doesn't ever happen again. Not in Connecticut or Florida, or anywhere in this country!
WHAT LIMITS MTWT'S WORK?
MTWT cannot provide the proof of a pattern of abuse without full, honest, independent investigations, and access to the people involved - It's not even our job! - But, if you do not automatically assume that all prisoners are liars and all guards are honest, there is a strong basis of truth here for conjecture, investigation, and real concern.
I have provided prisoners' and prison workers' names and addresses whenever I have permission, when they are already in public domain, or if the situation is critical.
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When the disgraced US military prison in Iraq, Abu Ghraib made its debut as an American institution, Gen. Janis Karpinski came right out and said it. "Living conditions (for prisoners) ... are better in this prison than at home.” |
UPCOMING PUBLIC HEARINGS ON PRISON ISSUES
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MTWT is Proud to Introduce Our New Site's Connecticut Pen-Pals For Connecticut Prisoners ONLY! Connecticut Enforcement Unit
Connecticut Chapter: Prison Medical Assists Program "We take on a burden when we put a man behind a wall. That burden is to give him a chance to change... to deny him... is to plant the seeds of future anguish." Justice Warren Burger
MTWT is a NON-PROFIT Prison Advocacy Organization Helping with the needs of prisoners and their Families. MTWT relies on Donations in order to help prisoners. So Please send a donation of stamps today or join us. MTWT P.O. Box 16897 Stamford, CT 06905
UPDATED MONTHLY
This page can also be updated daily so check back often.
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The Connecticut Lolits 
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M. Jodi Rell, Connecticut Governor July 1, 2004
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Governor of
Connecticut Governor's
Office Telephone:
(860) 566-4840
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Lt. Governor
MICHAEL FEDELE
State Capitol Room 304 Hartford, CT 06106 Phone 860-524-7384 Fax: 860-524-7304 Email: ltgovernor.FEDELE@po.state.ct.us |
| Connecticut Department of Corrections |
Commissioner of Corrections
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Theresa C. Lantz Commissioner Commissioner of Corrections Public Information Office 24 Wolcott Hill Road Wethersfield, CT 06109 Telephone: 860-692-7780 Fax: 860-692-7783 |
Deputy Commissioner for Operations
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Deputy Commissioner:
Brian Murphy
24 Wolcott Hill Road Wethersfield, CT 06109 Phone: (860) 692-7487 Fax: (860) 692-7488
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External Affairs Unit
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Brain Garnett 24 Wolcott Hill Road Wethersfield, CT 06109 Telephone: 860-692-7780 Fax: 860-692-7783
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Search MTWT Site for Information
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Connecticut Department of Correction's Prisons
*In any of our work, "cops" refers to irresponsible and/or immoral police officers, just as "guard" refers to the same breed of quot; Correctional" Officers. I have the utmost respect for people who do these difficult jobs in a professional manner, always remembering that they are dealing with human beings.
In fact MTWT's
Gold Star
Award will be given
throughout the site for employees of the department who show professionalism
above the norm to those who nominate them.
CONNECTICUT
FAMILIES IN CRISIS
DO NOT GIVE AWAY OUR PRISONERS TO BALANCE BUDGET!
PRISONERS' FAMILIES TELL
GOVERNOR
"NO MORE!"
Ex-Employee Fired, Imprisoned, and Beaten
Cheshire C.I. Inmate Sues Ex-Commissioner AND NOW Has been Unwillingly Moved OUT of State
In "RETALIATION" for exercising his constitutional rights by using the inmate grievance process
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To urge an independent citizen's review board to examine Connecticut's prison issues, contactAfter you read these pages I think you will agree, the Connecticut D.O.C. is not providing the minimum standard of care agreed to!
Now, I know that some of you think criminals deserve whatever they get, but if any authority should become criminal by becoming negligent in their administration of the laws, would they too 'deserve whatever they get'?
The hypocrisy of such a defense of errant behavior by any person holding power over people really should open our eyes.
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Contact Governor's Office State Capitol 210 Capitol Avenue Hartford, CT 06106 Telephone: (860) 566-4840 And Make your wishes Known! Please read about Bill 7407 for a citizens oversight committee and The Testimony regarding that Bill by Commissioner Lantz And Testimony by PAI |
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PRISONERS IN AMERICA TODAY?
United Nations
Standard Minimum Rules
for the Treatment of Prisoners
Adopted
August 30, 1955, by the First United Nations Congress on the
Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, U.N. Doc.
A/CONF/611, annex I, E.S.C. res. 663C, 24 U.N. ESCOR Supp. (No. 1) at
11, U.N. Doc. E/3048 (1957), amended E.S.C. res. 2076, 62 U.N. ESCOR
Supp. (No. 1) at 35, U.N. Doc. E/5988 (1977).
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| CT MEDIA | (Updated) SUPPORT |
OPEN
LETTERS
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(Updated)
Medical Resources
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(Updated)
DOC
Services
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(Updated)
RESOURCES
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(Updated)
Legal
Info & Sites
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(Updated) Ministries Chaplains |
| Prison Issues | (Updated) Food Issues | (NEW) Federal Prison | Prison Suicide Stories |
| Guard's Index |
Incarcerated Veterans Info |
(Updated)
State Of
Connecticut Information Center |
(NEW) State of Connecticut Medical Information Center For Prisoners and Families |
| Tools of Corrections | Death Row | Native American Information | Story of the Yellow Ribbon |
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Christmas Commissary List 2004 |
The Alternatives to Incarceration Advisory |
(Updated) Connecticut Halfway Houses | The Prisoner Innermost thoughts from behind bars |
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MTWT'S First opened Newsletter 2005
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Meet the Staff of MTWT | ComingSoon SpecialVictims Unit Of Connecticut | Organ Harvesting (MORE COMING SOON) |
| THE "WAR" ON DRUGS |
(NEW)
State Newspaper Listings and Inmate Locater
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| Ed Leinster |
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on the drug war, the prisons, the medicine, and the betrayers. The History of Connecticut's Prisons In The First Century
KAY LEE'S JOURNEY FOR JUSTICE
Sponsored project
MAKING THE WALLS TRANSPARENT For outstanding contributions in:
Innovation of presentation
Unfailing Perseverance
Courageous dedication to cause
MTWT's Vision For America:
Gentle in Nature; Bold in its Visions; Passionate in Spirit; and Enlightened in its Judgment.
Our goal is to make prisons places of great healing by encouraging professionalism from those in authority and rehabilitation for the citizens they keep so that society will be safer when prisoners have finished their time and go home."Ill-begotten power in the hands of irresponsible people is far more dangerous than most people locked in American prisons today
I
love my country, The United States Of America,
and its natural and beautiful concept of Freedom and Justice for all
Gentle in Nature; Bold in its Visions; Passionate in Spirit; and Enlightened in its Judgment.
May we live peaceful in a country where justice is reflected in the lives of all of its people.
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When we stand against the destruction that immoral leaders and bad policies cause, we stand to defend the same principles that every war our nation has ever been involved in at least pretended to defend! The concept of the energy called God demands that we stand against all evil things. Our Spirits tell us that we do not stand alone!
With Great Love, CT Director Joanna Ferris and FL Director Kay Lee
Visualizing Professionalism and Spiritual Enlightenment in those who hold Positions of Authority
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| Joanna Ferris 510 Washington Ave Waterbury, CT 06708 (203) 573-8799 | ||||
DISCLAIMER: Although I cannot guarantee the truth of each incident in these pages, I do guarantee that the big picture presented here is as accurate as I can possibly present it. Although the information contained herein does mainly come from prisoners, their accounts are backed up by copies of grievances, medical records, family testimony, lawyer contacts, witness statements, samples of water, food and burned skin, and at times the DOC's own personnel, some of whom have remained in contact to guide me and validate whatever parts of the picture they could. These accounts belong to others. Therefore I can claim no ownership or credit, nor can I accept any responsibility for the contents. I am simply the recorder who listens when no one else will and an amplifier for the voiceless. For shame that they should so badly need MTWT
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All original material on this website © Copyright MTWT-Connecticut 2003 - 2006
EMAIL JOANNA FERRIS
510 Washington Ave
Waterbury, CT 06708
203-573-8799 Fax: 203-968-0264
OR WRITE
MTWT P.O. BOX 16898 STAMFORD, CT 069O5
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Last update 8/ 15/ 2006 |