The Felix Interview series is really something that you need to see. Although it’s only been available to us for a few weeks, it is the culmination of several years of work by James Ridgeway and Pat Bliss. In fact, Felix’s prison interview is a monumental labor. Technically, it has involved video editing and compression, […]
This is the 2nd installment in our series of interviews with Felix Garcia. Jim Ridgeway and Pat Bliss did the interview. Mr. Ridgeway owns the copyright. Again, our wonderful interpreter set voice to Felix’s powerful words, and I did the tech work involved in synching and mixing the audio and creating the transcript. This video […]
Originally posted on CrimeDime:
Image: Bureau of Justice Statistics, public domain. A 2005 article that appeared in The Criminologist was titled, “It ain’t happening here: Working to understand prison rape.” Although I had spent some time working in correctional facilities at that point, I still labored under the popular myth that sexual assaults in prison…
The idea to do an interview and a film started back in October 2010. Conflicting schedules, Felix being moved within the system, postponed it until June of 2011. With Florida Department of Corrections giving us media approval, Washington Correspondent for Mother Jones Magazine, James Ridgeway, and I met at the Jacksonville, Florida airport where I picked him up. I had driven […]
From The New York Times: Justices Bar Mandatory Life Terms for Juveniles. The justices ruled that such sentencing for those under 18 violated the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. http://nyti.ms/LvYcun
It has been brought to my attention that our Deaf and HOH readers cannot understand the video of Felix, we put up last week. To aid in their understanding, I have created a transcript of the entire video. This video is part I of a series that we will be rolling out over the next […]
From the Washington Post Editorial Board: The harm of solitary confinement in prisons – The Washington Post.
Here’s a recap of the month in PDF format. Please click on the link below to view the piece. June at DeafInPrison.com
This video, part I in a series, represents the culmination of the combined efforts of James Ridgeway – who owns the copyright, Pat Bliss – who assisted in the filming, our wonderful interpreter – who requested anonymity, but did an awesome job – and myself – who turned the knobs and punched the buttons. My […]
Originally posted on CrimeDime:
A real commitment to improving the juvenile system requires “assessment” centers like this one to truly assess young offenders for past victimization rather than routinized criminal justice processing. Image: CrimeDime Plenty of research has established the link between victimization and offending. But establishing the fact that the link exists is easier…
This is another inmate letter we received from H.E.A.R.D. Like so many letters we publish, the grammar and usage are difficult to decipher, but the content is powerful and profound. We thank Talila Lewis and H.E.A.R.D. for helping us to bring attention to the agony that is the day to day existence of the Deaf […]
This is our second WP Poll on PollDaddy. Please vote, we need your feedback. Also, I have added a rating applet to all posts. You can now rate posts as well as “Like” and comment on them.
http://audismfreeamerica.blogspot.com/2012/01/fla-gov-scotts-office-reply-to-afa-re.html http://solitarywatch.com/2011/12/20/the-silent-terrifying-world-of-a-deaf-prisoner/ http://deaffirefly.wordpress.com/tag/felix-garcia/ http://charlieswinbourne.com/2011/12/20/uncovered-deaf-prisoners-treatment-at-the-hands-of-the-us-justice-system/ http://massprivatei.blogspot.com/2011/12/are-deaf-people-receiving-fair-trial-in.html http://disabilityrightsgalaxy.com/2012/03/01/a-nightmare-of-vulnerability/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pYO0VKYivs http://www.alldeaf.com/deaf-news/97432-hearing-brother-framed-deaf-brother-horrible-crime.html http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-the-state-of-florida-free-felix-garcia https://deafinprison.wordpress.com/tag/free-felix-garcia-facebook-page/ http://twitter.com/#!/JIMRIDGEWAY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDFve5ngVcI http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/unjust-incarceration http://www.facebook.com/pages/Free-Felix-Garcia/369853303028907?v=info http://www.gallaudet.edu/daily_digest/heard_17feb2012.html http://dartsociety.com/2012/01/unearthing-solitary-confinement-tip-time/ Some of these are already on our links page, and others have been embedded in other posts, but they all bear repeating.
Image courtesy of http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/2262984/Corrupt-prison-guards-fuel-drug-culture-in-prison.html Placing deaf inmates together has a positive effect, both for the individual in prison and for the officials and guards who are responsible for his care and treatment. There will be less, not more, of a management problem when deaf prisoners are grouped together, irrespective of the crimes for which they […]
Originally posted on CrimeDime:
by BitcoDavid* of DeafInPrison.com In addition to what we have discussed in the first three parts in this series, other inmates often take advantage of the Deaf, for all the obvious reasons. They can’t complain to anyone. Generally, in prison, any weakness is quickly and mercilessly exploited. What could possibly be…
[This is reposted from H.E.A.R.D.’s page on FaceBook. –ed.] On Friday, June 15th 6pm onward, Many Languages One Voice is hosting cross-teach-in with HEARD DC. HEARD DC works to ensure that the deaf are able to access the justice system, with a particular focus on deaf wrongful conviction. They’ll inform us of some laws that […]
Perhaps slightly off topic, but I wanted to share these stories with you. –BitcoDavid 50th Anniversary of the escape from Alcatraz. The New York Times posted two excellent pieces on this milestone in Criminal Justice History. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/10/us/anniversary-of-a-mystery-at-alcatraz.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha23_20120610 And the accompanying slide show. http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2012/06/09/us/20120610_alcatraz.html More on solitary confinement from Truthout. http://truth-out.org/news/item/9673-everything-legal-is-not-moral-why-were-taking-solitary-confinement-to-court AlterNet discusses the trend towards […]
Originally posted on CrimeDime:
by BitcoDavid* of DeafInPrison.com This is a very interesting question, because one of my goals with DeafInPrison.com is to get some interviews with wardens and corrections officers. Going by the stories I’ve gotten in some of our inmate letters – from deaf inmates – the treatment is nothing other than abysmal.…
Originally posted on CrimeDime:
by BitcoDavid* of DeafInPrison.com There is a plethora of problems faced by Deaf inmates, but perhaps the most significant is the lack of communication. Deafness is more than a condition of being unable to hear – it is a condition of being unable to communicate. Most Deaf do not speak English…
jim11st.pdf (application/pdf Object).
deafinprison.com 