PRISONERS UNITED IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY JAILS WIN 5 CORE DEMANDS & SACRIFICE 3 DAYS OF CUSTODY MEALS FOR THE HUNGRY

This is vile and this sheriff is the true criminal…I am honestly at a loss for words, all the information is below and on the original posts page, which I strongly encourage you to read and share….
This is vital and should be on international news… But if you watch “Fox News” or “CNN” chances are you won’t see this… They are for-profit media, controlled by greed, money and the government… Please check the below link for the full information…and please, share….

Silicon Valley De-Bug thanks Prisoners United on every floor in the Main Jail and housing units M-5 and M-8 in Elmwood D.O.C. for courageously sacrificing all their custody meals to be donated to the homeless and hungry at Emmanuel House Salvation Army.

We also appreciate all efforts made between jail administrators, community organizations and the jail population to come to an agreement to meet the 5 core demands to end meaningless classification reviews, indefinite solitary confinement, group punishment, cruel and unusual punishment during out of cell time, and rigid visitation policies.

FACTS THAT REFUTE SHERIFF SMITH’S COMMENT:

• Over 70% of the Santa Clara County jail population is pretrial – meaning they have not been convicted of a crime.
• Being in jail does not automatically mean someone is a gang member, according to the JFA Institute Jail Classification System Evaluation audit prepared by James Austin in 2016, there is only 21 verified prison gang members in Santa Clara County.
• Prisoners United of Silicon Valley is the collective voice of the entire Santa Clara County jail population including all classification/security levels, color tops, racial groups (Black, White, Asian, Latino, Pacific Islander etc.) and creeds and is not lead by one man alone.
• Salvation Army is a tremendous community resource for those in need, including programs for those who have been convicted of a crime.

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FURTHER DETAILS/CLARIFICATIONS:

Santa Clara County jail administrators came to an agreement to meet the 5 core demands to end meaningless classification reviews, indefinite solitary confinement, group punishment, cruel and unusual punishment during out of cell time, and rigid visitation policies. However, the administration stated it will take 3 weeks for the new classification system to kick in.

According to the agreement, the classification system will have face-to-face hearings, opportunity for prisoners to call witnesses to speak in their defense, the use of things such as education and rehabilitation certificates to have influence on their hearings, and the opportunity to contest anything.

The administration also agreed to suspend all in-custody inputs until the new system is in place. ⁱ

Prisoners in the jails should also be able to see what is in their file.

Captains Grumbos and Taylor finalized agreements with some of the prisoners inside.

The challenge of only having 35 classification officers is still a question. 

10/26/17 MEDIA UPDATE

Due to the understanding that there was an agreement made to avoid a hunger strike, Prisoner United in the 6C sureno unit, who were just recently rehoused to unsanitary cells in 6A in the Main Jail, ordered from commissary this past Sunday/Monday.

Due to Sheriff Smith’s comment, Prisoners United reverted their efforts to refusing all custody meals to see to it that their food is in fact donated to the homeless and hungry at Salvation Army who serve gang impacted, those recovering from drug and alcohol recovery and formally incarcerated.

Just last night when Prisoners United in 6A (formally 6C) received their commissary orders, prisoners protested and courageously left food items from their order, with some of their orders as large as $100, outside their cells to ensure that their commissary food is donated to the homeless and hungry at Emmanuel House Salvation Army, and prevent food waste.

Prisoners United in sureno units 6A Main Jail and M4B in Elmwood will continue to go on strike until they can sit down with jail administrators to guarantee inclusion that their Protective Custody status will be removed from their classification file in the new classification system set to be active in the next following weeks.

i “…another form of conduct that is reported by staff on inmates [are] called the Custody Input Reports or CIRs. These are used to record both positive and negative conduct behavior. Unfortunately, the CIRs are not part of the Custody Bureau’s database and cannot be analyzed for the entire jail population. However, as shown later in the report, these data were manually collected for the pilot test on the inmates who had been in custody for at least 60 days.” from Aug 2016 Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff Custody Bureau Jail Classification System Evaluation

Custody Inputs are basically an additional punitive tool that that does not fall under a rule violation/infraction or charge. The prisoner is given no notification, so the prisoner never knows what Custody Inputs are being put in their file. The administration agreed to give notice of every Custody Input in 3 weeks and to currently suspend all custody inputs so that it will not hold someone back from down-classing. Custody Inputs can also be used in the courts and follows you in prison. There should be no custody input. If its not an infraction or charge, then it should not be used as a tool of punitive action.

PRESS: JOSE (408) 661-2604 jose@siliconvalleydebug.org FAMILIES: BENEE (408) 529-5971 benee@siliconvalleydebug.org 10/25/17 Though a hunger strike in Santa Clara County jails could have been avoided after jail administrators agreed to meet the core demands during the week of October 16, 2017 — Prisoners United on every floor of the Main Jail and M-5 and M-8 lockdown […]

via PRISONERS UNITED IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY JAILS WIN 5 CORE DEMANDS & SACRIFICE 3 DAYS OF CUSTODY MEALS FOR THE HUNGRY — Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity

Digitizing American’s Sick History of Executions

It’s a great project idea; but it is also a heartbreaking and HIGHLY REVEALING project. Revealing racism towards not only adults, but children… It also, I hope, will bring attention to the problem we still have in America with this inhumane, cruel and unjust legal hate and racism.
I also wonder if they will the last (one of few) legal execution photos to be reveled? It’s an old photo, of a man who they electrocuted. It went very wrong and the photo shows this. After that photos of these executions no longer were allowed… Wonder why.

And my gods… this poor, beautiful child breaks my heart…. !!!!!

The mug shot of 14-year-old George Stinney (part of the M. Watt Espy Collection at UAlbany), the youngest person to be sentenced to death and executed in the United States following a racially-biased trial. For more than 40 years, Espy, an opponent of the death penalty, traced the often tragic history of legal executions in […]

via UAlbany Launchez Project to Digitize History of Executionz in the United Statez (United Snakez) — Moorbey’z Blog

Prison Guards Unaccountable in Death of Darren Rainey & America’s Racist History & Cover-Ups….

This is a repost with my 2 cents about the evil I report and will continue to report on… Let me explain. The below case, for example, is not happy. It isn’t surprising, sadly. But I stand firmly with Malcolm X and will NOT ever turn away from the atrocities white racists do and get away with, still, daily. I share these things because I feel it is my responsibility to share. Because no one’s suffering should be ignored; BECAUSE WE SHOULD NOT GET INTO A MIND STATE OF ACCEPTING THIS SORT OF TREATMENT SO MUCH THAT IT BECOMES A TOPIC NO ONE DISCUSSES OR CARES ABOUT ANYMORE- A TOPIC OR SOCIAL ISSUE PEOPLE FEEL IS HOPELESS THUS IT GETS IGNORED. WE MUST NEVER GET TO THAT PLACE!

Honor him and I hope somehow, soon, the Black and Hispanic and awake whites and anyone else, will all unite and act in a way that gets positive change. But first gang violence needs to cease… Please put down the gun; or at least realize who your true enemy is. These same people who can do these sort of sick things, as seen below, be it another situation like his, or more by cops; the racist government and prison industry. And then we can’t forget the every day racist whites. Nor can we forget what has gone on and still goes on. Point? The people doing all that; before and after you were born, are the same people who on FBI orders brought guns and drugs to the community with the orders “divide and conquer”.

They are the threat to peace and humanity and equality. I wish I had some form of action or inspiring words to say regarding the dismissal of charges in yet another stomach churning hate crime against a Black man. I’ve spent so much time trying to figure out what to do; and of course I’m here to fight and speak against racism… But I want to start teaching TRUE history.

Quickly let me go over my new plans and the current video “lessons” or “series” I’m starting as it is the ground which the murders and violence sprouts from….

Yes slavery will be mentioned; but so well bravery and strength. Also, in regards to the time in history I’ll be “teaching” or sharing knowledge about, Black people are forgotten and if not forgotten, some historians have the nerve to say that white SERVANTS and Black SLAVES were treated the same, no racism involved in the START of slavery in the states. Oh, and the founding fathers and documents had nothing to do with maintaining slavery; why, they spoke against slavery!… *shakes head*…

In the upcoming videos I’ll expose the whites lies, and remove the smoke and mirror show they hide behind. It’s time to give credit to those who built this country; not just in regards to the buildings of the District of Columbia and other states, but also other workings that shape America, as we will see.

While the rich Europeans sat on their asses and “BOUGHT” HUMAN BEINGS to then work them to the verge of death (don’t give me that ‘some masters were actually nice to them’ BS. You cannot be moral and OWN a human unless it was some facade to break the enslaved free. These “masters” had no such intention.

Just like with Ancient Egypt, history is written by those who did minimal work at most, if that; by the two faced hypocrites who cared not for the inhumanity of slavery but instead the money- all while trying to play the victim of owning slaves. …. Yes you read that right; that will be explained in the video posted either tonight or in the morning.

Whites didn’t create this country. They did create the hate and oppressive racist laws and spread lies on a legal level trying to further legitimize their cruel, sick, sadistic actions. A lot of those laws are still in act to this day impacting disproportionately the non-white communities, especially the Black community. All that has been changed is amendments made which removed any reference to Black men and women, keeping control of “white supremacy” -that’s a quote- and so forth. All these things that built America from the white side, the evil side, still are infecting and poisoning this country to this day.

And how can anyone of us expect anything less? Police and prisons and the war on drugs and SO MANY MORE LAWS we all know about and know to be unjust were created early in “America’s early days”. You cannot expect anything rooted in evil to produce honesty and kindness; equality and remorse.

So I think it’s time we all set the record straight on these topics and so many more. They have hurt, slaughtered and so much more has been stolen from the people… But they then continue on down to even lower grounds, the lowest, and claim this country never engaged in slavery as bad as “some people make it”. Regarding the main topic of my first video “lessons” in history, they also then go on to take credit for all the work and accomplishments they not once worked at. Regarding documents and papers they had to lift a finger for knowledge of reading and writing is dangerous….

But now you and I read and write. Don’t waste it. Exploit it. Share knowledge, both the heartbreaking as well as the removal of FAKE history. Replace it with TRUE history… And share… Teach the children these truths; teach ourselves these truths….and refuse to believe or tolerate their thieving LIES!

My current plans and topics I’m going to start my lessons on in the video series I spoke of, all deals with racism and the evil history of it.I am working on a video about a Black child whom was slaughtered tragically…but he received no justice, just as the majority of cases- unless the victims white and the killers Black- show us. White privilege and double standards.

Finally, if any of you are the sort to say ” I can’t handle looking or hearing…____” the sick things that happened. I don’t enjoy it but I look; and so should everyone! I refuse to look away; I refuse to stay quiet; and I refuse to play the white supremacist little game when it comes to HISTORY – from Ancient Africa to modern Africa and other places- as well as the US and all the back breaking, soul destroying evils racists did; such as forced labor in the building of the entire District of Columbia and it doesn’t stop there. (Please make sure you join my YouTube channel; I’m going to make sure I set history straight as I can, as best I can, and I hope I make a difference even if just to ONE soul.)

This tragic and intentional murder –and especially the fact it is something they found not worthy of punishment!- is a direct link to those founding lies and “men” who were behaving behind closed doors not too differently as we’ll see. The roots flower the same hateful and evil ways for until we uproot and start over, these sort will continue to get away with being indescribably cruel and evil.

Unless someone else knows another way to change things… I’m all ears; I long for the better days and to see equality!!!….. But as of right now, the America of the “Founding fathers” continues on in the legacy of brutality, prejudices, violence and racism. Otherwise, there would be a deep outrage by the world and the killers would be punished. Instead….

Four prison guards who were allegedly involved in the death of Darren Rainey—a schizophrenic inmate at the Dade Correctional Institution who died in 2012 after being thrown into a scalding hot shower and left there for two hours as punishment—will not be charged. According to the Miami New Times, on Friday Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine…

via No Charges For Prison Guards Who Allegedly Scalded Black Schizophrenic Inmate — Black America Web

In Honor of Malcolm X & An Ongoing Fight for Human Rights in America- video

Today in 1965 we lost a legendary man, body and soul, a true revolutionist whom fought for the bettering of humanity and against racist white hate crimes against the Black community without apology-as it should be; as we should all be. I’ve placed the video above for a reason; while countless speeches made by Malcolm X are sadly still true to today and how things are, in this video he poses the question I wonder every single day with growing frustration at my own lack of understanding as to the WHY others, in great numbers, aren’t asking what Malcolm so brilliantly asks, frames and explains in the video I’m about to post and urge you with all I am to watch.

What is happening in America must not be taken before an American court. Just as police should not be taken before their fellow police officers or other law enforcement and/or court/legal systems where they are known personally.

We see where doing both of those things gets us, and common sense should suggest that would happen anyway. So where do we go? As Malcolm X says we should instead take the issue of VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS (not CIVIL but HUMAN RIGHTS) to a system larger; the UN, for example; nothing will ever change. And he has been proven right by time… So what are we waiting for? It is only 9 minutes and some spare seconds of your time: listen to what he says, honor him with at least that much, on the anniversary of his death, I ask you. Listen and think about what he says both for him then but also, look at how perfect that speech is to be given in America today, 2017. Video follows.

The best way

My Breakdown Watching Netflix Documentary 13

After watching the trailer, and proceeding inward to the documentary “13” I made this. I just don’t understand after everything I say, and everything I show, not just in this video but in all the information available…. No matter your background, facts are facts. And if you have a soul Black, Hispanic, white…this DOES matter.

I was watching just the trailer for the movie or documentary 13 on Netflix (now watching the full documentary) but there’s one scene that sparked a memory that I’ve never shared anybody really yet one that I refer to quite often in my videos. This is the story of the man Who will forever be a part of my soul the man that I saw suffocated by the police when I was about 14 an innocent, black man with narcolepsy suffocated… But it doesn’t stop there.

Back then I used to have a little hope. Hope that if everyone knew about this kind of stuff that I was working with on a national level every day -both public stories and confidential cases, NATIONALLY- I honestly believed that there would be a revolution of some form if these images were being displayed on TVs if the truth was put out there by the media. You must remember I was 14-ish at that time and did not realize the media and the government or one for profit media is never going to show you the truth and you shouldn’t have to have anyone say anything though. Just watching the imagery & just hearing the stories you should be able to make up your own mind and clearly see the obvious this would not be tolerated if it was happening to white people as a majority like it is to the Black community.

I understand my story does not have anything to do with prison per se. But it does have something to do with slavery and racism and the oversee year a.k.a. officer.

Tony Soto Black Man & Activist Held on $900,000 for NO REASON! Please SHARE!

While I was preparing to re-post information on Tony Soto, I came across one of the last videos he posted on YouTube and oddly, it’s directed towards anyone who is struggling. He now -for NO REASON– sits behind bars on a $900,000 bond…  (For more videos by Tony Soto not included on his YouTube account or for more information, please see below.) I had to repost it and no matter if you aren’t religious, are like me and not religious but spiritual, or simply do not believe in anything; his good heart and character for others shines like he always has as a friend and activist…

And from my older posts… Or you can read it all on one page by clicking here.

“… We are asking for your help and support in this crowdfund to help him with his bond and to retain competent counsel.  Funded Justice specializes in Crowdfunding for legal matters.  Please donate and share this Crowdfunding. My son has stood on the front lines and helped many people, traveling all over the region assisting in other marches, protests and helping families organize and assert their First Amendment rights to redress their grievenaces and to protest outrageous and unjust actions by law enforcement.

His first son was born in his first son was born in his absence this past Sat June 25, 2016.  He has yet to see or hold his newborn and I am suffering with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.  For the past two years my son has dilgently marched for civil rights and has tried to make sure people know their rights when pulled over in a vehicle. He has been outspoken and vocal in regards to the blatant police brutality and police corruption sweeping this nation.  Now he is being falsely held in a Phila prison.  If this had happened to any one of you, Tony would have already been organizing on your behalf immediately.  We thank you for your support. God Bless.”- Tony Soto’s mother

The sites I’m linking have the videos of the police stalking, harassment and mistreatment are posted in the above link which I posted a couple of days ago. So below are the links I’ve previously made when he was free, in order. Videos of importance are on all, one of them I believe I made a video but there is a link to his facebook video on there….

Each video shows not only the Philly police disrespecting him, but obviously targeting him, especially if you check out more of his videos (again that is linked in one of the posts too, I believe it’s the first). His  previous videos of harassment and fear tactics being used, each link is below.. thank you and please, please help this good man, his mom, those whom care for him and the community needs him, too…

Please, help. – Tony Soto’s Mother  (click here to donate)

Click here for full details. PLEASE SHARE! x

Newark, NJ! Time to End White Supremacy!

Of course it’s gonna take a hell of a lot of work and sacrifice. But it’s past time. Black businesses are great;,bring back Black Wallstreet! End police racist murders by cops, and end this gang violence- Black and Hispanic, let’s unite please. Please share this- knowledge is power… But useless without solidarity.

Lesson in Law-White Supremacy is the Foundation For the Denial Of Rights to Felons…Proof

Origins and reasons behinds founding anything, especially police officers as well as laws. Upcoming soon I’ll be posting an essay on police origins nut it’ll be so much deeper thsn simply that. So, as  I was doing research, I was listening to the following video, and was angry as hell that the right to take away felons right to vote, obtain financial aid, obtain rightful access to resources for the purpose of empowerment & with hope of the ex-felon not returning to prison. 

But that is truly an unattainable dream if you’ve got a felony on your record they apparently want you back in prison as it gives them more money. If they truly wanted the best for people out of prison, they would  help anyone who participated and learned new trade(s). The various vocations many study in prison also would be handled better by helping felons put to use these newly learned skills.

But when was this law implemented, and why? For white supremacy and if anyone say this to be a lie, do some legal research. The below video gives a deeper explanation of what happened, who was the first person and state to put it to law, and for what purpose. Though the purpose is clear, the proof is documented as he shows.    

This man’s channel is a great source of knowledge and you can interact with him during the live show. He actually impressed me; speaking out on America’s racist system and against racism in the police of America and knowledge of their origins (slavery).

Quoting the twisted & racism found in documents regarding denying felons the right to vote:

 “This plan will eliminate the ‘darky‘ as a political factor…so there would be no concern “felt for the complete supremacy of the white race in government.”  

I knew racism was the reason for prisons as they are; but I failed to learn of this until today. And so while you may not be surprised, I hope you are outraged and let the ‘secrets’ or America fuel a firey passion to unite us all; from my fellow Hispanic community, to the Black community; we need unity!!! We also need to stop fighting our own…

Never Forget Aaron Swartz; A Revolutionary Hero…

Three years ago this world was robbed of a beautiful life, a wonderful soul…his name, Aaron Swartz. It is a very emotional topic for me, I’d like to write more about him and about all the good he has without a doubt done for us, given to us; but right now I can’t find the words.

In the below video from “The Young Turks” we are given information on just how unjust, biased and discriminatory the prison sentences are. Of course with drug offenders, who should not be in prison either, the mandatory minimums are outrageous. But comparing what Aaron Swartz “did” -wanting to help people, understanding that education should be free; and so more- to other offenses that people would think carry more time than he was facing; but don’t.

Note, under 15% of prisoners are in for murder or sexual offenses, 95% of those last offenders will haunt the streets shortly after doing time, if they do in fact do time. The majority being drug offenders who are over 56% of the prison population. The reason I note this is because these laws he goes over make it seem the American government doesn’t have an agenda; but it does.

That can clearly be seen if you look at the numbers and the crimes; if you look at the man I deem a hero, Aaron Swartz; who was facing an outrageous amount of time for doing nothing more than trying to help make this world a better place. I do blame the government for his death; his suicide. 

The government was afraid of the intelligence and awareness Aaron had. His gift mixed in with his intelligence and concern for social issues made him someone they feared because they can’t grasp it; they don’t desire to… Their mind and heart are in it for the money; the people are the last thing they care for.

And thus, we lost an amazing, amazing activist & caring, kind and brilliant man 3 years ago….

The Prison Industry- New Policy Changes on Rikers Island…Conclusion

While I am glad for inmates at Rikers Island as at least some attention was given to them by changing the text in their policies regarding treatment of prisoners by officers, I can’t help but also be angry. First, violence and torture (yes I said torture and I mean it; research it) is tragic and sadly the reality in all prisons; private, federal and state alike. I am just starting on a new project, a larger project regarding the prison industry. However, brutality in prison is a common, racist theme…just as police brutality is. Sickening.

Call me a pessimist, but my faith and trust in the government / prison industry actually enforcing these “new, change in  policies” does not inspire hope in me. Text is easy to type up; it’s easy to teach and it’s just as easy for these guards/officers to pretend to follow. Will they actually follow procedures? These new rules…do they actually matter to them? My outlook is grim and it is a, more likely than not, no.

Even if those at Rikers change for awhile it will only be due to the limited attention of this issue. That is the bigger, overall problem. At Rikers, and all other prisons in America. The majority of prisoners are not in for violence, in fact under 5% are in for murder (overall). Over 55% are in for drugs, non-violent convictions. Even so, these officers should be more humane and
professional towards other living beings.

Normally, I don’t use movies to express my point but the few lines from New Jack City (video below) should make everyone think about the state of racism in America; on money in America and on who the REAL problem is and why we need more

attention on the prison system…and the government period. It may be a movie, but these lines are truth that applies to the real world, the real America. Check the facts if you disagree.

The reason I am going beyond prisoner abuse is because it all trickles down from the top; the money; the government. They do not care what the guards do as long as that money is coming in.

The fact that so many are there for something that is only a crime or as severe of a crime as America’s made it is because of money (which I’ll prove in the project I’m working on). Prisoners are not supposed to be subjected to abuse and death from the ‘authority within’ because they are a prisoner and/or have done something illegal (or not). But what are the standards that America’s prison industry holds? Money and filling up cells but in the reverse order. How those people are treated do not matter to them, that is beyond clear. Now let’s ask the question… What should matter?

What SHOULD matter is being an abuser of any form should not be a bonus on a resume, but for prison guards it (and cops) it seems to be a major plus. While I would LOVE to think this is going to spark a change, all I see is false hope. We need a new system, this one is not working. When have they ever fostered change for the better for those who truly need it?

Even in the below article the loop holes for more officers to abuse inmates shines through. Basically they are saying, unless a reason is given and you feel endanger, no more abusing the prisoners! That sounds like an improvement. But just as cops “mistake” wallets, shoes, Pokemon cards (previous case I worked on; Black child of the age 12, murdered by police), and so forth for weapons, I am sure these officers and guards can and will be just as creative as our wonderful law enforcement; thus letting the abuse continue.

I wish I could have written a more positive article; I apologize. But the truth hurts and that’s all I have.

Below is the article, with the original link.

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Following the settlement of a federal lawsuit that alleged a culture of violence among correction officers on Rikers Island, the Department of Correction will unveil a new use of force policy to its employees tomorrow, prohibiting certain maneuvers and encouraging officers to avoid force when possible.

“The revised policy provides our dedicated, hardworking officers with additional guidance and tools for when they are confronted with a situation in which force may be necessary, and we expect that it will support appropriate use of force and our objective to resolve situations without physical force whenever possible,” Commissioner Joseph Ponte said in a statement provided to the Observer.

“The goal of the policy, as always, is safety for staff and inmates, and we thank our officers for their support of the comprehensive reforms under way at the Department.”

The policy is the result of the settlement of the lawsuit Nunez v. City of New York, originally filed on behalf of several inmates by the Legal Aid Society and eventually joined by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. The settlement called for the department to revise its policies within 60 days of the settlement being approved and laid out many specific requirements that are found in the new policy, which will be circulated to department staff tomorrow. The settlement also required a federal monitor to oversee Rikers, and the monitor, Steve Martin, to sign off on the use of force policy.

The new policy emphasizes the need to respond to situations without physical force whenever necessary. It restricts painfully escorting or restraining inmates without reason, and striking inmates in the groin, neck, kidneys or spinal column. It also prohibits “high-impact” force: blows to the previously mentioned areas as well as the head or face, kicking an inmate, and the use of choke holds, carotid restraint holds or neck restraints.

But there’s an exception to those prohibitions—if the staff member feels he or she, or another person, is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury and lesser means won’t work, the staff can use any means necessary to control the situation.

The new policy also addresses certain aspects of what happens after a use of force—officers involved in a use of force cannot escort the inmate away from the scene nor can they view video footage of the incident before making their first report about it. Inmates will also be able to dictate their statements in addition to writing them. And the new directive emphasizes not provoking inmates through things like profanity or slurs, public humiliation, or instigating inmate-on-inmate violence.

Senior staff has already been briefed on the policy, which will go out department-wide tomorrow and goes into effect November 20. All staff will receive an 8-hour training in the policy within the next year, which meets the requirement set out in Nunez, and staff will get an annual 4-hour refresher course.

The department said the policy was drafted with input from stakeholders, including union officials, but that’s not how Norman Seabrook, the outspoken president of the Correction Officers Benevolent Association, framed it.

“We take serious issue with the implementation of policies and procedures that involve the members of COBA when we have not been consulted or involved in any of the discussions around these guidelines,” Mr. Seabrook said in a statement.

A source close to the union said COBA was considering its legal options regarding the policy. In a letter, dated November 4, to the judge who approved the Nunez settlement, Mr. Seabrook says the settlement has the “potential” to improve Rikers Island for inmates and officers—but that it is not slated to be implemented in a “rational fashion.” He argued to the judge that training should occur before policies go into effect, which is not what will happen with the use of force policy. He wrote that the settlement requires officers to get clear and adequate direction on when to use force.

“Officers will not receive that direction when unanticipated incidents arise,” Mr. Seabrook wrote. “Training will provide guidance for such circumstances.”

Legal Aid attorneys who negotiated the settlement, also known as a consent decree, said they had not seen the new use of force policy—but had been extensively involved in negotiating the detailed description in the settlement of how the use of force policy should be revised.

To continue reading, click here.