“The question of whether the prison has become an obsolete institution has become especially urgent in light of the fact that more than two million people (out of a world total of nine million) now inhabit U.S. prisons, jails, youth facilities, and immigrant detention centres.” Angela Davis Are Prisons Obsolete?

U.S.A.

On the 8th May Eric McDavid was sentenced to 19 years and seven months imprisonment.
“Words cannot explain the grief and shock we are all feeling. We ask that you keep him close to your hearts. Letters of support are needed now more than ever.” (Support Eric McDavid 08/05/08)

“Eric McDavid was arrested in Auburn, CA on January 13, 2006 as part of the government’s ongoing Green Scare campaign. He was convicted of “conspiracy to destroy property by means of fire or explosives,” despite no crime actually taking place.” (Support Eric McDavid)

Free to be freed (sooner than later)
Daniel McGowan writes: “On February 28th, 2008, my friend and political prisoner Jeff ‘Free’ Luers received his long-awaited sentence of 10 years by Judge Billings in Eugene, Oregon. This outcome was a long time coming— Jeff was arrested in June 2000, sentenced June 2001 and his appeal was filed January 2002. February 14, 2007 saw his sentence of 22 years and 8 months, imposed by Judge Lule Velure, thrown out.” (Daniel McGowan 19/03/08)

Originally published on GNN by Shift Shapers here

Michael Sykes’ charges reduced
Angie Schmitt reports for the Toledo Blade: “MONROE – Accused arsonist Michael W. Sykes, 17, faces a reduced, 10-year prison sentence following his appearance yesterday in Monroe County District Court.”

“Charges against the former Bedford High School student were amended from home invasion and arson of a dwelling home to two counts of arson of real property.” (Toledo Blade 24/04/08)

Background to Michael’s case can be found here.

Africa

Inmates set fire to Angolan prison in escape attempt
“Inmates set fire to parts of a prison in the Angolan capital Thursday, and in ensuing battles with police one prisoner was killed and 10 wounded, officials said.” (AP 01/05/08)

Torture and Mass Imprisonment in Kenya
“The military operation that has been conducted under the secrecy veil since early march 2008 and has resulted in mass arrests and subsequent prosecution of over twelve hundred persons and most of the persons arraigned have raised complaints of torture and exhibited injuries that remain to be accounted for by the state, the government has on its part termed allegations of torture as propaganda and argued that no complaints have been lodged with relevant agencies.” (Independent Medico Legal Unit)

“Those of us who were taken to the police station were 150. We were denied bail and remanded at Bungoma prison. About 408 of us have been charged with the same case. They are all remanded in Bungoma Prison.” (Independent Medico Legal Unit)

Kenya: Private Jailers Could Help Ease the Crisis Facing Prison System
The Nation encourages the Kenyan government to follow the lead of the U.S. and U.K. in privatising prisons. It is questionable as to whether the concerns of the author lie with the welfare of the prisoners or the welfare of the prison system.“With the recent strike by warders revealing deplorable conditions under which the officers operate, the Government may as well explore the possibility of privatising prison services.” (The Nation – Nairobi 01/5/08)

The Nation may be discouraged by this story from the BBC: “Private jails ‘worse than public’” (BBC 19/01/08)

Asia

Prison guards ‘shot dead 36 inmates to quell unrest’
The Independent reports:“Thirty-six prisoners in a jail described by former inmates as “the darkest hell-hole in Burma” were reportedly shot dead in the chaotic aftermath of the cyclone and four others tortured to death.” (The Independent 07/05/08)

Europe

Gordon Brown Vetoes Prisoners 4p Per Hour Pay Rise
CAPS reports: “Political expediency has resulted in controversy over an 11th hour intervention from Gordon Brown which resulted in the Prison Service Management Board (PSMB) having to withdraw a planned increase in prisoners’ pay rates, the first since the Incentives & Earned Privileges Scheme (IEP) was introduced in 1995.” (CAPS 03/05/08)

“The Prime Minister intervened to overrule the Prison Service Management Board after learning that it had given the go-ahead to increasing the minimum pay rate for an employed offender from £4 a week to £5.50.” (The Times 30/04/08)

Longer Banged Up
“Prisoners in all 131 jails across England and Wales are to spend an extra half a day a week “banged up” in their cells from [this] April to achieve a £60m cost saving, prison governors disclosed yesterday.”

“The decision means that all classes and workshops on Friday afternoons will be cancelled from April and inmates will in future spend 23 hours a day locked in their cells from every Friday lunchtime until the following Monday morning.” (The Guardian 13/12/07)

Too Cushy?
It’s not just politicians trying to make political gains from prisoners misery. CAPS adds: “All this comes on top of what appears to be a blatant bit of union electioneering when Glyn Travis, assistant general secretary of the Prison Officers’ Association, caused outrage by accusing prisoners at one prison of spurning the chance to escape because they and all other prisoners led such a “cushy” life inside with regular access to mobile phones and drugs.” (CAPS 03/05/08)

Prison Service Pays Out
This statement came on the same day as this report from the Guardian:“The Prison Service yesterday agreed to pay more than £120,000 to prisoners who said they had suffered beatings and racial discrimination by prison officers, the Guardian has learned.”

“The settlement is the latest in recent years to have seen the Prison Service pay damages or settle claims for alleged abuses, including at the former young offenders’ institution at Portland, and at Wormwood Scrubs, where it was admitted that beatings and an attempted cover-up had taken place.” (The Guardian 25/04/08)

Barcelona 4th Feb Update
Brighton ABC reports: “On the 4th of February 2006 in Barcelona, 9 people were arbitrarily and violently arrested by the police whilst on their way home. 3 people – Rodrigo Lanza Huidobro, Juan Pintos Garrido, Alex Cisternas Amestica – all of whom are of South American descent, have been held in custody for over two years and have now been sentenced.”

“Despite an obvious lack of evidence and conflicting accounts from police, as well as criticisms from international human rights advocates, all defendants have now, after two years, been sentenced – Rodrigo received a sentence of 4.5 years, plus a 900.000 euro fine, Alex and Juan got sentences of 3.5 years each, and the remaining six received sentences of between 1 and 3 years. The headline from the Santiago news was ‘Arbitrariness and Xenophobia Have Triumphed Over Justice’.” (Brighton ABC 17/03/08)

Greek Anarchist Held
“Vaggelis Botzatzis has been remanded into custody accused of setting fire to two company cars owned by a energy/power company. It is believed that the person or persons unknown who carried out the arson did so in protest at the destruction of the natural environment and in support of two workers who died at the power plant.”

“Vaggelis denies all the allegations against him and maintains his innocence.” Follow link for his address and more information. (325 01/01/08)

Bank firebombed in solidarity and responsibility claimed
“According to reports (in greek) at athens.indymedia.org unknown persons attacked with molotov cocktails a subsidiary of eurobank in Petralona district (Athens). According to ANA-MPA news agency, the arson caused sever damages to the bank. A group claimed responsibility by an anonymoys e-mail.”

“The ‘Cells of Incendiary Solidarity’ (Pirines Empristikis Allileggyis) claim responsibility for the arson at Eurobank on Trion Ierarhon Street in Petralona, on Saturday January 19, in solidarity to the imprisoned anarchist Vaggelis Botzatzis, accused with 3 arson attacks against governmental-economic targets and to the three companions that are fugitive under the same case.” (EF! Action Reports 19/01/08)

Solidarity gathering at the prison of Lantin, Belgium
“On the 24th April, around 15 people went to the prison of Lantin. This solidarity gathering against all prisons took place on the occasion that the prison guards told Farid Bamouhammad that they are building a new cage for him in the caves of the prison. Recently, he had put his isolation cell in fire (at the end of march, together with two other prisoners locked up in the same wing, who were transfered immediately after) Some weeks ago, they started ‘renovating’ the isolation bloc U and they are building extra secured isolation unit. The same happens in the prison of Brugge. These permanent isolation units will be used to lock the most rebellious prisoners.” (325 24/04/08)

South America

At least 17 killed in new prison riot in Honduras
“At least 17 inmates died in a riot at a Honduran prison, the second such incident in the country’s overcrowded jail system in just over a week.” (Reuters 03/05/08)

For more information on Prisons and Prisoner support see:

• Brighton ABC Links to UK groups
• 325 Magazine Anti-capitalist, anti-repression magazine, with articles, interviews, writings by political prisoners and distro.
• Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network U.K.
• Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network U.S.
• ABC Network
• ABC Federation
• Prisoner Activist Resource Centre
• Campaign Against Prison Slavery