Medical trip gone wrong
Prologue: When inmates are to be taken out on an escorted medical trip, inmates are shackled by handcuffs and waist chains as well as bound by their feet. They are then placed in a vehicle (at Aliceville a van) that has bars over all of the windows. The passenger and back doors of the van are also locked with master locks, thus making any possible exit a barricade. This is apparently done to ensure the “safety and security of an inmate” BOP Policy states that an inmate who is minimum or low security does not require the leg restraints, but Aliceville insists on using them for all of the trips regardless of security level or behavior of the inmate.
Yesterday I was taken out by BOP Staff for a medical trip to UA Birmingham. We left the facility at 8am. I was shackled at my hands and legs and placed in the van. I am diabetic and had not eaten anything because I was not planning on being in a van for 5 hours of my day. They do not tell us when they are taking us out for trips because it is a security risk as an inmate may try to plan an escape. Thus I digressed. Anyway, I had 2 escort officers. One female officer for obvious reasons and a male officer who is the driver and carries the gun. We are told that if we try to run they are ordered to shoot to kill.
In my entire incarceration I have never heard of a woman trying to escape while in shackles on an escort trip, but who knows. Anyway. about an hour into my trip I noticed that we were traveling extremely fast so I moved myself over to the middle seat and was able to see that the driver of the van was going over 90mph. I immediately felt my anxiety start to take over. (I suffer from panic). The officer was weaving in and out of traffic, switching lanes and having to break hard as he encountered slower traffic.
This driving went on for some time and we eventually passed an Alabama state trooper who was in a dodge charger on the side of the interstate. He immediately turned on his lights and proceeded to follow us. Yes, WE GOT PULLED OVER. In a BOP vehicle. The trooper approached the vehicle and noticed me, he tipped his hat and said something to the driver of our vehicle and then left. Yes, just left. The trooper allowed the man driving the vehicle at least 30 miles over the posted speed limit to just go. Knowing that his driving was reckless and could have seriously injured himself, the female officer, me, or anyone on the road that he may have hurt had we crashed.
BOP employees are hired to ensure the safety and security of all inmates. This employees behavior was reckless and egregious. Had we crashed, I would be dead. Inmates are bound by their hands and feet inside a moving cage. Any crash at 90mph would most likely end up with one or more of the passengers incapacitated. There are master locks on all of the doors, so how would I save myself or have anyone else save me. This practice is inexcusable and negligent. If a officer feels that they can drive that fast with an inmate in the vehicle then they should allow the inmate to remain unrestrained in case of an emergency. What would have happened if he crashed and hurt a person/s in another vehicle.
There were absolutely no consequences enforced to the officer who put my life in danger yesterday. It was just another day at the office for him today. This is unacceptable and things need to be changed. Regardless of the crime we committed or the mistakes we made, our lives matter. We matter and should NEVER be put in a dangerous situation by the people employed to keep us safe.
One more note, as I stated I am diabetic and the trip to Birmingham takes 2 hours 30 minutes. We are not given anything to drink or eat while on the trip. We are forced to go hungry and thirsty. I was dehydrated and my sugar was low when I returned to the prison. This is completely unacceptable.
We need change. Will you be that person? will you help us to be a voice for those who are behind the fence and at the mercy of officers who do not care?
