Texas Prison Hunger Strike

The prison conditions at The Polunsky Unit, on Death Row in Texas are deplorable. On October 2006, six inmates began a hunger strike. They called for more humane living conditions, and to protest against the death penalty. Eventually more inmates joined in, and as many as eleven inmates protested at one time. This hunger strike was short lived, and it was realized that a more organized, hunger strike would follow.

The inmates have decided as a "New Years Resolution" to begin a hunger strike in Texas prisons on January 1st, 2007. This one will not only consist of the inmates on death row, but in all units in Texas that want to participate, especially those inmates that are housed in adseg, or Administration Segregation. In Texas, prisoners are in adseg, for months, years, and even decades, subjected to abuse and sensory depravation.

Approximately eighty percent of the Texas prison population, including death row inmates are cared for medically by UT Medical Branch.TDCJ and UTMB have certain procedures used when an inmate is on hunger strike which includes daily measurements of weight and other vital statistics to insure there are not any serious injuries to the inmates. If an inmates health is in danger in any way, the attending physician must consult another physician, before the order to force feed can take place.

The conditions they want changed are:
1. Food: Nutritional and proper preparation.
2. Medical: Proper and unbiased medical treatment.
3. Hygiene: Hygiene products to be passed out on a weekly basis.
4. Laundry: All laundry be washed thoroughly with bleach and detergent.
5. Oppressive punishment: Gassing of inmates, being slammed while cuffed, and being fed food loaves (A grotesque mixture of food mixed into one loaf).
6. Contact and religious visits
7. Psychological services
8. Visitation list, and special visitation for inmates with visitors from overseas
9. Work program, and recreational time
10. Access to the law library
11. Cell maintenance and property boxes
12. Commissary
13. Mail be delivered in a timely manner, the limitation of stamps, and legal corresponding supplies.
14. Telephone calls
15. Television, art supplies.

Although I don't exactly like the idea of hunger striking, I do agree that awareness to the problems in Texas prisons, and changes in conditions must be made. These inmates feel that this is the most effective method of activism. I will have to support them in their decision and hope that the Texas Department Of Criminal Justice reviews the complaints and make the necessary changes in conditions.