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RELIGIOUS FREEDOM STATUTE ADOPTED by Teresa Burns . Florida is only the third state that has quickly responded to the U.S. Supreme Court's striking down the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 by adopting a state law concerning religious freedoms. Floridians will have greater protections from government intrusions on their religious freedoms under a law that Governor Chiles has allowed to become law without his signature. The new law went into effect June 17th. The new law requires courts to use the strictest test, a "compelling interest" test, in determining whether state or government actions infringe on the religious. freedoms of Florida citizens. That standard had been in effect nationwide from 1963 through 1990 when it was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. The U.S. Congress had responded by the adoption of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA), but the high court ruled last year that the 1993 federal law infringed on states' rights and struck it down also. Florida has now adopted its own version of the RFRA. Only two other states, Connecticut and Rhode Island. have a similar law. Legislation for such a law in Illinois is pending IN THIS ISSUE • the governor's signature, and Alabama is expected to put the issue before voters this year. This law was not passed without controversy in Florida. Florida's Attorney General Bob Butterworth had been one of the leaders in pushing the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the federal RFRA because prisoners were not exempted from the Act. Although it received little mainstream media attention, prisoners being ex~mpted from the new Florida law also stirred up a hornet's nest during this last legislative session. State Rep. Allen Trovillion, who is chairman of the House Corrections Committee, and who has presented an appearance of supporting religious groups-and especially prison ministry groups-received an education in April. Trovillion, after having attended the recent Criminal Justice Ministry Conference in Orlando sponsored by several prison ministry groups (FPLP, Vol. 3, Iss. 6. pg. II), and having assured them he supported their efforts, went straight back to the legislature and pushed to expempt prisoners from the religious freedom bill. It was a case of "read my lips." Trovillion found himself flooded with phone calls during April protesting his switch out stance to exempt prisoners from the bill. Prison ministry groups all over Florida and from around the country took to the airwaves on national Christian radio shows criticizing Trovillion's stance. He was forced to retract his position and vote to let the bill (CSIHB 320 I) become law without exempting prisoners. The House specifically voted against exempting prisoners after that. . It is interesting that AG Bob Butterworth did not have anything to say about prisoners being exempted from this state law, at least not publicly. Evidently he saw the writing on the wall-that such a position would be roundly criticized and opposed by the influentially growing prison ministry groups in Florida. Butterworth had been one of the lead demagogues that argued for the supreme court to strike down the federal RFRA. claiming that if prisoners aren't exempted they will be wanting to sacrifice chickens, use drugs religiously, or practice all kinds of "quack religions. t' Governor Lawton Chiles said that he earlier had concerns about letting the new law be adopted because of fears that prisoners would abuse the legis- SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITION-NICOTINE ADDITION LITERATURE REVIEW RULE REVIEW NOTABLE CASES $10 MILLION LAWSUIT FILED I PRISONERS DEATH JUVENILE INJUSTICE TELEPHONE OVERCHARGE REFUNDS 2 7 8 9 12 14 16 '----------- lation. but enigmatically he has now Slated that "it looks like we can worked around those." Many in the religious communities had feared th~t Chiles would veto the legislation citing concerns of prison officials. Many prison activists and those in prison ministries have said time and again that prison officials are exaggerating those concerns. Courts are not suddenly going to uphold any religious activity inside the prisons that creates a true security concern. In such a case the "compelling interest" test would come into play. as true security concerns are a compelling government interest in maintaining safe prisons. Both state and federal courts have the authority and responsibility now to dismiss any prisonerbrought legal actions that are patently ridicul9US or frivolous. and it is reasonable to assume that they will exercise that ability. Prisoners now are punished with ,loss of gain time and confinement for filling frivolous lawsuits. the courts and FDOC have been imposing such punishments. The true "fear" of prison officials is that they simply would have to accommodate prisoners wishing to practice their religion. Prison officials view any freedom granted prisoners. even religious. as a threat to their control. which they desire to be total. The good news is that all Floridians now will perhaps have true protection from governmental intrusions into their religious rights. It is a basic principle of both the state and federal Constitutions that the government will not interfere with the right to practice one's religion. The Florida legislature has only affinned that right with this new law.• SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITION-NICOTINE ADDICTION On May 5th, in what attorneys in the case called a historical settlement. Thomas Waugh settled his federal lawsuit against the Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) for help in kicking his nicotine addiction. Waugh. a Florida prisoner. agreed to settle the F.P.L.P. VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4 case on the second day of trial' after four FDOC Assistant Secretaries appeared in court and expressed a desire to settle the case. After nine hours of hammering out the specific terms a settlement was reached giving Waugh what he was asking for-nicotine patches and Zyban-to help him quit smoking. Governor Lawton Chiles had to be contacted to approve the agreement. This settlement is the first time the FDOC. or the State of Florida, has been forced to provide medical assistance to someone to quit a tobacco addiction. It was an amazing case that has set historical precedence for those addicted to nicotine. and especially for prisoners who have no way of obtaining assistance in kicking their nicotine addictions which the state promotes by selling them millions of dollars worth of tobacco every year. at a cost to taxpayers of millions more. The full story in Thomas Waugh's case has never been told and appears here in FPLP for the first time. No punches are pulled. The lies and underhanded tactics that are commonly used against prisoners whenever they attempt to vindicate legal rights are exposed here. It took courage and detennination to do what Tom Waugh did. and that courage and detennination will benefit all Florida prisoners who follow Tom's lead. " FDOC: Nicotine Isn't Addictive When Tom Waugh asked an FDOC doctor for help in Ikicking his smoking addiction in 1994 he was told that "whether nicotine is addictive or not is a gray area" and that it was his choice "whether you purchase these products or not." Waugh's request was denied. This occurred at the Florida State Prison medium security work camp where Waugh was serving a 20 year prison sentence for unanned robbery. Tom Waugh. a smokerfor21 of his 37 years. was not expecting such a cavalier response to his plea for medical help to quit smoking. He had tried to quit on his own several times and had been unable to. In August 1994 Waugh read FLORIDA PRISON LEGAL PERSPECTIVES POBox 660-387 Chuluota, Florida 32766 Publishing Division or. neRIDA fIIIIlOlIIIlS LIG4L 4JlI 0IlG4lllZ4110N.INC. ANot·Fof·Profit Organization _.__._---_.._...._..._... _.. _..(407) 306-6211 Web: hnp:J/membcrs.aol.comlfplplfplp.html FPLAO DIRECTORS TERESA BURNS BOB POSEY DARRYL McGLAMRY DAVID W. BAUER, Esq. FPLPSTAFF Publisher TERESA BURNS Editor BOB POSEY Layout Editor JOHN OAKS Research SHERRl JOHNSON Admin. Assis. USA FAULKNER TRACE ROSE 1------_·_-_··_-FPLP ADVISORY BOARD WILLIAM VAN POYCK PHIUP BAGLEY - SHARON SIMMONS TERRY VAUGHN - MICHAEL LAMBRIX ALAN J. concN - JAMES QUIGLEY JAMES TAYLOR - JUDIE HIGHTOWER CARL WEIl.S • GLENN SMITH BRIAN MORRIS - EARN HOWARD LINDA GOTn.IEB - SALlY WILCOX JANE PRA1T - PAUL ADAMS KIMBERLY PEOPlES· PETER BLANTON . JAMJiS.MAJOR • ENRIQUE DIAl SCOlTGRAY FLORIDA PRISON LEGAL PERSPECTIVES i. puhtiJbed IimottthIy by I'loridA Pri...,.,. Lc:gsI Aid ~ Inc. 14165 E Colonial Dr. St. I·A. 0rlI0d0. A lU16, MaiIma 4dl!laJ Fl'LAO. P 0 801l66().lS7. C1Ilduola. FL J17e6 Fl'LP iJ • Non Profit pIIhlicalion Ollihe flarida prison ODd criminal juRice 1)'1_ wilh the scaJ er ptO\'i4ing a vdUde fer I1GW1, infetmllillll ODd ""o,"ce. atrcai"3 pnlOllal, their r&milia, friend. ODd leved ....... ODd lhe Smcral public ef FloricIa ODd the U 5 Iledl<ction ef crilllt ODd recidivism. mainlen&ncc ef ramily tiea. ciW riB/lU. improvina condibclII or conlinanonllllll oppot\Iltlitla. promlltial;j ~ -n _ fer priJonon. IlId ptOnlOling lC<CWlIOIIiliry or pnJCll cfticiaIs. ..., aD iJJua Fl'LP iJ daisnod Ie ..r.ltcu The inl'omwion in Fl'LP cIocs ~ IlOCaIlrily rdlcct the cPnionJ or lhe voIwu... sulI' I'IIbIicaticll ef F1'LP i. _ polliblc by You. lhe lad.. ODd Illppon... IbtOllsh IIIllJcription ODd scmtlI donations RcqucIled donalion. r.. a eM ycao I41bscriplion are SS.pt1IOl1Cf1, SIOoI'Tec citiun. S2S·illllitulions Of busit&asa Fl'LP radon ODd Illppott<n are irMted 10 COltIrihuIe "'ida. _ inl'1ltJ1lI1ion. lOll JUBgeRions rar pouillle pubticaIion SubJcriplion dona1ionJ wiD be actnowlodgcd by tho Ill!>Jcribcr's nuipl or· tho CIIm:llt w...e or FPLP FPLP'. nonIl1cmcy voIunt... sulI' ClIIII<I respond Ie oequa&.1'ot IcgaIllIvice Duo volumt ef mail and.wr IimiwionJ III cotrCJlIClDCIal ClllllCl be responded 10, tul all nwI docJ recci.. individual foa...u.a '0 IltetUion Pcrmiuicn i. ann'ed 10 reprint mllcrid in FPLP pr"';dcd FPI.P and any indicaled au""'• .,. identified in the rqmnt NonCE The information in this publiClltion provides news and opimon from variClus sources and milY IIClt JlflIvide sulTleicnt information to deal with a legal problem. Neither lhe I!ublisher. nor slillT. WlIm1nlS or rep.resenlS the SUililbilily of the informillion in this publieillion for IRstitullng any legal actiCln. An aUClmey or other knowlcageable jlCrson in II disputed area should be consulted for experience in legal areas. This publiClltion should not be relied on as authClnlallve clliltlon. Page 2 that the Federal Drug Administration had declared nicotine an addictive drug, the same as heroin or cocaine. After reading a lot of the current information on the negative effects of smoking and . the medical position that nicotine addiction often requires medical treatment to successfully quit, Waugh thought if he had access to some type of cessation aide like nicotine patches or gum he could finally quit. But that was not to be. The prison where Waugh was did not sell tQbacco cessation aides. no prison in Florida does, although they do make a killing selling millions of dollars worth of tobacco to prisoners every year. Nor was Waugh allowed to have someone on the outside purchase and send him nicotine patches or gum so that he could try to quit, Florida prisoners are strictly prohibited from receiving any medical assistance from the outside, even when they offer to pay for it themselves. Waugh, reaYlzing that he was truly addicted to nicotine, and that it was not as simple as the FDOC medical staff claimed, continued trying to get help to quit smoking. The only avenue open to him at that point was to pursue help througl\c-the ..pRson grievance procedures. Waugh hoped to reach someone in the FDOC bureaucracy who was familiar with the same widespread reports on nicotine addiction. However, even though Waugh referred to his sources of information in his grievances, they were denied and when he appealed to the Chief Medical Officer of the FDOC in Tallahassee he was also denied help there. The responses to Waugh's grievances and appeals maintained essentially what the first doctor had told him: that nicotine isn't addictive and that he n:tight as well quit on his own ~ause the state will not provide him any medical assistance in the form of nicoline cessation aides, nor allow him to obtain them from anywhere else. Crucially, the FDOC did not provide treatment for nicotine addiction in any manner. Waugh did get something from his grievances. After filing them Waugh found himself singled out by prison of- F.P.L.P. VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4 ficials for a fabricated disciplinary ac- free to quit cold turkey." Assistant Attorney General (AAG) tion. And in March 1995 Waugh was suddenly transferred from the medium Donna LaPlante continued on in the security work camp to a higher security motion to dismiss to assert that the major prison, Columbia Correctional, "[d]efendants are not responsible for reputedly the worse managed prison in [Waugh'S] decision to purchase Florida. cigarettes any more than they would be Reluctantly, after failing to get any- responsible for [him] buying a candy one's attention in the FDOC that viewed bar at the canteen." The motion to disnicotine addiction in the same light as miss also stated that Waugh "is in no the federal government, during July way entitled to medical intervention to 1995 Waugh filed a civil rights com- 'cure' a habit which [he] himself continplaint in the federal district court in ues to indulge, and over which [he] has Jacksonville, Florida. Waugh claimed ultimate control." that prison officials were being The court, however, refused to ac"deliberately indifferent" to his serious cept that simple an argument and for the medical need to kick his nicotine addic- next year and a half Tom Waugh contion. He was not seeking any money, he tinued to litigate back and forth against only wanted the FDOC to furnish or the state which tried every tactic in the make available for sell to prisoners book (and some out of the book) to proven nicotine cessation aides-or as a have his case thrown out of court. last resort, for the FDOC to establish The state even attempted to persmoking and non-smoking prisons. suade federal Judge Harvey Schlesinger There was U.S. Supreme Court case that Waugh had access to sufficient law in support of Waugh's claims. That smoking cessation aides provided by court had held in 1976 that prison the FDOC-written booklets about the officials could not be "deliberately in- effects of smoking and the medical different" to the serious medical needs need to quit. Unfortunately, for. the of prisoners in the case Estelle v. Gam- state, upon closer examination those ble. As recent as 1993, in another booklets all stated that c!=ssation aides lankmark case. Helling v. McKinney, such as nicotine patches are an essential the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled part of treatment for nicotine addicthat exposing non-smOking prisoners tion. The state was embarrassed. but to second-hand smoke of other pris- simply ignored the inconsistency and oners, because of the serious medical kept plowing blindly on. After all it was consequences associated with what is just a prisoner who had filed the suit, termed Environmental Tobacco Smoke who was the court suppose to believe? (ETS), violated the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution's ban on cruel State V. Big Tobacco and unusual punishment. Nicotine Highly Addictive Attorneys from the State Attorney Ironically, at the same time that Tom' General's (AG) office were assigned to Waugh was preparing and litigating his represent the FDOC in Waugh's largely unknown case against the state, lawsuit. Those attorneys, under AG another lawsuit concerning tobacco and Bob Butterworth, responded to Waugh's. its effects that would gamer state and legal action by trying to have it dis- nation-wide attention was being premissed. The state asserted that the pared. That case was the State of FDOC was not deliberately indifferent Florida's case against the major tobacco to Waugh's serious medical needs, and companies seeking to recover alleged while supporting the position that Medicaid costs that the state had Waugh received in his prison expended in providing medical care for grievances, these attorneys maintained smoking related illnesses to Medicaid that: "If [Waugh] feels that he is ad- patients. dicted to nicotine, and that this is a The state, through AG Bob Butterserious medical condition, he is always worth and the state legislature, had been Page 3 planning for years to sue the tobacco companies under the claim that they were addicting people to nicotine and then leaving the state to pick up the tab when these· people became sick with tobacco-related diseases. A key to the state's legal strategy was to change Florida law to make it easier for the tobacco companies to be sued and harder for them to defend themselves. To achieve that goal, in 1990 the legislature, with the guidance of Bob Butterworth. amended its Medicaid Third-Party Liability Act. Then in 1994, as tobacco became big news all over the' country, the Act was amended again. This was done to virtually assure that the state could not lose when it sued the tobacco industry (or any other industry) to recoup claimed Medicaid expenses that amounted to billions, according to the state. These amendments practically rewrote the traditional rules on common law torts in Florida. The amendments abolished the "assumption of risk" defense for industries-the defense that the plaintiff knowingly took the risk and so could not recover damages. The amendments also provided that "causation" no longer had to be specific. Where in ordinary tort cases the plaintiff has to show that the particular defendant caused the plaintiff hann, under the amended Medicaid Act the state (plaintiff) could substitute "statistical analysis" for specific causation. Under the amendment, the state no longer had to identify the actual Medicaid patients it was supposedly trying to recoup medical expenses for, the statute of limitations on bringing such an action were abolished; while liability could be "apportioned" based on "market share" among several different companies; and the state was authorized to obtain attorney fees, if it won, to pay for attorneys outside the AG's office to litigate any such case (probably to avoid sabotage from inside the AG's office with the amount of money involved). The state could not lose under these rules, or so it was F.P.L.P. VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4 thought. was amended upwards to $4 million in another Once Florida had its "laws" in order. that gave the state e\'cl)' advantage. it filed suit in 1995 (the same ycar that Tom Waugh filed his action) against several major tobacco companies, Yet. totally different from the position that the state was taking in Tom Waugh's ease, in the state's lawsuit against the tobacco companies it was claimed that "cigarettes .,. contain nicotine. a highly addictive substance." and that "the [tobacco companies] know of the difficulties that smokers experience in quitting smoking and of the tendency of addicted individuals to focus on any rationalization to justify their continued smoking." The state's lawsuit assened that "nicotine addiction is similar to the additions of illegal drugs such as heroin. cocaine. and amphetamines." and that the "addictive nature of nicotine in cigarettes virtually extinguishes personal choice in those who become addicted," In a planned campaign in support of the state's lawsuit against the tobacco companies, after the action was filed. Florida's Governor. Lawton Chiles. and Attorney General. Bob Butterworth. were notable for leading the public media blitz designed to obtain and keep public support for the state's position. Governor Chiles and AG BUllenvorth were both in the news frequently denouncing the tobacco companies and railing about how they knowingly addicted smokers, targeted minors, and lied about nicotine addiction and the serious health effects of smoking. Bob, Butterworth was seen on national 'IV almost ·crying while he wondered how many'lives would have been saved if the tobacco industry had not lied to smokers about the dangers of tobacco. The state's lawsuit proceeded from 1995 until early 1997 with the state appearing to have a hands-down win of the case that was scheduled for trial in August of 1997. in-house memorandum sent to the FDOels legislative director on March 1/.1998.) This was too much for some state lawmakers. Bills were filed in both the state Senate and House during 1997 to completely ban tobacco inside Florida's prisons. These bills would have imposed a ban 'on prisoners-and staff, which was a mistake. The inclusion of staff in the prison tobacco ban bills sparked a firestorm, ' Upon announcement that the prison tabacco ban would also affect FDOC staff an explosion of opposition erupted during the 1997 legislative session. Instead of focusing on the fact that many correctional officers would quit the department rather than give up the butts (and where there is an approximate 33 percent turn-over rate of department staff already) a smokescreen was decided on and the emphasis was shifted ol)to an alleged "security threat" that prisoners would present ifsuch a ban was adopted. Organized cadres of correctional officers, supported by the FOOC central office and the Police Benevolent Association (a union that represents many correctional officers in Florida). rallied in the capitol in protest of the prison tobacco ban. These rank-and-file correctional officers loudly decried that such a ban would cause riots and increased assaults on officers by prisoners. FDOC spokeswoman, Kerry Flack. was quoted in the mainstream news media as Saying."lf you prolil6it' cigarettes, \hey become contraband, then become the drug of choice. Then officers are assaulled by frustrated inmates." FDOC sergeant S.D. Williams told the legislature, "If you take these cigarenes away... you're going to have officers going 10 tbe hospital in large numbers," and that they should have they ambulances ready on the day ban becomes effective. But no evidence was ever offered that would support Using Tobacco to Control At the swne time that the ~~e was suing any of these spurious claims. In fact, the the tobacco companies for selling cigarettes, statistics showed the exact opposite. Several addicting people to nicotine, lying about states have banned tobacco in their prison nicotine not being addictive. targeting minors. systems with the only problem being blackand even engaging in a RICO orgl11lized type markets operated by prison staff. Most county• crime violation. while leaving the taxpayers to jails in Flonda have banned lobacco and it pay the costs. out of the public's eye the state has caused very few problems among itself was also buying millions ofdollars worth prisoners. of tobacco from the tobacco companies and Another reason for the FDOC's.opposition selling it to Floridians-who just happened to be to banning tobacco in the prisons did become apparent, however, when a spokeswoman for prisoners. According to a 1997 legislative report, an Governor Lawton Chiles. Karen Pankowski, estimated 75% of Florida's prison population defended the state selling prisoners tobacco are tobacco smokers, and presumably addicted in a news release. "We know that cigarettes to nicotine. In an in-house report compiled are one way 10 help control the prison populaby the FDOCs Office of Health Services, tion. Taking them away would create one less dated February 25, 1997, it was estimated that tool corrections officers have in guarding our the potential per-year health care costs related prisons." said Pankowski. to tobacco use in prison has been "exceeding 2 And then there are the economics involved. million dollars for some time." (This estimate In the 1995-96 fiscal year the FDOC pur- Page 4 chased more than $S million worth of tobacco products for resell to prisoners. Gross sales of tobacco to Florida prisoners during 1996 alone totaled $7,592,712. Tobacco is the biggest selling item sold in the prison canteens. according to FDOC sources. The scare tactics and economic realities worked. The legislature. especialiy overwhelmed by the vociferous response from the moe. shelved the prison tobacco ban bills during 1997 for reconsideration in 1998 with the ban on staff use oftobacco removed. It is notable that those bills did provide that when tobacco was eliminated in the prisons that a smoking cessation program would have been offered. but according to an April II, 1997. legislative committee report that program would only have consisted of pamphlets. reports. and training aides. The bills did not suggest that the FDOC would provide nicotine patches or medication when the ban was imposed. Joe Camelis a COD Meanwhile, back in the state's suit against the tobacco companies. in March 1997 the state's litigation team was shocked when the tobacco companies filed a counterclaim against the state. The counterclaim alleged that the state had engaged in the same conduct alleged against the tobacco firms manufacturing tobacco, addicting people. and leaving taxpayers to pick up the tab. ~ Tobacco attorneys were allowed to introduce1flreiiiifelltalfon that from 1935 until 1979 the State of Florida. through its Department of Corrections. had manufactured. distributed. sold. and even provided free tobacco and cigarettes to both adult and juvenile offenders in state facilities. Even though it is illegal to give or seU cigarettes to minors in Florida. the tobacco companies produced a 1993 memo showing that the state had spent taxpayer monies to buy cigarettes from a private company for distribution to juvenile detainees. Numerous Florida prisoners. including the author of this anicle. provided depositions detailing the history and practices of the FDOC in providing free tobacco and cigarettes to prisoners up until 1979. Documentation introduced by attorneys for the tobacco companies showed that between 1972 and 1980 the state of Florida spent more than $500.000 a year in taxpayer monies on free cigarettes for prisoners. Some of the deposed prisoners who had received the free tobacco and cigarettes had indicted that further digging would reveal kickbacks to prison officials from the tobacco suppliers. many of whom were North Florida tobacco growers. which may have been one real reason for the free cigarettes. The mainstream news media carried headlines stating. ~State Secret: Prison Made Cigarettes." The state was embarrassed as its o •. F.P.L.P. VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4 case started going up in smoke. Just three months later. in June 1997. the attorneys for the tobacco companies staged another coup against the state's position. The tobacco attorneys had discovered Tom Waugh's lawsuit. In Waugh's case the state was claiming that nicotine is not addictive and is a personal choice over which Waugh "has ullimate control," Yet in the state's case against the tobacco industry the total opposite was being claimed-that tobacco is so addictive it "virtually extinguishes personal choice in those who become addicted." The mainstream news media headlines blared "State Accused of Double Talk." A spokesman for AG Bob Butterworth. Peter Antonacci, was left to try to explain the apparent hypocrisy. ~We're in an uncomfortable position here beeause we're in the middle." Antonacci said. The state was so embarrassed by this tum of events that it was forced to settle its case against the tobacco companies for SI1.3 billion in August 1997 rather than take the case to a jury trial. gain time, plus make him pay all the costs oflhe action. This also did not dissuade Waugh. (AAG Cecilia Bradley later vehemently denied having made that offer or threat when it came up during a deposition.) During late June 1997 Waugh was asked to give another newspaper interview. Overnight that interview was reponed in newspapers and Waugh'S case was widely publicized. Again AG Butterworth's spokesman. Peter Antonacci. went into spin-control mode when asked about the inconsistencies between Waugh's case and the Slate's case against the tobacco companies. Antonacci was forced to admit, however. that the prison doctor who responded to Waugh's prison grievance ~very carelessly and haphazardly said cigarettes are not addictive." Neither Antonacci. nor other state officials. carcd to explain why that doctor's ~eareless and haphazard" response had been upheld though all levels of the grievance process, or why it had been defended by attorneys from Bob Butterworth's office for the previous two years that Tom Waugh had been fighting single-handedly. and without much legal experience, just to keep FDOC Litigation Tactics: his case alive. In fact, no one ever explained why the attorneys general's office continued But what was happening with Tom Waugh gathering affidavits from FDOC officials for use while all these big money power moves were in Waugh's case which stated that nicotine is not being made between the state and the tobacco addictive. companies? On June 2. 1997. reporters from the Capitol News Services interviewed Waugh Dream Team Shatters Defense for a,television story about tht; inconsistencies As usual with any prisoner litigation in in the state's position in his case as opposed to Florida. once the state's attorneys realized Ihal the position being taken in the Medicaid case. Tom Waugh could not be bribed or intimidated Three days later Waugh was asked to give a into dropping his suit. they begin to inundate deposition for the tobacco companies against him with complicated. and largel)' frivolous. the state. legal proceedings designed to bog him down in One week after Waugh give that deposi- a furious flow or paperwork that he would not tion an alleged institution-wide search was be able to respond to and procedural deadlines conducted at Columbia Correctional Institu- that he would not be able to meet. This tactic is tion. Drug sniffing dogs were brought into the designed to afford the state a procedural default. institution and were taken directly to Tom leading to dismissal ofthe case. Waugh's cell. According to the officers in In particular. the state filed several motions charge, the dogs "alerted~ to drugs in Waugh's for summary judgment trying to out-litigate cell and a search was conducted but no drugs Waugh. Without much legal experience. could be found. This did not deter prison Waugh. nevertheless. managed to keep up with officials. Tom Waugh. along with approxi- and actually defeat the best efforts of the state's mately 25 other prisoners whose cells the dogs attorneys. But. he was beginning to tire. . also supposedly "alerted" in (so. Waugh could A trial had originally been set in Waugh's not say he was being singled out apparently) case for August of 1997. Yet. the state wasn't were handcuffed and temporarily held in con- quite ready and had the trial postponed. The finement and subjected to a ~for cause" urinal- state was working on refining its defense with ysis test. Only one of the 25 tested positive for the position that since Waugh was claiming to drugs. and Tom Waugh had to be released. have an addiction that the FDOC had numerous About that same time. one of the state's substance abuse programs to address his probattorneys. Cecilia Bradley. interviewed lem. The state asserted that groups like A.A.. Waugh and 'otTered him a transfer to a "better" N.A.. Tier groups. Wellness groups. and surprison-if he would drop his case against the prise. a brand new nicotine addiction program. state for nicotine cessation aides. Waugh de- "Fresh Start." is all prisoners need to kick nicoclined that "generous" offer. Bradley's re- tine. The Fresh Start program was implemented sponse was to inform Waugh that if he did not in a direct response to Tom Waugh's lawsuit in voluntarily dismiss the case that the state October 1997. The program consists of 4 one would seek to forfeit all his previously earned hour meetings with a FDOC recreation coach Page 5 who received one hour of video training in how to give the course. No nicotine cessation aides are available in the course. although they are recommended by the course materials distributed to prisoners. Now the state was ready to take Waugh to trial. He would be overwhelmed with FODC "experts" testifYing that nicotine is not addictive, that he would have no way to counter. and the coun would be bombarded with all the substance abuse programs and booklets available to prisoners who want to quit smoking. But. the state had delayed too long. Tom Waugh was contacted in November 1997 by a trio of Jacksonville attorneys. George Shultz. Scott Maker. and Patricia Sher. from the law finn of Holland and Knight. The judge had asked them to represent Waugh. The state's attorneys were stunned. Tom Waugh had a dream team that few prisoners could ever hope for in a prison conditions case. Within weeks of taking the case. Waugh's. allorneys placed the stale firmly back on the defensive. During August Waugh had introduced the state's case against the tobacco com· panies into his lawsuit. His attorneys developed that imponant move by obtaining copies of many of the discovery documents that were tiled in the state's case. This included depositions from FOOC officials that were taken after the tobacco companies exposed that the state had manufactured, sold. and provided free tobacco and cigarettes to adult and juvenile prisoner~ for decades. The state and FODC begin scrambling like rats in one of the old Florida State Prison tobacco warehouses. When Waugh's attorneys pointed out that many of the counselors of the FOOe's substance abuse programs were smokers themselves an emergency memo went oul January 20th to the program contractors informing them that substance abuse coun· selors are prohibited from using tobacco inside the prisons. By February 1998, Waugh's attorneys had forced the state to partially admit. through discovery interrogatories and admissions based on the state's Case against the tobacco companies. that the state believes that nicotine is addictive. The state was also, forced to admit that nicotine addiction is similar to addictions to drugs such a heroin. cocaine. and'amphetamines. Also admitted was that Florida prisoners have experienced prema· ture deaths related to tobacco; that nicotine virtually extinguishes personal choice in those addicted to it; that the FODC continues to sell cigarettes to prisoners; and that in the past the FODC (a state agency) manufactured. assembled. and engaged in the production of high tar and nicotine cigarettes. The FOOC. through its barely competent attomeys. retrenched in the old blanket that it throws up whenever backed into a cornersecurity. Mendaciously it was claimed that F.P.L.P. VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4 nicotine cessation aides would be a very dangerous security threat if provided to prisoners. The state objected to nicotine gum on the fairly reasonable ground that it could be used to foul up locks inside the prisons. But the only "threat" they could come up with concerning nicotine patches was that they could be used to "inject" illegal drugs like heroin and cocaine. The state claimed that medication like Zyban could be "checked" by prisoners and then sold on a black-market. Each of those claims were picked apart by Waugh's dream team. The "security threat" defense was further eroded when Waugh's attorneys produced the results of a study showing that 30 other states make nicotine patches available to prisoners. Of those states. 13 allow prisoners to purchase nicotine patches in the commissaryl canteen. and 13 states provide medication (Zyban) in conjunction with nicotine patches. No states had reponed a security problem with nicotine patches or nicotine therapy medication. During the first weeks of February new depositions were taken of FOOC security and medical officials. Top FOOC medical officials tried to straight-face claim that they do not believe nicotine is addictive. nor believe that nicotine cessation aides have been shown to work. Exhibited was an almost complete ignorance of current medical standards as regards nicotine cessation. In late February Waugh's ~t1orneys announced that they intended to' present Dr. David P.L. Sachs as an expert witness f,or Waugh. Dr. Sachs is a nationally recognized respiratory research scientist and director of the Palo Alto Center for Pulmonary Disease Prevention located in California. 111 connection with his extensive research. Dr. Sachs has done numerous well respected studies on tobacco's effects and nicotine treatment. He served as a consultant to fonner U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, and 'currently is also an attending physician at the Stanford University Chest Clinic that specializes in pulmonary medicine. A deposition was taken from Dr. Sachs on February 26. 1998, which proved devastating to the state's position. In that Ueposition Dr. Sachs testified as to his extensive research concerning tobacco and nicotin~ which had started as early as 1976. In a prior examination of Tom Waugh. Dr. Sachs had diagnosed Waugh as having chronic bronchitis related to smoking. Other points made by Dr. Sachs included: • That scientific data consistently shows that use ofnicotine cessation aides doubles and triples the chance of quitting smoking and staying stopped. • According to studies, only between 2 and 5 percent o( people are able to quit c'old turkey and stay off nicotine for a year. • The current standards of medical care adopted by the U.S. Department of Health and the American Medical Association accepts that nicotine cessation aides are a necessary component of treatment for nicotine addiction. Within a week of Dr. Sachs deposition being taken the state began offering suggestions for a settlement of the case. Two FODC polie)' bulletins were produced: Health Services Bulletin 15.03.35 (Effective date 3/5/98). and Education and Job Training Bulletin 98-0.1 (Effective date 312198). Both these bulletins establish a policy for the implementation of a tobacco cessation program for prisoners. including nicotine cessation aides. Essentially. the program requires a prisoner wishing to quit using tobacco to participate in the Fresh Start course. Upon completion of Fresh.start if the prisoner has not quit tobacco he may request a referral to a Tier 2 program that has been modified to include nicotine cessation. If after two months in Tier 2 the prisoner still requires additional cessation assistance he will be referred to Health Services which may prescribe nicotine patch treatment. In Tom Waugh's situation, however, the state was trying to get him to agree to being placed in the prison medical clinic before. he could receive nicotine patches. The state also did not want to give Waugh Zyban in conjunction with the patches. Both of those issues were not acceptable to Waugh or his anorneys. The state maintained that these issues were not negotiable and the case proceeded to trial on May 4. 1998. A Battle Won After only one day of trial with Dr Sach's on the stand the slate and FOOC gave up. On the morning of May Sth FODe officials BAd their attorneys appeared in court almost frantic to settle the case. Dver the next nine hours of settlement discussions Florida's governor, Lawton Chiles, was personally called twice to approve parts of the settlement. At the end of the discussions, Tom Waugh had got what he had sued for. The settlement agreement provides, in pertinent pan. that: • The FDOC admits that Tom Waugh's nicotine addiction co.nstitutes a serious medical condition. • The FDOC shall provide Tom Waugh with an examination by a neurologist and pulmonologist that meets his approval•• • Unless not recommended by such Page 6 medical professionals, Waugh will be J)Tescribed Zyban and nicotine patches. • Waugh will have to participate in the Tier II Two-Month Core Program and live in a smoke-free dormitory during patch therapy treatment. • Waugh's attorneys agreed to waive in excess of $250,000 in attorney fees (they were not after money). • And, the FDOC will pay Waugh's costs and expenses of$65,OOO. the Side Lines A prison tobacco ban bill was again introduced in both the Florida House and Senate during this 1998 session. Unlike the 1997 bills. these bills would have allowed correctional staff to smoke and use tobacco inside the prisons. There was absolutely no claims from the FDOC this time that banning tobacco would create a security risk from prisoners. The House passed its bill but the Senate failed to pass theirs, thus killing the issue for another On year. The 1998 legislative session did vote overwhelmingly to repeal the Medicaid Thirdpany Liability Act. legislators said it had served ;t's purpose with the tobacco companies' settleJ1lent. Controversy continues to surround that settlement where the state has refused to pay the 12 private attorneys who represented the state an agreed upon 25% of what was recovered. Asenate ethics panel lead by state senator "Gangbang" Charlie Crist has largely been unsuccessful in investigating the negotiations involved in the tobacco settlement. A federal grand jury in Tallahassee is also looking into Governor Lawton Chile's and AG Bob Butterworth's involvement in the tobacco settlement and alleged renege on the lawyers' fee contract. During May. the governor's former chief inspector general. Harold Lewis, refused to answer any questions put to him by that grand jury. pleading the Fifth Amendment right against self·incrimination I 18 times during questioning. It h~ been implied that AG Bob Butterworth never intended that the private attorneys would receive the agreed upon attorney fees. Business as usual. ·BOB POSEY. LITERATURE REVIEW Death Penalty/Criminal Justice Frontiers of Justice, Volume 1: The Death Penalty; Volume 2: Coddling or F.P.L.P. VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4 Common Sense? is an appeal to those that want to punish, Edited by Claudia Whitman. Julie Zim- inflict pain and demonize. Only a demamerman & Tekia Miller gogue would claim that coddling occurs." Biddle Publishing (1997-98) The authors in this collection include ! professionals in law, law enforcement and As the professed War on Crime in corrections, from volunteers and advoAmerica continues little in the way of cates to crime victims and offenders themeffective stategies to reduce crime has selves. This anthology explores how sociemerged. Instead. capital punishment and ety has been induced to tum from rational "tough on crime" tactics have increased. programs that have been proven to The crime rates continue to drop as the work to reduce crime and recidivism to incarceration and recidivism rates con- avoid an appearance of "coddling" crimitinue to rise. The United States has the nals. infamous distinction of using capital punAvailable from: Biddle Publishing ishment more than any other industrialized Co.• P.O. Box 1305 #103. Brunswick, ME nation in the world. while also leading the 0401 I. Price: Volume 1 @ SI5.95; Volworld in the use of incarceration and im- ume 2 @ $19.95. Shipping: $2 first book, prisonment. .50 ea add bk. Sales tax (Maine only) 6%. These two volumes are a collection of Send check or money order to Biddle essays from various authors, bringing to- Publishing Co.• gether voices of reason amid the knee-jerk clamor for revenge and retri- Federal Post Conviction bution as the solution to the crime prob- Secret Tools For Post-ConvietioD Relief lem. by Joe Allan Bounds Volume I: The Death Penalty (268 Zone DT Publishing (1998) pgs.), is perhaps the most powerful anthology today representing men and Styled as: "The Manual for Lawyers women of reason and conscience, both the and Post-Conviction Litigants for Preincarcerated and the free, who deplore the vailing on Ineffective Assistance of use of legalized killing to solve America's Counsel Claims, and Methods ofEstabcriminal justice problems. The more lishing 'Cause' for Procedural Default" than 30 authors in this collection have this book covers a large variety of issues all been personally touched in one way or associated with post-conviction relief another by capital punishment. Essays practice. This soft bound volume has 314 are presented by prisoners sentenced to pages with a 13 page table ofcontents. death, their families and their victims' Topics include, but are not limited to: families. by professionals in the areas of Preparing for Post-Conviction Relief; Inlaw, criminal justice, government, reli- effective Assistance of Counsel; Conflict gion, journalism and advocacy. of Interest; Retroactive Application of Volume 2: Coddling or Common Law; and InterveningCharige of Facts. Sense (383 Pgs.). Former U.S. Attorney There are over 400 quick reference General Ramsey Clark intrOduces the subtopics with favorable federal case law tone of the essays in this volume with his citations and synopses. "America's War on Crime." Clark writes: This is primarily a research reference. "Politicians appeal to the worst instincts Available from: Zone DT Publishing. in society"':-fear, hatred, racism, greed. P.O. Box 1462, Allen, TX 75013-0024. They fail to address realistically the Regular Price: $69.95, plus $5.00 S&H. meaning of crime in a society and the Prisoner discounted price: $49.95, plus means of. its prevention. Shouts or' S5.00 S&H. Check or money order 'coddling' criminals ring out from these payable to Zone DT Publishing. Allow political protectors of the people; they rail I-3 weeks for delivery. • against programs which have the potential of providing a safe return from prison to RAINES SETTLEMENT society, sentences that are less than dracoPUBLISHED nian, or failures to seek the death penalty. No society has ever coddled people it calls In the last issue of FPLP was coverage criminals, or the poor from whom most of the U.S. Supreme Court granting certiacharged with crime come. Use of the word ~ Page 7 rari ~view ofa case involving the applica. bilily of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) fO prisons (FPLP. Vol. 4. Iss. 3. ~U.S. S. CT. GRANTS CERTORARI REVIEW OF APPLICABILITY OF ADA TO PRISONS"). ThaI anicle also included some discussion of lhe recent selllemcnt of Raines v. Stare. a class aclion concerning lhe inabilily of disabled Florida prisoners 10 cam gain lime in the same manner as non-disabled prisoners. That discussion noted that a previous opinion in the Raines case had just been released in published (ornt on March 2. 1998. approximafely one year aftcr the opinion was wriuen. At the time that the anicle in rhe last issue of FPLP was writlen the selliement agreement in Raines had nOI ~n published. The last issue of FPI.? had already betn laid out \Ihen the settlement was published and change was not possible. The published selliement agreement appears al; Raines v. Slate. 987 F.Supp. 1416 (N.D. Fla. 1997). It is nOlcd thaI a stipulation in lhe sellicmem provides thltt lhe continued validity of lhe settlement depends on what the U.S. Supreme Coun decides on the issue of whether the ADA applies 10 prisons. Raines, supra at 1420. As noted in the previous anicle. copies of the settlement Ihat were initially placed in the la" libraries .... ere thtn removed in a S)'Slcm-wide "security" raid prevcntmg access to affecled prisoners. A full copy of the senlement is now a\'ailable in published fonn as above.• RULE REVIEW First Amendmcnt TargClcd "Nobody //Iisses tI,e foss oj anotller //lUll ~ Jucdom." -In'ing Stone from rile AgollJ ulld II,e Ecstasy Over the past fe\\ years Florida prisonen have largel) sal unconscious as more and more restrictions have been placed on almosl every gain that was achieved during lhe 60s and 70s. Prisoners have did little but act stunned lind gripe and whine as medical co-paymcrtlS were introduced, as legal copying costs (even for the indigent) were implemented. liS new reslrictions and higher COSIS \Iere placed on the colleel telephones. package permits pro- F.P.L.P. VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4 hibited. personal propeny taken. canteen crearing authority for a three-mem~r prices increased exorbitantly. Not even Non·Conlacr Visiting Team to be aware of .....hal is happening until il is a established at each instilulion "hich will fact. prisoners ha\e obtusely wntched the be allo\\ed to prohibil COnlact visits be· severe reductions in educational programs. tween prisoners and their families and elimination of Inmate Welfare Trust (sic) friends for a variely of vague and arbitrary Fund benefits. reductions in the law li- reasons. Such non-COnlaet visiling will brary collections. incrensed used of sen- become routine and may be imposed and sory depriving confinement (GM). and extended for six monlh periods al a timewholesale denial of due process in disci- indefinilely. plinary proceedings. Instead of devoting themselves 10 leam- Personal Mail Proposed Itules ing how to and legally challenging rules. On May 29. 1998. the FDOC published policies and illegal laws. most prisoners the final rulemaking nOlice to adopt new have been content as long as they don't and amended Routine Mail rules al 33miss "Pinky and the Brain" or the basket- 3.004. F.A.C. These new regularions (Ihat balllfootball game oa TV. Instead of de- may be in effect by the lime you read this) voting every minute. or even a few min- creales severe restrictions and prohibiutes a day. to educating themselves about tions on prisoners' incoming personal what is really happening around them, the mail. In pan, poSlage slamps in letters will majority is content 10 gripe and rumor- be prohibiled. only 5 SASE en\elopes monger while wairing for someone else to may be received through routine mail. no file a grievance or suit 10 challenge or blank greetings cards will be allowed, change excessively onerous. or outright only 5 pages of written or printed material illegal. conditions. Ollter than letters will be allowed per inNow lhis majorily can quielly chew coming envelope. and mail will be reo their cud as their most imponanl rights- jected for non-compliance with any oflhe First Amendment righls·are largeled, and above. their contacl, association and interaction wilh almosl every facet of Ihe outside LegallPrivileged Mail Proposed Rules world is restricted or prohibited. Also on May 29, /998. Ihe FDOC pul>lished a final rulemaking nOlice 10 3dopt New PubliC3tionlDook Rules new Legal and Privileged Mail regulations On May 10. 1998, new FDOC rules and at 33-].005 and 3]-3.0052, F.A.C. policies concerning books and olher publiThe new Legal Mail rules will provide. cations lhat prisoners mayor may not in pan. that indigent prisoners will no possess, and procedures for rejecling. longer receive ;my free postage for legal confiscaring. and tightly controlling pris- mail. Auomeys or the courts will not be oners' access to alrnosl all reading nllller(· allowed 10 send pholographs concerning also became effective al Rule 33-3.012, anything other than il criminal case to a F.A.C. and Policy and Procedure Dirtt- prisoner. Mailroom staffs are encouraged live (pro) 7.01.0 I (EfT. 5-1 J-98). 10 open and read incoming legal mail to In pan. these new regulations provide determine lhat ir does nOl contain that on July I, 1998, nil prisoners may not "anicles or clippings or other written possess more than 4 personal books or materials of a non-legal nalure." Allomeys single copies of any publication. Any- or the couns will not be allowed to inIhing in excess of Ihal limit wilt be clude any non-paper items in Legal Mail. confiscaled as contraband. and prisonen such as plastic brief binders. brief faswill not be allo"ed to personally possess teners. lamiOlllcd objects, paperclips. !!ill: book. including religious or legal, if staples. elc. Prisoners" ill not be allowed a copy of same is in the institutional to fashion custom-made envelopes for librttry collection. The entire rejection mailing odd sized legal mail packages and procedure for incoming reading maleri- will be limited to mailing only what will fit within cantcen sold or law libmry furals has been changed. nished envelopes. Non-Cont3cl Visiling Rules Privileged Mail 10 or from public offiOn June 15, 1998, new FDOC rules cials. govemmenr agencies or the news became effective ar 33-5.0081, F.A.C., (Co-rlUlutd on pag<" f]/ Page 8 NOTABLE CASES by Sheni Johnson and Brian Morris First Amendment Retaliation Claim Heightened Burden Of Proof Standard Struck Down By Supreme Court On May 4. 1998. the U.S. Supreme Cuurt. in a 5-4 decision. allowed the "iron curtain" that is again lowering ~n prisoners' access to the courts to remain open a crack-for now. However. Justice Stevens. writing for the majority. and Justice Kennedy concurring. provided clear directions to Congress that some legislative "welding" on the curtain may be necessary to seal the remaining cracks. For now. the high court has struck down a federal appeal court decision that had held that plaintiflls) must show "clear and convincing evidence" that government officials acted with improper motives to survive a motion to dismiss asserting the defense of qualified immunity. The results of this case am...cts not only prisoners. but every citizen seeking redress for unconstitutional actions taken by government officials for a retaliatory. or discriminato!). purpose. Leonard Crawford-EJ is a prisoner serving a life sentence in the District of Columbia prison system. He is considered a litigious and outspoken prisoner who has liIed several lawsuits during his confinement and is· known for assisting other prisoners with their litigation. Crawlord-EI has also been active in reporting prison conditions to news media reporters and participating in media interviews lor stories about prison conditions. In 1988 Crawford-E I was transferred from a District of Columbia prison to a county jail in Washington State because of overcrowding. He was then moved several more times: Irom the jail 10 a Washington Siale prison. then to a Missouri lacilit)·. back 10 two prisons in the District of Columbia system. and ultimately to the federal prison in Marianna. Florida. In all this moving Crawford-EI had three boxes of personal property. including legal materials. that were transferred separately. When the District of Columbia received the boxes from the Washington State prison. instead of sending them to Crawlord-EI at Marianna. a correctional officer gave the boxes to Crawlord-EI's brother-in-law which resulted in a several month delay in his receiving the boxes. The female correctional officer that gave the F.P.L.P. VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4 boxes to the brother-in-law. however. had the first two claims. but reviewed the First previously demon.strated animus against Amendment retaliation claim en bane. Crawford-EI because of his litigious nature Crawford-E! v, Brinon. 93 F.3d 813 (CA DC and association with the news media. 1996). The en bane appeal court held. pertiFirst Crawford-EI filed a section 1983 nently. that in order to prevail in an action alleging that the correctional officer unconstitutional-motive case. the plaintiffmust had diverted the boxes containing his legal establish that 'motive by clear and convincing materials to interfere with his access to the evidence. The court relied on a prior U.S. courts. After a back-and-forth between the Supreme Court case in making this decision, district court and appeal court. Crawford-EI Harlow VI Fitzgerald. 457 U.S. 800 (1982). then amended his complaint adding two addiCrawford-EI sought certiorari review of the tional claims: a due process claim and a appeal court's decision from the U.S. Supreme claim that the diversion was motivated by Court, which granted same. Crawford-EI v. Britretaliation for his exercise of his First Amend- lml, 117 S.Ct. 245 I (1997). The mlliority of the ment rights. Supreme Court held that the Court of Appeals According to the amended complaint. erred in fashioning a heightened burden of proof Crawford-EI had had previous problems with for unconstitutional motive cases against public the particular correctional officer that later ollicials. The court found that Harlow does not acted to divert his property. In 1986 support the imposition of a heightened burden Crawford-EI had invited a newspaper reporter of proof standard. . to visit him and obtained a visitor application The Supreme Court held that. "Our holding for the reporter. which resulted in a front- in Harlow. which related only to the scope ofan page article on prison overcrowding. The affirmative defense. provides no support for same female officer. Patricia Britton. had been making any change in the nature of the plainthe one to approve the visitor application for till's burden of proving a constitutionaJ violathe reporter. After the newspaper article ap- tion. Nevertheless. the en bane court's ruling peared she allegedly accused Crawford-EI of makes just such a change in the plaintiffs cause tricking her to receive the reporter visit and of action. The court's clear and convincing threatened to make life "as hard for him as evidence requirement applies to the plaintiffs possible." showing of improper intent (a pure issue of Two years later. in 1988. Crawford-EI had fact), not to the separate qualified immunity another run-in with Britton when he com- question whether the official's alleged conduct plained about invasion of privacy and Britton violated clearly established law. which is an allegedly had told him. "You're a prisoner. . 'essentially legal question.... you don't have any rights." Later in 1988. The Supreme Court held that in cases alleging another front-page newspaper article quoted unconstitutional motive the plaintill's allegaCrawford-EI as saying that litigious prison- tions of improper intent have nothing to do with ers had been "handpicked" lor transfer to whether a defendant is entitled to qualified imWashington State so prisoner lawsuils "will be munity. The former is an "issue of fact" while dismissed on procedural grounds," Britton qualified immunity is a "'egal issue" depending then had .allegedly referred to Crawford-E1 as on what law has been previously established. a troublemaker. Therelore. consideration of plaintiffs improper The district coun dismissed the amended intent allegations is improper in considering complaint. granting defendant's motion to dis- whether a delendant is entitled to qualified immiss -asserting qualilied immunity; because munity. the court access and due process claims were The catch inserted by the Supreme Coun in "'egall)' insufficient." The First Amendment both the majority opinion and in Justice retaliation claim was dismissed because it did Kennedy's concurring opinion. is the result of not allege "direct evidence of unconstitutional this having been a prisoner's case. The court motive." This last dismissal was based on expresses sympathy for the heightened standard prior Coun of Appeals' decisions from that attempted by the appeal coun. but opines that if jurisdiction that had held "allegations of such a heightened standard is necessary to procircumstantial evidence of such a motivation tect officials from prisoners' actions for dam[are] insufficient to withstand a motion to ages then Congress should "respond (with) dismiss." future legislation." Justice Kennedy echoes that Crawford-EI appealed the dismissal and suggestion in his concurring opinion. See: the appeal coun affirmed the dismissal of Crawford-EI v. Britton. 118 S.C!. 1584.11 . Page 9 FLW Fed. S505(1998). Two Certified Questions Arise From Claim For Credit Time Served In January. 1996. Stuart Michael Vanderblomen was sentenced on four second degree felony convictions to four concurrent four year prison tenns. The record renects that the sentencing court only allowed Van· derblomen credit for presentence jail time on one of the four concurrent sentences. Vandetb\omen filed a Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.800<a) Motion containing sworn allegations that his sentences were illegal because the sentencing court had failed to allow presentence jail time credit on three of his four concurrent sentences. The sentencing court summarily. denied Vanderblomen's Rule 3.800(a) motion and an appeal was taken to the First DCA. In a well articulated opinion addressing the "History of JaiVPrison Credit Claims Under Rule 3.800(a)." the "History of JaiJlPrison . Credit Claims Under (Rule] 3.850." and the "Postconviction JaiVPrison Credit Claims Af· ter July 1995." the First DCA certified two questions ofgreat public importance: I) "DOES THE DEFINITJON OF AN 'ILLEGAL' SENTENGE SET FORTH IN KING ,: STATE. 682 SO.2D 1136 (FLA. /996), DAVIS V. STATE. 661 SO.2D 1193 (FLA. 1995). AND STATE ,~ CALLAWAt', 658 SO.2D 983 (FLA. 1995). PRECLUDE CLAIMS FOR ADDITIONAL PRESENTENCING JAIL OR PRISON CREDIT FROM BEING RAISED IN 3.800(a) MOTIONS UN· LESS THE DENIAL OF THE CLAIMED CREDIT RESULTS IN A SENTENCE BE· raND THE STATUTORr MAXIMUM FOR THE PARTICULAR OFFENSE?" and 2) "DOES THE, DEFINITID!'; OF AN 'ILLEGAL' SENTENCE SET FORTH IN KING 1'. STATE. 681 SO.2D 1136 (FLA. 1996), DAI'IS 1'. STATE, 661 SO.2D 1/93 (FLA. 1995), AND STATE I: CALUWAI: 658 SO.2D 983 (FLA. 1995). PRECLUDE CLAIMS FOR ADDITIONAL PRESENTENCEJAIL OR PRiSm' CREDIT FROM BEING RAISED IN 3.850 MOTIONS, WHEN THE DENIAL OF THE CLAIMED CREDIT HAS NOT RESULTED IN A SENTENCE BEro"'D THE STATUTORr MAXIMUM FOR A PARTICULAR OFFENSE. BECAUSE SUCH CLAIMS COULD OR SHOULD HArE BEEN RAISED ON DIRECT APPEAL. .. Finding Vanderblomen's Rule 3.800(a) motion was sworn to and filed within two years of the sentences becoming final. the First DCA "reversed in part. and remanded with directions" holding that "the trial court erred in F.P.L.P. VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4 failing to treat Vanderblomen's sworn motion filed within two years of the finality of his convictions and sentences as a motion filed pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850." See: Vanderblomen v. State. _ So.2d _ . 23 FLW 0795 (Fla 1st DCA 3/24/98). Claim for Credit Time Served May be Raised In Rule 3.800 Motion Joseph Sal Mancino filed a 'rule 3.800(a) motion seeking the award of pre-sentence jail time credit he was legally entitled. The Circuit Court for Pinellas County denied relief on the basis that "the motion is not cognizable under rule 3.800 and must be raised in a motion filed pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850." Mancino ~. 693 So.2d 73 (PIa. 2d DCA 1997). On appeal. however. the Second DCA reversed and remanded citing Swyck v. State, 693 So.2d 618 (Fla. 2d DCA 1997), for the proposition that it has "consistently held that rule 3.800 is a proper vehicle for raising a credit time served issue where jail credit can be detennined from the face of the records." M!m: £i!m. 693 So.2d 73. In reversing the order of denial. the Second DCA directed "the trial court to consider the merits of Mancino's motion." Id. Even better. recognizing that its deci· sion was not consistent with the majority of appellate court decisions, the Second DCA certified conflict with the decision entered in Berry v. State. 684 So.2d 239 (Pia. 1st DCA 1996): Sullivan v. State. 674 So.2d 214 (Fla. 4th DCA 1996): and Chaney v. Stale. 678 So.2d 880 (Fla. 5th DCA 1996). Significantly. on June II. 1998. the Florida Supreme Court responded to the certified conflict and. in the process. provided some long overdue clarification on this troubling issue by. among other things. stating: "As is evident from our reCent holding in Hopping {v. State. 708 So.2d 263 (Fla.1998)], we have rejected the contention Ihat our holding in Davis {v. State. 661 So.2d /193 (Fla.1995),l mandates that on(v those sentences that facially exceed the statutory ma.ximums may be challenged under rule 3.800(a) as illegal." The Supreme Court. approved the Second DCA's decision entered in Mancino and expressly acknowledged that. "(a)s noted by Judge Altenbemd in Chojnowski {". State. 705 So.2d 915. 918 (Fla. 2d DCA 1997)). since a delendant is entitled to credit time served as a mailer of law. 'common laimess' if not due process. requires that the State concede its error and correct the sentence 'at any time:" Ultimately. the Supreme Court held that "credit .time issues are cognil.Bble in a rule 3.800 motion when it is allirmatively alleged that the court records demonstrate on their face an entitlement to reliet:" See: State v. Mancino. So.2d - ' 23 FLW S301 (Fla. 5111/98). Legislature's Unreasonable Restriction on Scope or Standard of Appellate Review Violates Constitutional Separation of Powers Jonathan Denson took an appeal from his sentences imposed on January 2. 1997. in four different criminal case numbers. On appeal. Denson's attorney presented three issues. only one of which had been preserved .for appellate review. The Second DCA affinned the trial court's ruling on the preserved issue but. in a well articulated opinion. reversed and remanded for re-seiltencing on the two unpreserved issues because the DCA found those un preserved issues presented "serious, patent sentencing errors." The two unpreserved issues that the DCA found· to warrant reversal were: I) That the trial court imposed unauthorized habitual offender sentences, and 2) that the written sentence differed from the orally pronounced sentence. The appellate court's analysis found that "there is no legal authority pennitting a ten·year tenn of imprisonment or a habitual offender sentence for the third-degree felony of possession of cocaine." and that "the fiveyear increase in the tenn of imprisonment in the written sentence clearly violates the rule that the written sentence must conform to the oral pronouncemenl." ~-Significantly, the Court addressed the statutory amendment affecting ·its '~urisdietion and scope of review" contained in section 924.051(3). Florida Statutes (Supp. 1996). which was enacted as part of the Criminal Appeal Refonn Act. Section 924.051(3) states: An appeal may nol be taken from ajudgment or order ofa Irial courl unless a prejudi· cia! error is alleged and is properly preserved or, if nol properly preserved, would constitute fundamental error. A judgmenl or sentence may be reversed on appeal only when an appellale cOllrl delermines after a review of Ihe complele record that prejudicial error occurred and was properly preserved in Ihe trial court or. if nOI properly preserved, would conslilute fundamenlal error. The Second DCA "read the first sentence as an elTort to restrict (its) jurisdiction over the case. An appeal 'may not be taken: i.e.. the appellate court has no jurisdiction to hear an appeal. unless a prejudicial error is either preserved or is fundamental." The Court then found that "(t)he second sentence attempts to restrict either (Its) scope of review or Eits) standard of review because ... the legislature is lillempting to prohibit the court from reversing a sentence on an issue concerning a prejudicial Page 10 error that is neither preserved nor fundamental;R The Coun discusses the legislature's use of the words "fundamental erro~ and notes that Rthere is little question that 'fundamental error' for purposes of the Criminal Appeal Reform Act is a narrower species' of error than some of the errors previously described as fundamental in case law. R Finding that the newly revised appellate rules penaining to sentencing errors h!lve not been fully delineated. the Court notes that Rthere is a real risk that serious sentencing errors. raising significant due process concems. may not be corrected or may not be corrected in time 10 provide meaningful relief to a prisoner tiling pro se motions if they cannot be corrected with the assistance of Counsel on direct appeal." The Court concluded that under separation of powers. "the legislature is not authorized to restrict [its] scope or standard of review in an unreasonable manner that eliminates [its] judicial discretion to order the correction of illegal sentences and other serious. patent sentencing errors." Noting thai its "power to address these issues is not clear and presents an issue of great public imporlance." the Court certified the folloWing questions to the Supreme Court ofFlorida: I. IF A DISTRICT COURT HAS JURISDICTION TO REI'IEW A CRIMINAL APPEAL PURSUANT TO SECTION 924.051. FLORIDA STATUTES (SUPP. 1996), DOES IT HA VE DISCRETION TO ORDER THE TRIAL COURT TO CORRECT AN UNPRESERVED ILLEGAL SENTENCE? 2. IF A DISTRICTCOURT HAS JURISDICTION TO REVIEW A CRIMINAL APPEAL PURSUANT TO SECTION 924.051. FLORIDA STATUTES (SUPP. 1996), MAY IT ORDER THE TRIAL COURT TO CORRECT A WRITTEN SENTENCE IMPOSING A LONGER TERM OF IMPRISONMENT THAN THAT CONTAINED IN THE ORAL PRONOUNCEMENT? Acting Chief Judge Campbell and Judge Green both concurred with the Honorable Judge Altenbemd's well reasoned opinion. Interestingly. there was no dissent. See: Denson v. State. So.2d • 23 FLW DI216 (Fla. 2d DCA 5113/98). Use of Improper Predicate Offense For Habitual Violent Felony Offender Purposes Does Not Render Sentence Illegal On July 14. 1997. Jason Tyrone Speights was sentenced as an habitual violent felony offender (HVFO) to a 22 year prison term for the offense of aggravated battery with great bodily harm. Speights appealed to the First F.P,L.P. VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4 DCA arguing that his sentence is illegal because the State relied on a prior carjacking conviction as the predicate offense for imposition of the HVFO sentence. "Carjacking is not a statutorily listed predicate offense for lin HVFO sentence." Prior to the Criminal Appeal Reform Act of 1996. and prior to the decisions entered in Davis v. State. 661 So.2d 1193 (Fla. 1995). and State v. Callaway. 658 So.2d 983 (Fla. 1995). the First DCA had held that "an HVFO sentence is illegal if the necessary predicate conviction is absent and that no contemporaneous objection is necessary to preserve the issue for appeal." Walkins v. State. 622 So.2d 1148 (Fla. 1st DCA 1993), overruled in [lan on otber grounds. White y, State. 666 So.2d 895 (Fla. 1996); ~ i!Im. Gahley v. State. 605 So.2d 1309 (Fla. 1st DCA 1992); WjlJiams v. State, 591 So.2d 948 (Fla, 1st DCA 1991). guashed on other grounds. 599 So.2d 998 (Fla, 1992) "('Without the necessary predicate convictions appellant's sentence as an habitual offender is illegal. No objection is required to raise the issue of an illegal sentence on direct appeal.')." In Speights' c~. however, the First DCA held that the alleged sentencing error "does not satisfy the defin ition of an illegal sentence set forth in Callaway and Davis," The First DCA found that "[i]n Washington v. Slate. 653 So,2d 362. 367 (Fla. I994). cert. denied msm., 116 S.C!. 387 (199S).... the Florida Supreme Court held that it is 'improper' to sentence someone under the Habitual Violent Felony Offender Statute in reliance upon a predicate offense outside those listed in the statute. and did not use the word 'iIIegaL,n The Court found that Speights' based his claim that his sentence is illegal on the fact that "no enumerated predicate offense appears in the record" and that, presumably. if Speights' "sentence was vacated for lack of a proper predicate offense. the state could present evidence on remand of additional prior convictions which m.i1l.hl justify an HVFO sentence." (Emphasis added). In this case. the Court held "that reliance on an improper predicate offense does not render the sentence 'illegal' for purposes of determining whether the error may be raised for the first time on appeaL" The Court also rejected Speights' claim that his 22 year prison sentence was illegal on the ground that it exceeds the statutory maximum for the second degree felony offense of aggravated battery. In rejecting this claim. the Court found that "[u]nder section 775,082(3)(c), [Florida Statutes.] a second degree felony is punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed 15 years. However, in the absence ofany objection to habitualization, the trial court did not err in relying on the statutory maximum sentence for a habitual violent felony offender convicted of a second degree felony. Under section 775.084(4)(b)2.. the statutory maximum sentence for this offense. after habilUalization, is 30 . years." Fortunately, either to ease the courts oWn conscience for not causing this serious sentencing error to be comxted or as a feeble attempt to shift the blame 10 another court, the First DCA did certifY the following question to the Florida Supreme Coun as a mailer of great public imponance: When a habitual lIiolent /elony offender senlence is imposed wilhoul record ellidence 0/ a prior convielion 0/an enumeratedpredicotefelony. bUI lvithoUI any objection by the defendanl to Ihe imposilion qf such a sentence, and the resulting senlence IS above the statutory maximum without habl/llQlizDtion but below the statutory maximum period 0/ incarceration after habitualizalion. is the sentencing error one that may be raised on appeal/or the firsllime. and corrected despite the lock 0/ any motion in the Irial courl to correci the senlence plU$lllUll 10 FIa.R.Crim.P.3.800(b)? Notwithstanding the fact that the State relied on an improper predicate conviction to qualify Speights as an HVFO. the First DCA concluded that it must affirm the sentence "(b]ecause the sentence is not illegal, and the issue was not preserved for review by a motion filed in the trial court to correct the sentence. R ~ Speights y. State. So.2d_, 23 FLW 01220 (Fla. 1st DCA 5/13198). IComment: Notable cases Is inteaded to assist FPLP subscribers wllh Information pertainIng to what Is happening In the courts. With the limited space available for auch Information, FPLP stllrr places a special emphl1llls toward providing Information that will benefit the largest Dumber of Individuals. The decision to Include this particular case In this- issue of FPLP Wl1ll two-fold. First, like the decisions eatered In Q!.l.Ia!mx and !!aYJ!, the CrimlDlI1 Appal Reform Ad or 1996 has had a major impact on a very large number of coavlded felons In tbe State of Florida. Second, as tbe "oDorable Judge AI· tenberod pointed out ID his well articulated oplniou eatered In !!m!Oe y. State, So.2d _, 23 FLW 01216 (Fia. 2d DCA 5/]3198), "lippe/late judges take on oath to uphold the law and the coastltutioa of this state. The citizens of this state properly elpect these JUdges to protect their rights." Wllh the decision eatered In ~ bowever. the citizeas should be coDcerned Ir they con truly expect the judges, at least from the First DCA, to proted thdr rigbts. The ~ Court made DO reference to the fact that "Iplrisoners are eatllied to legal represeatallon on direct appeal, but DOt In most postcoavielion proceedIngs." Denson. 23 FLW at 1217. Coutd It be that the First DCA is not at all concerned wltb the rad that "there Is a renl risk tbot serious sen· leneing errors. raising slgalncont due process coo· cerns, may aot be corrected or may oot be corrected In time to provide meaD/agful reller to a prisoner nliag pro se motions if they CODnot be cornded with tbe asslstllnce orcounsel on direct appeal"! Id, Even more egregious Is the fact that the §m!&!!!! Court did not elpressly state that It was aronnlog the serious sentencing error without prejudice to Speights seeking relief through II rule 3.850 motion. Decisions such us the oae eatend In ~ COD reasoaabty "jeopardize tbe public's trust and coondeoce la the Inslltutlon orcourts 01 law." ~ If the Florida Supreme Court refuses to gruat review or granls review but rails to remand for resenletlc· Ing pursuant to the Laws of Florida, FPLP respectfully suggesls Spelgbts, aDd similarly situated convlded felons, should pay particular atteatloa to Judge Allen-bernd's concurring oplolon entered In QolngMkI v, SpUr. 705 So.2d 915, 917 (Fla. 2d DCA 1997)-bml • Page 11 ·-··f and anger management classes. Officer Greg Wilson is still awaiting trial on the most serious charge-manslaughter. During May, Santiago also gave a pre-trial deposition in the lawsuit against his fellow officers. He supported DePaz's testimony and went further, An agency left without fearing any effec- testifying that three other officers who tive administrative or judicial challenges were directly involved were not even begins to feel an immunity to adopt any charged in Sagers' death or beating. Santiregulation it wishes. Only by grievances, ago claims that he only held Sagers down rule and statute judicial challenges is a on the floor with his foot as the three "check and balance" created to limit arbi- other uncharged guards punched and trary discretion. Or you can sit back and kicked Sagers in the stomach, jammed a ruminate on important issues like what's thumb into his neck, applied karate chops on taday's soap opera, who will go to to his neck. yanked his head back by the the Superbowl, who wants to gamble at hair, and· later bragged about the beating. Spades, what's the latest rumor, or how Santiago also testified that he had recan I get in my neighbor's business. ported excessive use of force against After all, no one will miss your few other prisoners in the jail to higher-ups before the Sager incident. but that nothing remaining fTeedoms-except you. 1 was ever done about it. The county tried to have a gag order $10 MILLION LAWSUIT placed on the pre-trial depositions of FILED FOLLOWING Nurse DePaz. Santiago, and several other PRISONER'S DEATH witnesses, but the Orlando Sentinel challenged that and federal Judge David An Osceola County, Florida, jail cor- Baker ruled that the public had a right to rections officer, Greg Wilson, wrapped a know what happened to Sagers. towel around the mouth and nose of prisSuch beatings have reportedly beoner Daniel Sagers and then pulled and come common not only in our jails in twisted back on his head, laughing he Florida, but also, perhaps more frequently asked "why" when he was told to ease up. where they can be covered up more easJail Nurse Shelley DePaz gave that testi- ily, in our prisons. lt was only fortune that mony in a pre-trial deposition during May' provided willing witnesses in Sagers' in a $20 million lawsuit filed by Sagers' case. family against Osceola County officials. Prison activists claim that only apThe assault on Sagers by several cor- proximately one percent of such beatings rectional officers occurred on March 5, by jail and prison guards ever reach the 1997. After Sagers allegedly pushed a attention of the public, even when as in female correctional officer, Gail Ed- Sagers' situation, death is the result. wards, into a wall, officers Wilson, Ed- Many feel that recent actions ofthe courts wards, and reportedly at least four other and politicians to adopts rules and laws officers, jumped Sagers and brutally beat that effectively deny prisoners access to and choked him, resulting in Sagers' death the courts to challenge official abuse will seven days later. once again encourage jail and prison Following Sagers' death, three offi- guards to feel that they can do anything cers. Wilson, Edwards, and Milton they want to a prisoner, and little or nothSantiago, were indicted by a grand jury ing will be done about it. on criminal charges. Typical in jail and [Source: Orlando Sentinel, 5119/98, prison murders by corrections officers, 512119811 Santiago and Edwards were only charged BRIEFS with misdemeanor battery for what Witnesses have described as a "long and bloody beating.· Both Edwards and San- 1 The last issue of FPLP reported on the tiago have already been allowe.d to plead negligent death of Susan Bennett in the guilty to the misdemeanor charges and Orange County, Florida, jail ("NURSES were sentenced to community service ARGUE AS JAIL INMATE DIES"). (Continuedlrom page 8) media will be prohibited if any part of it contains photographs, articles or clippings (any written or printed materials), greeting cards. non-paper items of any description. address labels. etc. F.P.L.P. VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4 Bennett's family had filed a $10 million lawsuit against the county and several corrections workers at the jail. On April 27, 1998, Orange County agreed to settled the case out of court for $3 million. . Additionally, as many as 80 health-care workers at the jail may lose their jobs as investigations continue into negligent medi~al care at the jail. 1 In the May issue of F.L./.P.. the newsletter of Families with Loved ones In Prison. it was reported that the Florida House of Representatives' Corrections Committee will be reviewing FDOC visiting policies and procedures during that committee's interim legislative session this summer. The April 9th Capitol Rotunda Rally is given credit for this achievement. Much more, however, needs to be done. To find out more about F.L.I.P contact: F.L./.P. 710 Flanders Ave. Daytona Bch., FL 32 1/4 9041254-8453 EMail: fllp@afn.org 1 According to the Febroaryissue orTJre -Bridge, the newsletter of the New Jersey Prisoners Self-Help Clinic, prisoners in that state boycotted the implementation of a collect telephone scheme similar to the one recently implemented in Florida. Since November, 1997, when the new phone system became operative, approximately 90% of New Jersey prisoners have refused to use the monitored phones or to complete the limited phone lists. When prison officials tried to issue prisoners a PIN number the prisoners returned the numbers to prison officials, and vowed to write letters rather than subject their families and friends to the exorbitantly high phone charges. The FPLP staff wishes New Jersey prisoners the best in their ongoing, unified, struggle. AMATEL V. RENO UPDATE The following information appeared in the FalllWinter 1998 issue of The No(Continued on page 14) Page 12 Dear Perspecfives: TIwtks so much for.allthe suppan llIId for a ncwsIener Ibat keeps us infonmd. I !me my sister ordering a subscription Cor me llIId herself so we can keep up with the changcs laking IIlace and I wanl her 10 have the ollllCnunily 10 join forces wherever she may be able to heill. In a recent issue of FPLP there was a note about lite IIOssibility ofPcIl Grants coming back. I was taking courses lowards a degree when thcy SlollflCd Pell Grants.' would like to Icnow mere aooUllhis issue. B.W•• JCI IDear B: We have DO more Informatloa than what aplJared In tbe Issue you refeftDCC. We bclleYe thaI CU.R.E., P.O. Box 1310, NadoDlI Capilli StaliGa, WulIIaglllD DC ZoolJ.1IZ6, may be working on this dtuatlon and osay be able 10 proYlde more lafo. The U.s. Coagress C01Ilrols ndl eduClItlOII granl prograass.1 Our fPLP: ScvCTlll monlhs ago Jel opened a close managcmenl unit. Broward CJ Ihen transCerred Iheir eM prisonm here. Now JCI has received numerous yculltful offendcn and somehow changed their classification from V.O 10 adull,llIId pla«d than on CM. These young [lirIs arc locked in a cell 24n, Clccpt Cor a 2 hour "curcue· period on;e per wcclt. They are not rcCCIv10gllte required child nunition I1IQJs per SIlIIe law. and there IUe no prognuns being provided 10 Ihem. Mental hcallh only has ·wlllkthrous/ls" rwi= a month llIId taIb to than bnetly Ihrough a crack in the door. Some adah women coming here arc beIng CM reviewed due 10 pasl records. some dMing back 10 Ihc gO's Wllh no disaplinary problems IlI1CC then. Disciplinary due process IS almOSl non-cllSlent here in the DR hcanngs. Numerous officers here arc rudc, unprofessional. provocallVe. llIId liars II is a same 10 litem. 5.a, JCI Dear FPLP: The JanlFcb issue of FPLP hit the mark wilh ·Big Bob's Opinion Service." My offense occurred Ocl 95', the g57- law did not go inlO effec:t Wllil Jan 96', but lite FDOC has Slated that I. along with lhoosands oC olhcrs whose offense occurred before Jan 96', don' qualify for the award of our proper gainlime. Second let me inform llII Muslims w!lo follow the Quran and the Joumal of Prophet Mohammad (SAS) thaI this plac:c has 0 nice CM cell wailing for your Ilrrival. Thac, your mail will be highly censored, you Will be harassed bcellusc of your faith, llIId Ihe grie\'llflce lIfoccdure is nonQistCIII. So, reroute if you can. This is one lime I don'l wanl Cor my hrother what I have. 5.M.S., SRCI FPLP: Enclosed is a change or address. I am 10 be rcIeased SOOII bld WIIlU 10 c:ontinuc receiving FPLP. On 1211197 privately operated Gadsden CI b.wt:d smoking. Now it is a smoke-frcIC comllOuncI-clIcept Cor the healthy black·markClthat has developed. One pack oCcigarcnes now sclb for SI00. )'CS, thaI's SI00 Cor 20 cigarcnes. Canons scll for SI,000, and no olllciab seem 10 care. Ofcourse. a few prisoncrs have been caughl smoking, bUlthere is no FDOC rule IlrohibitinlJ iI, so the rumor is Ihe FDOC will not process a DR Cor such "offense." Isn' banning cigarettes at just litis ane prison discriminatory? II really angers me speculating on how the black-markct cigarines are gelling in Ihc gale, Ihcy're making a killing. W.D., Cad CI (Dear W: After the Tom Waugh selllemeat aewly arriving prisonen at your Inslltutlon probably nced 10 Immedlalcly me medical grlevaoces sccklag alcollae _tIon aUla. Wbcrc the FDOC bas bcca for«d to admit thaI alcollae addietiOll Is a serious medical COIIdllioa rcqulriall mcdlenl lralmenl with c:asatllla aides Ibis wauld eq1llllly apply llIaay privale pris4ln company SCCkilli 10 baa smokine. Those who bon already bcca forced to qull wauld Iilld)' have less of a claim thaa those Just now belDg for«d to qull enid turb)'o Do tbe "hllmcwllrk" first· rescardl, dllCUment, work logether aod do II rigbLI FPLP Friatds: Even lhough my subsalJllion is Slill good Cor a while I don' WlIIllto wllil unlil lhe last minute. so here il a renewal. I also WIIlU to SIly Ibat I appreciate llII the womlcrfW work lite sIaffcIocs Cor me and all lite others on tltis side of lite fcnc:e. Vou have told il right about Eel. The officcnjurnp on inmates for little or norcason llIId lhcn falsify rqJDrlS to cover it up. They arc Icning olhcr inmates into cells 10 jWllP on others. When Tallahassee sends investigators C\ICry1hing is dilTcrcnt and in good order. Well, I'm just a nobody trying 10 let a linle ligItt on lite truth. PClIce. R.s..£Cl AA meeting. alilhe inmales were informed thaI there had been a memo ccnc:cminlllhe Cxtra 6 days lhosc UIlI!er lite WaIdnzp program supervisor, that as lhcy (DOC) were able 10 go over lhe individual records, they would be deducting any gain time given for allendingllte AA "rognuns from the end oC July 1997 unlillhe presenl. II is only 6 days a manlh, however, over the yCl1rS il adds up 10 72 days a year or approlimalely 2 113 months yearly offthe end ora sentence. Over a few years thaI makes a bill difference. I decided to check into this. Aftera Ccw phane calls I found the person to. speak with was Fred Roesel, head or lite DOC classiflCalion department. Hc C3I.plained Ihlll because of court decisions in other SIllIes and comlllaints from some inmates in the Fla. S)'Slcm this IIOlicy had been adopted. He said this IIOIicy affec:ted 11I1 programs Ibat had a "quasi-rcligious c:omponcnI." Spcifically, AA llIId NA prognuns. II seems thllllhcrc have been a lot of inmates who Cell is was mandatory to anend lhcsc prognuns to get the extra Waldrup gain time llIId Ibat lite religious nature ofllte prognuns was offensive. So this is lite DOCs answer 10 lhosc illlllllles. Mr. Roesel said this WlIS a IIOlicy, not II rule or stlilUlC,lIlld that he was unsure wilen it was adopted or became effcdiw.lhal he would have someone else ccnlaCt me. Ellen Rcbcl1s, TalJahasscc office, phoned mc back wilh more informalion. She said lite IIOlicy did lake cffec:t7/15197, however, no back gain lime would be lakcn, the inmalesjust would nol be able to earn nny in lite future. I asked her how this "1IOIicy" was disseminated as no om else in the Tallahassee office seemed 10 know llR)'1hing about it. She said all institutional progr.un supcMsors had reccivcll a copy or a memo July 1997. It seems Ibat W1til rccCmly this was a well kept seem. This is confusinll. Those illlllllles under Waldrup Gain Time arc suppose to be allowed to rcccWe lite elt'" .program. gain time. How arc lhcy 10 cam it ifil is nol being awarded for panicipaling in lite prognuns. TIwtk you so much for all you do and for being lhcrc when we need you. I am ... D.J. Aleslra, CA DcIJl' Fri.ndJ al FPLP: RtcCIlll)' "'hile anending a Hamilton CI system had been receiving. The inmates were laid. by lhe new Dar 0: The FDOC is looldnll at eYery lingle thalli caa 10 reduce gala time awards 10 pris4lDen, not ooly Waldrup eligible pris4lnen. The FDOC bas lhousaads of caspl)' beds aod tbc legislature bas mused' 10 provide more mllDC)' for Cwo yean lIOW because of those caspl)' bcdJ. This Iw seriously disrupled the FDOC'I plans III build aDd keep buiJdlaa prisons alllllPaycr ftpemc, Notice of IIIIs policy w" posled al aumerous Institutions II few mllDlbs IIgo. No elplanatloa wu provided lor lbe "1I011cy," IIC1WcYCr, your racardl aplJarllto answer that quesdoa. It would leem thaI where the law prorided thaI prlsanen covered by Ille Waldrup dcclslan wCluld be able 10 cam ellra pia time for attcodlng programs, thlltthere Dlusl be programs In place to orrClrd Ibal opportunll)'. It Is luapected Ille FDOC will not provide alternallves, howeYer, unless fClr«d 10 da so by the courts, as tbcy have bad 10 be for«d ill eYery goln time sltuatlaa over the past few yean. Thaak you for yaur iaformaIiCla.( Pmpcctives: On June Ist James Quigley rmally went to a fedcmllrilll in Tampa trying 10 get two JIhotogruphs back Ihlll prison officials had taken from him over five years ago. Mer a one and a half day nial, a dccisian was madc in his Cavor. Thil decision may help lhose "riscncrs who have had family IlholollJllphs laken by the DOC Wldcr the new property rules. As FPLP lIOinled out in a rcccni issue, photographs IUe not being addressed in the cllUS action on lhe new propcny rules. The new property rules limil fwnily phOlographs to only fifty. Those who have not already had their Ilhotos taken will, sooner or Ialer. Prisonus will aliter be forced to send lIII)' photos in C3I.CCSS of fifty oul or dispose of than. Many prisoners !me no place lIII)'II>llI'C 10 send photos 10. The First Amendment is impliClllCd in this. Prisoners can rcccWe 0 thousand pidure postcards llIId keep than, but lhcy CllIIIOI possess over fifty phauls. This mcds 10 be challenged. LC.. HAR CI Dear FPLP: II begins July Ist. The DOC inlends to tightly replate C\ICry1hing thaI Florida llrisoncrs see, read, or hear. On July Istlhe book ban IlOCS into effect, lIlld no books arc excluded. Sec:uJar books, religious boob, legal books, newspapcn. magazillCS, lIycrs. will all be limiled to no more lhan four per p~. I r the library alrcady has a copy or a panicular type hoole, 100 bad, prisoners will not be able to pcrsimaIly poucss it. Mass c:ensorship is goinlllO occur on incoming reading malerials. Where lhcy already contToI everything dill is scca on TV inside lite prisons, and only garbage (violenl programs. Ialk Ihows. soap operas, cartoons) is allowed, where the lelephones arc now rcccrdcd and monitored, and where visiting is going 10 be reduced under lhe new visiling rules. with Ihc book baMing the control will a1mosl be com"lele. Whal is secn, heard. and Ihought will be rcgul:lled. The weak, belllen, psychOlropic controlled or menially ill will be programmed far more dcSlruction, one by one, divided they will conquer. Shades oClhe Gulag, Ihcy have lcamed well, while prisoners learn less. 5.T., Polk Cl juvenile crime; perhaps unreasonably so. and demagoguery being used by politi(COIIIilflledjrom poge /2) lional Prison Project Journal (ACLU) The 1997 study conducted by the Na- cians and the mass media to promote such concerning Amatel V. Reno. 975 F.Supp. tional Center for Juvenile Justice shows transfers, the fact remains that only one 365 (D.D.C. 1997). The ACLU's Na- that between 1987 and 1996, the num- half of I percent ofall juveniles are ever tional Prison Project furnished attorney ber of juvenile arrests increased 35 per- arrested for violent crimes. Statistically, representation in this ongoing case: cent. In 1996 juvenile arrests totaled over the majority of those juveniles who make 135.000. Yet, the conclusion reached by up this small group of violent offenders Amatel V. Reno (District of Columbia) the study shows that "today's violent youth are predominately males, from lowThis case challenges the "Ensign commits the same number of violent acts income urban minority families, and have Amendment," passed by Congress in as hislher predecessor of 15 years ago." been exposed to alcohol, drug and physi1996, which prohibits the Federal Bu- What has changed is the number of guns cal abuse in the home. This, the public is reau of Prisons from allowing prisoners available to the youth of today compared assured, is immaterial, or something that to receive publications featuring nu- to 15 years ago, the increasing breakdown cannot be solved so it can be ignored. dity. On August 12, 1997, the district in family units. values, and morals. FocusAnother recent study by authors Jason court beld the statute unconstitutional ing the public's attention on juvenile crime Ziedenburg and Vincent Schiraldi for the and granted a permanent injunction also means diverting it's attention from Justice Policy institute found that juveagainst its enforcement by the Bureau child povertY and our failing education niles that are incarcerated with adult ofof Prisons. The defendants have ap- systems-problems some believe are the fenders are 8 times more likely to commit pealed to the District of Columbia Cir- true crimes being committed. suicide, 5 times more likely to report becuit Court of Appeals. Oral argument is Along with these high profile violent' ing raped or sexually attacked in the adult set for May. In the meantime, Congress juvenile incidents has concurrently arisen facility, 2 times as likely to be benten or has reenacted the challenged statute. an attitude that juveniles should be pun- abused by correctional staff, and SO perished as adults, that this is the only viable cent more likely to be attacked with a This case is not controlling in Florida. solution to our societal problems. To make weapon than an adult prisoner. Yet, the This case does appear to be the leading it more palatable. politicians and the public sentiment is being carefully case at this time that is challenging mass medias demonize juvenile offenders groomed to accept that juvenile/adult prison bans on "sexually explicit" publi- as "juvenile predators," not worthy of incarceration, and adult punishments for cations. According to the above notice, rehabilitation or socialization. instead children, are the answer. A bill is pending this case is now pending an appeal our demagogues-the get tough promo- before Congress to allow even more juvedecision in the federal District Court of tionists-spoon-feed the public's con- nile/adult incarceration. Appeals. FPLP wi!! carry more informa- sciousness With the harsher punishment One thing for sure, putting off what tion on this important case as it becomes solution. the "treat them as adults," and should be addresSed today for "feel good" available. "adult-crime adult-time" slogans de- solutions will return to haunt our society [Subscriptions for prisoners to the signed to perpetuate the economically as a whole in the future. If "children are ACLU's quarterly National Prison Project motivated criminal justice/prison indus- the future;" just what are we creating Journal are only $2.00. Subscriptions for trial complex in America. for the coming millennium? • all others are $30.00. To subscribe send Florida is one of the leading states that payment to: National Prison Project Jour- has bought into the movement to treat U.S. SUPREME COURT nal, ACLU, 1875 Connecticut Ave. NW children as adults were crime is involved. HOLDS ADA APPLIES According to figures from the state De#410. Washington DC 20009.]. TO PRISONS partment of Juvenile Justice, Florida has the highest rate of transfers of JUVENILE INJUSTICE With almost unprecedented speed the juveniles to adult court in the country. The by Holly DeSue U.S. Supreme Court ruled, unanimously, number has hovered between 5,000 and June IS, 1998, that the Americans with From 1994 to 1995 there was a 3 6,000 such transfers per year for the last Disability Act (ADA) applies to prisonpercent decline in juvenile arrests for vio- few years. A 1996 study of that practice in ers. Usually conservative Justice Anthony lent crime, from 1995 to 1996 there was a Florida that was recently released in the Scalia wrote the opinion, which all the 6 percent decline according to data from national publication CRIME AND DELIN- other justices agreed with, finding that the National Center for Juvenile Justice. QUENCY found that Florida's efforts in Congress did not exclude any citizen, Largely due to high profile cases like the this respect are actually counterproduc- including prisoners, from the protections recent shooting deaths of four students tive. of the Act. The ADA protects the exchiThat study found that youths who are and a teacher in Jonesboro, Arkansas, sion of people who have a disability from charged to II and 13 year old boys, or the transferred from juvenile to adult court government funded programs and proschool shooting deaths on May 21 in were more likely to be re-arrested upon Web Page Addras: Springfield, Oregon. attributed a IS year release than a parallel group of nonhttp://membcn.ool.c:omlrplplrplp.html old. who is also accused of killing his transferred youthful offenders. The auE-mail Addras:rplp@aol.com parents, the nation's fears are focused on thors pointed out that despite the rhetoric Telephone: (407) 306-6211 F.P.L.P. VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4 Page 14 THOMAS E. SMOLKA AND ASSOCIATES 217 SOUTH ADAMS STREET TALLAHASSEE. FLORIDA 31301-1720 NLEGALNEWS t detailed joum!ll describ- Telephoae(850)2U-5I69 Tbomu Eo Smolka, Esquire Nol Admitted In Florida VIrginia Sllle 8mr ID No.I52M (850) 221-6400 , TUu: (850) JU.1033 EMAIL: tamcIbIlilworld!ld.att.act Assisting Inmates On Their Individual Needs Dear FPLP Subscriber: As many of you know, I was falsely accused of a heinous crime and suffered through many years on the receiving end of tbe Florida Judicial system before I was released after winning my direct appeaL See Smolka v. Sttlle, 661 So.1d 1255 (Fla SIb DCA 1995), rev. den/ed, State v. Smolka, 668 So.2d 603 (FIa. 1996). Undoubtedly, many of you may be in need of effective assistance. In tbis regard, I would urge you to contact me, as I provide representation on a fee paid basis. Best ~Ishes, Thomas E. Smolka Criminal Trial Practice Executive Clemency Felonies D.U.I. 7UMt4';~ Attorney & Counselor At Law . . : Located In .' Silver Oaks Plaza ~ - 3095 S. Military Trail, Suite 20 Lake Worth. FL 33463 (561) 439-4884 Beeper (561 ) 885-4211 Anyone interested in getting in on a class action suit for the banning of sexually explicit· material Florida prisons, .m .. \ .. ~ , , .. ' /' '1 : 'k Contact: Paper Wing Company PO Box 4855 Baltimore, MD 21211 F.P.L.P. VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4 ADVERTISING N011CE U 8 ~ ~ R I 8 E T o o II ; 0...: 10 a COllUIll for our RIden, lbe "PU'1laff 1Ua nay elTon 10 _ dial "PIP adwnisen ate ftplIIIblc aod qualillcd fllr Ihe semcos bcinS ofl'eced. We CUllICt pascmaIly _ nay adveniser, howcva, lbercfoce IUl!as ate IlMsoI 10 . . . . penonally COIIIact admtiscn for Iilnher infOllllllicn 011 dleir quaJirlCalicns lIIld apericnce before makiJI8 I dodsion 10 hire ao olIOme)' or odtcr professional pmilfa'. Readcn sIIaoIld lie,," send lesal cIocummll 10 admlisen befoce CGlIlIclins lhcm and RCCiWlS diRCliolls to IClId IlIdI malCriaIs. Fer Ihosc Wislting 10 ad..mile on "'P/J', pl_ write for rite infonnallClll 51 Ihc liSlCd address, AlIn: AdvenisinJl, cr COI1IICt Ihc pulllisIlu II: same PH: 4071306-6211 Email, "PJ.Prbol.etsm WebpallC' manberuol.comI"'P/J'tH'IJ' or memben.lripocl.comI-+PU' SUBMISSION OF MATERIAL TO FPU' Becallse llf lbe Iarse ooIume elf IIIaiJ beitqJ RCCiwd by "PIJ'. rUWlCial COftSidmlillllS, and Ihc illllrilil)' 10 prIlYida iItdMduaI lesal wistance, rcadm slIouId IIOl IClId copia elf IqpJ cIocwnallS elf pendios or poumiaI cases 10 "'PIJ' wilIlcIa first bovins conlacted dle slall' lIIld rcceiviOS ditecliclns 10 scnd some. Neither FPLP, nr i1s staff. ate mprmsillle fer &lIY IlIISOlidted malCriaI SCIIl. Rcadm an: req....lecl III COIIliIwl: III ICIld _ infcllllalioa indudilla IleWSJlIIlU cIlppiDp (please iDdude _ elf paper and dale), manonadums, p/IolOCOpia of fIaal decisions in IIRplIbllshed cua. aod pcIalliaI anicles felf plIIl&alion. Plasc scad CIIl/y copia elf SIICb -.naI1ba do IlIIl bPe 10 be reIUmed. H'/J' ,depmdt on YOU. ill radds and SlIppOItm 10 keep infonned. so lhal evaycae CIll be ielfonned, Thaok )'011 for your CCllperaIicn and panicipalioII in hdpios 10 set !he lICWS llUt. YllUr cfl'ons an: IIfUlIy Ipprecilled. Page 15 vldes Ihat accommodaliops be provided by state and fedeml depanments 10 assist dis· abled ~rsons. Thirty-four state Anomey General's (AGs). including AG Bob BUllerwonh of Florida. crilicized the Supreme Coun's decision. claiming it will cost millions of dollars 10 provide assistance 10 disabled prisoners and Ihal disabled prisoners witl be filing frivolous lawsuits for trivial things like whedchair ramps. lower water fountains. rails around toilets. elc. Similar 10 what occurred wilh Ihe Religious Freedom Restoralion Act of 1993 (RFRA). AG's from around Ihe country have vociferously opposed the ADA because they claim it should not apply 10 prisoners, Using prisoners as the scapegoat. these AGs realty sought 10 limil all disabled persons' rights, The high coun rejected the AGs argument. finding thai il was indispulable Ihat Congress specifically did nOI intend thai prisoners be excluded from the ADA's prolections againsl disability discrimination. The various AGs apparently "ere furious Ihal the Supreme Coun would uphold the disableds' right to be free of discriminalion, They poinled out thaI the coun did nOl address lhe issue of whelher the ADA infringed on stales' righls. which was used 10 strike down the RFRA last year. The case decided June 15. 1998. did nOI COlllain Ihal question for Ihe coun 10 consider (thai case ....'3$ covered in Ihe last issue of FPLP. Vol 4,lss. 3. Pennsvlvania DOC v, Yeskev, No: 97-634 (1998 WL 21894». There is II Califomia case, however. steking Supreme Coun review that does rai~ the ~stale infringement~ issue Ihal the coun may hear hiler Ihis year. For now Ihough. disabled prisoners cannot be discriminated against any more than any other cilizen clln be.• li:z.ation of the Department .... hich realized overSI5 m'i lelephone commissions last nOlhing but allowing the panics 10 inslall phones use .• TELEPHONE OVERCHARGE REFUNDS On April 30, 1998. Ihe Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) issued a final decision in Inst year's PSC proceedings requiring prison cotlecllelephone service provider MCI 10 refund over SI million in overcharges 10 prisoners' famities lind friends, Thc PSC's final order requires MCI 10 distribute credilS across-the-board on the remaining SI23.739.62 10 all families and fTiends of Floridn prisoners who curTtntly are hooked up 10 MCI. This was felt 10 be Ihe only fa' IWa f . . . , , Ir y 0 dlslnbullng Ihe rernalnmg overchllrges. FPLP. FLIP lind other groups associaled wilh FPAN were inslrumental in overseeing Ihe PSC proceedings in Ihis silualion , ,. and In aSSisting MCI and the PSC 10 ensure Ihat as many people as possible who were iniliolly overcharged by MCI did receive a direci refund lasl year. We all need 10 continue vigilance on lhe prisOn colleci lelephone scheme and continue pressure on Ihe PSC 10 reduce and keep these nlles comparnble wilh society as n .....hole. Pris· oners' families and friends..... ho must pay the exorbilnnl Ielephone rates, must demllnd an end to Ihe ou in and mono SUnSCRlI'TION EXPIRATJON?? PInlot' rbl'd. ,our malllllil Iabd fllr tht datt thaI )'our subKriplion III F1'!.P will upirr. On Iht lOp lillt \o\itl Iw nnrrlrd I dall' surh u "'No\ 98· ... nit d.lt Indlral" Ibt lUI mOlllh of )'our rurnnt subKriplioll 10 FPI.P. Wbra )OU rtrein Ibt FPI.P issllr for Illal monlh. plfUt nnrw )'OUf subsrripllon immrdilltl)"o lhll )'011 do nOl mbs I.S ll'lul' of FrI.P. YOllr supporl lhlllugh Jubsrrlpllon donalions 1II.k" publiolion possiblt .nd is IlrulI)' Ipprrtialrd. 1'lu5l' f.h Iht tlmr 10 rompll'lr Iht rndosl'd subnrlpllon form 10 sllbltribr 10 or rtnr'" )'our subKrlpllon 10 FPLP. If Iht JubKripllon form Is missing. )'011 m.)' "rilr dirtrll)'. radost lbt rtqurslrd donation. 10 sllbsrrlbt. Movilll:'! Tnndrrrrd! Plnn rampltll' lilt' tnrlostd Addrrss Oangr Nolin so lh.1 Iht lIlamllll,isl tin br IIpdllrd, Injustiu Qn)"_'h~ is a Ihnat 10 justice n~,,'wht'n. • Martin LUlhu King. Jr. For several years the w 301 Ihe Georgetown Uni\'e have devoted lime. w in providing hundreds 0 copies of Ihe highly 1011'11 Loll' JOII",p{ An Criminol Procedure 10 in ilround the cOUlmy,' Thi possible, The following provided to prisoners r )'ear's Annual Review: E«ttliH Immrd;alrl). Ihr Jourul Annual Ilr>ir" ofer. lIhf CCP) "ill 110 101ll:rr bt' m mtnltr)' buis.. Tbr Cr0l'lrlo" Ctnlrf rtltrrlS lhis rhanl:t in' rrqu"lJt1rwluurabilil) 10f ltry ruplts. To pUfrhut Iht 19 rtdurt Proltrl. stad. rhrtk 510,00 ..'1111 )'our ntlnr .nd.jlt Journal AdmilliSlrlJ/;on (. Georgela...." U/ll\'('rs,~' 600NeM J'n,,}',h Wnshlllgllm DC } The Cenla IS sc:ndlnl • I 0111 pnson law hbnrlCS llut: eornph aVlllllhk to lhc: lilones ror all ClI«k wuh )"OUI lIbr:ullU1 If the) or... 1998 lnut:, or or1Ict )olll'sclf 0 IS 3 C n " "• " FLORIDA PRISON LEGAL PERSPECfIVES P.O. BOX 660-387 CHULUOTA, FL32766 \~