Jury finds corrections officer guilty of violating inmate's civil rights

[POM]

I think SHU will be a mess next quarter since everyone has seen what happened to Sharma---the word is going around that no one is going to make a move in SHU to avoid the same thing happening to them. Also, the rumor mill is that one staff member was promised an ISM position if he went in and said what the FBI wanted him to----basically, putting the blame on the lower level correctional staff for what happened. I was told some staff overheard him being congratuled on getting the position after he testified (before the closing date of the position). We'll see if that happens.

Since the Bureau basically leaves staff out to dry when something happens I hope the union will step in. I think the union should provide some advice from a professional to educate staff on their rights when it comes to talking to the FBI. Since this happened I have read numerous horror stories about the FBI and several sites state that you should never talk to the union without a representative . No wonder they don't want their conversations recorded --- then they could not lie about what is said to them.

As many inmates as Coleman has, there will be future incidents like this.

[dollymadison]

Originally Posted by Crosstimbers Okie

I would be very interested in seeing the trial transcript. I'm dumbstruck that an officer is criminally liable for an cell move which occurred while she was off-duty, and that someone else authorized.

As a SHU OIC I too am appalled by this ridiculousness, the assault took place days after the move was authorized and completed, I don't understand how this can be blamed on the officer, why is the LT not even in the process? He authorized it, so why isn't he held accountable for this? Besides, if there is no PP10 sep, there is no liability to anyone...WTF is going on?

[1longrange]

Originally Posted by dollymadison

As a SHU OIC I too am appalled by this ridiculousness, the assault took place days after the move was authorized and completed, I don't understand how this can be blamed on the officer, why is the LT not even in the process? He authorized it, so why isn't he held accountable for this? Besides, if there is no PP10 sep, there is no liability to anyone...WTF is going on?

I agree the 10 was (i am saying "was" for a reason)the holy grail unless they had in house seperation for an investagation per SIS. Makes no sense. Now what do we use? Insane!!

[dollymadison]

Originally Posted by 1longrange

I agree the 10 was (i am saying "was" for a reason)the holy grail unless they had in house seperation for an investagation per SIS. Makes no sense. Now what do we use? Insane!!

there is nothing, one man cells are the next step......whos paying 4 that I wonder

[Crosstimbers Okie]

Personally, IF I were to ever work SHU again I would not do a single 21 day cell move without the SHU lieutenant's or the captain's written authorization. It would have to be signed, dated, and show which specific inmate is to go into which specific cell. No more of what I used to do in the El Reno SHU on weekends. I would run a PP30 by quarter date and move the inmates who had been in their cells for 21 days or who would be in their cells for 21 days before the next weekend. Now I would not even make the moves unless the SHU Lieutenant was present in the unit, which is as it should be.

The BOP is the only organization outside of the old Soviet Union that I'm aware of in which the people in the organization whom have the least decisionmaking authority also bear the most responsibility for what the agency does. It's The BOP Way...

[topcat]

This is a good one, the SHU lt was off the day the move ways made, the SIS LT, was covering for the SHU lt. If anyone should know about the two inmates it should be him. His excuse is I'm only was covering for that day ? This is hear say. One of Holts (RD) boys.

[HACKINIT]

Originally Posted by topcat

This is a good one, the SHU lt was off the day the move ways made, the SIS LT, was covering for the SHU lt. If anyone should know about the two inmates it should be him. His excuse is I'm only was covering for that day ? This is hear say. One of Holts (RD) boys.

Let an officer use that excuse that I was only covering for one day it wouldn't go anywhere.

[Mrbone]

This is an unfortunate situations. I do not know the officer what I do know is the BOP is trying to sent a message this is one bad apple which is not solving the problem. This will occurr again because of the lack of leadership in the agency and afraid to take responsibilites for your action. We must stop talking and holding the unions and agency responsible for writing daily to congressmen/women. It was stated in the trial this inmate had a hit on him by the AB's from Beaumont. Please go to Ocala News and you will receive a different perspective.

I went to Ocala News and read many of the court scripts and find it apalling to see the Lieutenant told a lie on the stand. First this a voilation of the Code of Conducts. This man said we do not force inmates into cells if they do not want to go. This is an outright lie. It been going since I been in the BOP. We force inmates in the SHU to keep 2 to a cell. We force Surnenos and blacks in the same cell however management do not want their hand in the mix. A cuff key was taken from an officer in Estill and never retrieve. An inmate was place on the compound after the SIS failed to conduct intake screening and the Captain had the PP64 changes to cover one of his Lieutenant. The Sablans kill and mutialate their cell mate in Florence as three inmates were placed in the cells. The SHU Lieutenant is know a Associate Warden. An inmate was killed in his cell in Florence after we knew the Latin Kings and the EME was beefing. There was an incident in Sheridan about ten years ago when an inmate (Speedy)told staff not to put him into this white supremacy cell and they refuse. Both inmates were white and Yes, he was kill.

The agency leadership specific Ray "big ego" Holt and Harley "know nothing" Lappin take responsbilities for failure on their watch. We do not have the money to single cell all inmates so tell congress and stop putting the blame on one staff member. This can happen to anyone especially in the hole.

And Last: Look at the incident in this agency especially Coleman. I know many of the staff there. Drew do not know what he is doing fact; Middlebrooks was a recreation specialist; M.M. Mitchell was a secretary and unless you been in the trenches you do not have a clue. No I am not saying they can not be great leaders but the blind is leading the blind. This woman will ultimate leave her children because of a few. I am going to write my congressmen about this incident.

And to Mr. Lappin and the Executive Staff of the Federal Bureau of Prisons: "A fish rotten from the head down not from the tail up". If you lead they will follow.
Semper Fi

[dollymadison]

Originally Posted by Crosstimbers Okie

Personally, IF I were to ever work SHU again I would not do a single 21 day cell move without the SHU lieutenant's or the captain's written authorization. It would have to be signed, dated, and show which specific inmate is to go into which specific cell. No more of what I used to do in the El Reno SHU on weekends. I would run a PP30 by quarter date and move the inmates who had been in their cells for 21 days or who would be in their cells for 21 days before the next weekend. Now I would not even make the moves unless the SHU Lieutenant was present in the unit, which is as it should be.

The BOP is the only organization outside of the old Soviet Union that I'm aware of in which the people in the organization whom have the least decisionmaking authority also bear the most responsibility for what the agency does. It's The BOP Way...

Well Said Crosstimbers!!! It is an unfortunate fact of life that the BOP is being "led" amost entirely by 4 year wonders who shouldn't even have been made a LT nevermind, moving up to the decision making spots.....I wish more experienced and stronger leaders were in the BOP, it sure has gone down hill in the last 15 years.

[thehats00]

To everyone who is following this blog:
Thank you very much for the supportive comments. I am writing in representation of Erin Sharma's family and have been touched by the support of her fellow officers. Her grandmother was a CO and yes, her husband is still a dedicated employee at Coleman even through all of this. Erin is currently in good spirits and wishing everyone well. If you would like to be placed on the email list of the family to have all correspondence forwarded to you, please send me your email to thehats00@hotmail! We need all the support we can gather! Hundreds of 'civilians' have been directed to this website to see a glimpse of what has happened. We beg that you continue to voice these opinions of injustice and please bombard every state and federal representative that you can contact with email and phone calls so that we can fight this before a worse tragedy occurs. An (ex) Senior Corrections Officer accused of having a prisoner killed and now being housed with those same prisoners is like putting a knife to her throat. Please! Pray for her safety and actviate all resources available! The union has been supportive, but, we need publicity and action! Thank you so much and please send your email so you can stay in the 'family loop'! God Bless all of you!