In a letter to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) obtained by the Observer, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3807 advocates for TDCJ to house death-row prisoners who pose the lowest security risk in cells with other inmates.
The union also calls for the prison system to introduce privileges such as work assignments, streaming television and technology such as computer tablets—all in an effort to reduce the psychological trauma of inmates and the potential confrontations with guards.
Studies have shown that isolating prisoners for long periods of time can have devastating mental health effects. I have interviewed inmates on death row in Texas who recounted stories of fellow inmates screaming out at night, lying naked in the recreation yard, defecating on themselves and even mutilating themselves with shanks—weapons fashioned from objects in their cell.
“Use of technologies such as computer tablets and streaming TV should be offered to offenders who exhibit positive behavior,” Lance Lowry [AFSCME’s president] continues. “Lack of visual or audio stimulation result in increased psychological incidents and results in costly crisis management.”
The AFSCME letter also suggests that staff assigned to death row should earn more money and have more staff training.
Source: Texas Observer, January 28, 2014
