USP Hazelton concerns (gated, live, dangerous)

[Southcarolinamom58]

I am so happy to of finally feel I can reach someone in your area. I am so concerned about what is going on in this prison. No one has answered the phone there in mths. I know this is a difficult issue but these inmates there are human beings and families are out here across the country not knowing if out love ones are dead or alive. My son was sent there back in August I have spoke to him 3 times. I have written the warden. No response. I usually always get mail every week I have not gotten mail in a mth. I have looked up who your Governor is. I plan to contact him and your local media to get some focus on this problem. We do have a petition going on line to get this prison shut down. I am just desperate hurting mother. Can anyone help with some direction. Who your local media coverage is through? Also go out to the USP Hazelton petition to sign to really help.

[Diddlesquat]

Most people lack understanding about how prisons operate. The Hazelton prison is large and multi faceted. Only part of it is maximum security. All maximum security prisons can be dangerous. This one is no different in that regard. In many ways, it is up to an inmate who feels threatened to make his own decision about protective measures. Any inmate is free to request protective custody, which would remove him from the threats or dangers. Those requests are normally granted if the reasons are substantial, but there are drawbacks because the PC units seldom have access to as many programs and activities.

If you are referring to the outbreak of COVID inside the prison, those things are happening everywhere where lots of people are congregated together in a restricted area. There are 4,000 inmates at Hazelton. It is inevitable that some will catch the virus there. That is not the fault of the prison staff, who themselves are at risk. That prison is actually one of the best in the country. It is relatively new, well staffed, and well set up for programming activities that benefit those who are incarcerated. You aren't going to get a lot of support in a community where the prison employs thousands of people, for shutting it down. Those are well paying jobs with good benefits and defined benefit pensions. Those are increasingly hard to come by these days.