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Yesterday we reported on power and heat issues at the MDC. A judge issued a court order to allow the federal defender Deirdre von Dornum to take a tour last night to check on conditions. She told me the following: 1/7
The jail is running on emergency electrical power so inmates are being held in their cells instead of being let out into common areas. The cells are very cold and have no electrical power. Inmates say they have been locked in cells since Sunday. 2/7
She saw, spoke to inmates through cracks in cell doors. “Their heads are wrapped in towels. They are in lots of layers.” “Everyone agreed no extra blankets had been handed out.” The common areas were warmer though corrections officers were bundled up. 3/7
Inmates said power problems began with a “blackout” ~two weeks ago. Power came back, was cut after a fire on Sunday. It was disturbing to be held in the dark for so long, they said. “The pitch black has made it significantly more agonizing for them.” They can’t even read. 4/7
Because power is down, inmates cannot use computers to request prescription refills, including psych meds. At least one man is a suicide risk. “There was a man who has been known to swallow razor blades.” 5/7
Some men said they needed medical care, like one with an oozing wound on his leg and another with Crohn’s Disease who said he has lost several pounds since Sunday and looked “emaciated.” 6/7
Inmates said they got their first hot meal in nearly a week on Friday: rice and beans. People were banging on cell doors and asking to be let out to eat. “Can’t we just get out and eat at a table? We are like animals in here.” 7/7
More in our original story: nytimes.com/2019/02/01/nyr…
