Prison Reform Advocates Plan Protest of Attorney General’s Conclusions on Inmate Death for Nov. 17th
Members of the Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition will join together Nov. 17 to demonstrate against a recent ruling by the Attorney General’s Office that state prison guards were not responsible for the death of inmate Victor Valdez of Portland.
The group plans to present a “people’s indictment” of state corrections leaders for their documented complicity in Valdez’s death during a 10:30 a.m. demonstration in the State House Hall of Flags.
M-PAC members and other advocates also will call for a federal investigation and further independent investigations into Valdez’s death on Nov. 27, 2009, at Maine State Prison in Warren. Just one week before his death, Valdez became the subject of a letter-writing campaign by other prisoners, who contacted M-PAC directly with their concerns that Valdez had been assaulted by staff and denied medical help.
“These letters described physical beatings and severe medical neglect,” according to David Bidler, spokesman for the statewide coalition. “Multiple first-hand witnesses have recounted the same devastating series of events.”
M-PAC contacted state corrections officials after the letters started arriving to ask for protection for Valdez and alleges “no action was taken,” Bidler said.
Valdez is one of several prisoners who have died in Maine’s corrections system in the past year. He was put in solitary confinement on Nov. 19 and died on Nov. 27. He reportedly was coerced into signing an agreement to waive dialysis treatments that were among his required medical needs.
His body was quickly cremated and no autopsy was performed, Bidler said.
Stokes, who reportedly interviewed other prisoners, concluded that Valdez died of natural causes and nothing the guards did — or didn’t do — contributed to his death at the age of 52.
M-PAC has filed a Freedom of Access request for all state documents related to Valdez’s life and death at the prison — particularly the specifics of the investigation and all e-mails related to Valdez.
For more information on M-PAC or its demonstration, visit the group’s website at www.maineprisoneradvocacy.org.
I find it appalling and outrageous that such behavior occurs in our prison system. I hope our new governor turns his attention to this matter ASAP! I will happily sign any petition that is needed.