[Greater-Baltimore] SB0539 and HB0786

[Pare, John]

Michael:

I am wondering if this bill splits down party lines or is more bipartisan. Where is Governor Hogan on this?

John

John G. Paré Jr. 
(410) 659-9314 x 2218
National Federation of the Blind


-----Original Message-----
From: Greater-Baltimore [mailto:greater-baltimore-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Michael Gerlach via Greater-Baltimore
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2018 8:01 PM
To: Michael Gerlach
Cc: Michael Gerlach
Subject: [Greater-Baltimore] SB0539 and HB0786

Hello everyone,
I am writing to inform you of a bill that is in committee at the Maryland General Assembly right now with regards to how prisoners with disabilities are being treated in solitary within Maryland's Correctional Institutions.
The bill numbers are Senate, SB0539 and House, HB0786.
This bill aims to limit the overuse of the current inhumane practices of solitary confinement especially for those with a mental or physical disability and vulnerable populations.  It creates alternative and graduated sanctions for a fair use of segregation, and provides better care for those needing to be in segregation to limit the mental and physical debilitation that current practices cause.  This is not a ban on consequences for bad behavior or use when it is an absolute necessity, it instills needed limitations and accountability to create more safety and reduce damage. The current practices have been proven to be counter-productive, destructive and contribute to negative outcomes upon release. For the sake of humanity and the sake of our communities, support this legislation to create changes that make sense.
I have attached the following documents:
A copy of the bills, one Senate and one House, which wil show who has sponsored the bills.  The text is the same for both.
A copy of 2 templates, one for the Senate and one for the House, for letters that can be drafted to support this bill.
A copy of some facts and talking points with regard to solitary confinement.
A copy of the Disability Rights maryland (DRM) report, Beyond Incarceration, which outlines some of the horrific details that were found in their investigation as to what disabled prisoners are experiencing.
Please take a few minutes and read this.  It will definitely make you think long and hard about what is really going on behind those walls.  Reading this report is what got me involved in this project and I think you will truly be appauled by DRM's findings.
If you have been incarcerated, are the directly impacted family member of someone who is, or just a concerned constituent, this is your opportunity to have your voice heard.
Here are some thoughts and ideas that you can use in your written testimony that will help this bill along.
If you are, or feel, directly impacted SAY HOW AND WHY!!!  PLEASE briefly tell your personal connection to this issue.
If you or your person fits into a vulnerable population and has experienced solitary while incarcerated, elaborate on this in the testimony and explain why this affects your loved one and how it affects YOU and your family!!
Tell them why the horrible and devastating effects of the overuse and misuse of solitary confinement is wrong and needs to be restricted.
Indicate why you believe the overuse and misuse of solitary is wrong.  It would be good to state that this is a public safety and community issue because they are destroying these individuals' mental and physical health and then releasing them without treatment causing more harm to our communities.
Also, in closing your written testimony, PLEASE ask them to issue a favorable response to the bill(s) and VOTE YES to SB539 or HB786 depending on which letter you are writing.
Your testimony does not have to be long; make it brief, to the point and use the details that you find most impactful.  Please remember that they will not read a book; keep testimony to about two to three minutes if the written testimony would be read.
Please submit all written testimony which can be identical for both letters, just make sure you are noting the right bill numbers on the correct template to marylandprisonersrights at gmail.com by Monday morning 02/12/2018.
Now is the time to use YOUR VOICE and get others to do the same. Please share this email and information with your networks, friends, loved ones and colleagues.
On behalf of The Maryland Prisoners' Rights Coalition (MPRC) and the ACLU of Maryland, I appreciate your time and hope that you can lend your assistance to this legislation.
Best regards,
Michael Gerlach

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