Hello, my name is Jacinda Lee Allenbaugh, aka Harlequin, a prisoner at SCI [State Correctional Institution] Greene in Waynesburg, PA. I wanted to talk about Pennsylvania’s Violence Reduction Initiative, or VRI. This is implemented when one of three acts of violence occur, which are, one, assault on staff, two, fights involving more than two prisoners, and three, fight or assault with, or on, prisoners involving a weapon. In the VRI, the pod, or the entire block here at SCI Greene, is locked down for at least thirty six hours. Lock down is a total confinement to a cell, except for video visits. Programming and religious services are halted for the duration of the VRI. The DOC [Department of Corrections] claims that the VRIs reduce violence within the facility, but it’s a lie. It’s punitive and inhumane and unconstitutional. DOC officials get around it by claiming it’s not a punishment but a deterrent to violence. But how else can you explain it? We need exposure on this issue, and possibly legally to challenge VRIs in court. The DOC will not stop unless the courts order them to. We, the prisoners of Pennsylvania Department of Corrections have had enough. Thank you for your time and assistance. In struggle, Harlequin.
These commentaries are recorded by Prison Radio.
