Condition of inmates in Galveston County Jail is questioned

[FourScore]

Reports from the Galveston County Jail, where 1,000 inmates were not allowed to evacuate during Hurricane Ike, are raising concerns of unsanitary conditions and inhumane treatment at the facility.

"They're just sitting there, they're desperate, it's disease waiting to happen," said Shirley Rutledge, a Hardin County resident whose son, an inmate there, told her they haven't been able to bathe or wash their hands because water is in short supply. "This is inhumane treatment for them. ... And now the mayor is saying the city is uninhabitable. So does that mean uninhabitable for everyone except the prisoners?"

SNIP

Ms. Rutledge, however, said her son reports a tinderbox atmosphere inside the jail.

"He told me this afternoon, 'I feel like, in here, that if somebody snaps their fingers, there's going to be a riot,' " Ms. Rutledge said.

Two days ago FEMA would still not provide generators.

A group that calls itself Christian has provided the jailers, who must not have an easy job, with hygiene kits. Unfortunately, the incardinated don't have even the basic means to clean themselves, so even with provisions their guards are in danger of contagion.

Many of these prisoners are held for minor drug offences, DUI, or are simply awaiting trial. Some of them aren't much older than children. It is immoral not to resolve this situation.

What went so horribly wrong in America?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/18/21262/5294/837/603263

[madrchsod]

1. republicans and others who only care about themselves......

[VeraAgnes]

2. I heard they were moved out/evacuated.

The public was not told when or where for security reasons. Makes sense to me...........Announcing such a move is complex and offers the potential for escape. An escape could cause injury or death to the innocent.:scared:

[ellaydubya]

3. A dear friend of our family is in there....

A friend of my sons... and my friend. He got in some trouble with drugs, messed us his probation, and he ended up in jail. This happened around July 4th. A lawyer messed up his release about a month ago, and then Ike came.

This kid is like my son- he's in his mid-twenties, good family, smart, funny, good-looking, too cool for his own good, and he calls me "Momma". I am heartbroken, sickened, and getting more pissed off by the moment. This is really hard to deal with- This is so, so wrong.

It is unbelievable that this is happening in my home state of Texas- I would never have imagined.

I am speechless....I know I am carrying on, I just can't stop.

[TomInTib]

4. It makes me ill, ellay. nt

[pacalo]

5. Texas desperately needs an attitude check-up wrt the penal system.

That's very inhumane & infuriating.

When we were traveling back home from Gustav in Louisiana, we passed a caravan of LA Dept. of Corrections buses that were apparently taking evacuated prisoners back to whichever jail they came from.

Shame, shame on Texas prison authorities & the governor who either gave the order or approved it.