Sandoval Lockdown Letter
| June 19, 2003
Greg Fisher, Warden
Re: Antonio Sandoval, #57580 Subject: Lockdown Torture Dear Warden Fisher: On December 30, 2002 I wrote you a letter about the lockdown status of Elias Custodio, #56658. On March 14, 2003 Elias mailed me a letter that he had been released 3 days ago, and he was so very happy. Now he could visit with friends, play basketball and watch the Moon come up, these little things mean so much. Thank you very much for this action, it is appreciated. In the letter I mentioned another prisoner [Antonio Sandoval, #57580] who was also on lockdown because of race, he is Mexican. I have since received a letter from him, and have some more information that he provided. He states that he has been incarcerated for a mistake that he truly regrets, he was 19 and a girl told him she was of age, and she was not. Now he feels stupid for not being smarter. At the present time he has been in Administrative Segregation, which I call Lockdown and some prisoners call it being in the "hole." He has been told that the brother of the girl is there, and has ties with the "Aryan Brotherhood." Mr. Sandoval says he has been "back here for 2 years straight," even though he has had medium custody points for over a year and no disciplinary offenses. He is being told that the white people are waiting to get him, and he says that before he had no problems with anyone out in population. Those affiliated with Aryans are let out of Ad Seg, so the only reason he is still being held is because of race. There should be some better way of handling this, even if it was to lock up the Aryans and let Sandoval have some yard time. Mr. Sandoval also tells me that his mother speaks no English, and they took her off his visiting list, she had been approved already. When she came from Dinuba, California she was denied a visit, this is cruel and unusual punishment of someone that should not even be on lockdown. A violation of the Idaho Constitution, Article I, §6, against cruel and unusual punishment. Idaho Constitution, Article I, §6. RIGHT TO BAIL -- CRUEL
AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENTS PROHIBITED. All persons shall be bailable
by sufficient sureties, except for capital offenses, where the proof is
evident or the presumption great. Excessive bail shall not be required,
nor excess fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
I refer to issues raised about the evil and psychological damage of Lockdowns in my December letter, and request that immediate action be taken and Mr. Antonio Sandoval be placed in population to serve out the rest of his time. Also that actions be taken that his mother can visit, and not make a long trip for nothing. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely yours,
cc: Ralph Townsend, Chairman, Board of Corrections
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