Email a copy of 'Part I, Dying in Cell 40: Flaws in Vermont's prison medical system were fatal for Ashley Ellis' to a friend
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Articles in this series
- Can Correct Care Solutions offer Vt. inmates more health services for $2 million less?
- Part II, Dying in Cell 40: State hired for-profit firm with rap sheet of death and lawsuits
- Part I, Dying in Cell 40: Flaws in Vermont's prison medical system were fatal for Ashley Ellis
I retired from The Prisoners’ Rights Office, a division of theOffice of the Public Defender here in Vermont. I find it odd that the Public Defender, Mr. Valerio, is making excuses for the State’s Attorney’s office. PHS cannot be prosecuted by the State because PHS is too big? This appears to be a replay of the recent financial meltdown wherein some banks were ‘to big to fail.’ It is, in reality, bullshit.
I was incarcerated at NWSCF for lack of residence on August 16th and was in the dining hall when the correctional officers and medical staff went running down the hall to Delta. Delta is right across from the dining hall. We saw them run with oxygen first and then another group ran with paddles. We knew at that point, there was a crisis. After about three minutes, one of the correctional officers looked crestfallen and asked us all to return to our units and lock in. At first, we were told that she choked on her breakfast. As girls came up from Delta and joined population, we learned the truth.
The nursing staff at PHS were wonderful, for the most part. However, the fact that vital medication was withheld from an inmate is inexcusable when depression and sleep meds are given like candy.
“I was incarcerated at NWSCF for lack of residence”
I heard this term today in reference to Vermont. Is it as simple as you can go to jail for not having a place to live? Or what’s the full story?