Tracey Grissom was a victim of domestic violence, wrongly imprisoned for defending herself, and now finds herself in jail without proper healthcare. Shortly after Tracey was kidnapped, beaten and raped by her ex-husband, she shot him. At her trial she was unable to introduce evidence of her ex’s abuse and was sentenced to 25 years. While in prison, Tracey has not been able to get the treatment she needs for injuries sustained from her abuse. The justice system failed Tracey when she was the victim. The least it can do is provide her the treatment she needs to survive while she serves her time away from her two children, family, and friends. Please tell officials at the Alabama Department of Corrections and Tutwiler prison to stop neglecting their inmates and give Tracey the treatment she needs.

I am a friend of Tracey. I was there to see the bruises on her body and the fear in her eyes when she told me about what her ex husband had done to her. It was horrifying to know that there was nothing I could do to help her. She suffered so much. Now, I see a different type of suffering in her eyes when I go to see her at Tutwiler prison. I decided I couldn’t let Tracey get abused all over again and started this petition to get her the medical help she needs.

Due to the injuries Tracey suffered from her ex-husband’s brutal attacks, she now has to wear an ileostomy bag which requires constant changing and maintenance. It’s been less than 6 months since she started serving her sentence and she has had constant struggles getting the equipment and care she needs from the prison hospital staff. In one case her bag was left to overflow and her calls for help were ignored. The overflow from the bag began to irritate and burn her skin. This is just one of the many incidents she has had since her incarceration at Tutwiler prison.  Unless she gets the care she needs, Tracey could lose her life..

Tracey’s situation is not unique when it comes to the Alabama Department of Corrections. In 2014, the Southern Poverty Law Center, Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program, and 40 inmates filed suit against the Alabama Department of Corrections for failing to provide adequate medical care and accommodations for the disabled. The  Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections, and Equal Justice Initiative have all cited Tutwiler Prison for failing to protect inmates.

Tracey is just one of nearly a 1000 women subject to the negligence of prison guards and medical staff. I refuse to watch her become a victim again. But I need your help. Please send a message that even those in prison deserve fair and humane treatment. Tell ADOC Commisioner Billy Sharp the time is now to take action and stop neglecting the medical needs of Tracey and other inmates today.

The least it can do is provide her the treatment she needs to survive while she serves her time away from her two children, family, and friends