I am a frequent visitor at SCI Chester for my loved one. I want to bring light and awareness about serious concerns regarding my treatment by visitation staff on Friday, December 26, 2025, at approximately 6:00 p.m., as well as similar incidents that have occurred previously. I have visited SCI Chester weekly for the past 6–7 months and I am fully familiar with the dress code and visitation procedures. On December 26th of 2025, after signing in and receiving my pass, I was stopped by Officer Kareem Warren (spelling uncertain) and told to change my dark green shirt. I complied without rebuttal and changed into another shirt I have worn on multiple prior visits without incident. After re-enteringthe screening process, Officer Warren again objected to my attire. When I requested to speak with his supervisor, Officer Warren stated, “There is nobody over me. I do not have a Lieutenant”. I found this statement alarming, inappropriate and an abuse of power. Even when I ask the female officer to call a lieutenant or Sergeant, she hesitantly declined due to Warren’s presence.

Because no supervisor was contacted, I called the facility and talked to the operator. I explained the situation to him, and he put me on hold to figure out who to direct me to, in which it resulted in him sending out Lieutenant Ortiz. I explained the problem to ORTIZ, referenced the previous times WARREN made me feel uncomfortable in a sexual manner and how I was given the name MURPHY to report before but because I chose to keep the peace and I did not. He told me that if I were to change to a different shirt, they weren’t going to deny my visit but I do have to get another shirt. He also instructed me to call Allison Murphy on Monday to place a formal complaint. I explained the shirt I had on before was a darker green shirt and WARREN still told me to change it. ORTIZ was even taken back however, we agreed that I would change into the original shirt and he would give me the approval to proceed with my visit. ORTIZ gave me the approval for the first shirt I had on that was rejected by WARREN. I proceeded to go through the procedure for check in.

Being a frequent visitor, I know first hand no lotion, oils or perfumes because the machine is sensitive. I have NEVER had to take the test twice. I am also aware that if the first scan fails, I have to wash my hands and the officer conducting the scan watches to ensure no foul play. Despite this the same officer, who I expressed discomfort with, did my fingerprint scan. Officer Warren later stated my hands tested “dirty” on the fingerprint scanner and instructed me to go to the bathroom and wash my hands. He did not supervise me washing my hands. The second time,he claimed my fingerprints were dirty still and stated he can only after me a no contact visit which I agreed to. WARREN then entered another room in which laughter and chatter could be heard and shortly thereafter, Officer Warren stated, “There are no rooms available. We can’t do your visit,” directly contradicting Lieutenant Ortiz and retaliating against me for speaking up.

When I requested further supervisory review, I was ignored by WARREN, rejected by a female officer and I was told by the same officer over the phone, “He doesn’t have to do anything, and you need to leave or the police will be called.” This lead me to disbelief that I was treated so inhumanly and humiliated for simply exercising my right to visit my loved one. After repeated requests to be assisted by a higher commanding officer, I was later addressed by an officer identifying himself as Captain Tim, who threatened police involvement without attempting to de-escalate or speak to me to understand the situation. TIM didn’t even spare me the courtesy of standing in a respectable distance from me and just talking in a stern, reasonable voice. He stood across the room and yelled at me like I was incarcerated.

Throughout this experience, I was repeatedly denied the opportunity to speak with supervising staff, subjected to inconsistent and contradictory explanations, harassed and treated with hostility and disrespect. I have never caused issues during my visits and have always complied with staff requests. This is evident in video footage and phone call of my quiet and respectful nature. This was the first time I spoke up, and my visit was subsequently denied and future visits have been suspended.

 While I sympathize the challenges faced by correctional staff and inmates, those challenges do not justify hostile or intimidating treatment of visitors. Family support is critical to rehabilitation, and visitors should not be made to feel harassed, humiliated, or fearful of retaliation. I was hesitant to report these issues sooner out of concern for my loved one, who may be nearing release, and I believe this fear may be why other visitors hesitate to file complaints. I’ve been coming to this prison for months, quietly, I never gave any of the officers problems. I’ve always respected their requests. Changed if they asked me to change with no rebuttal and for the first time, I was being treated unjustifiably horrible. 

There have been multiple occasions when I have watched some of the visitation staff be blatantly disrespectful towards visitors, their children and inmates while they are visiting their loved one. I wish to continue to visit my loved one, however I am now being retaliated against by the staff of this facility because I spoke up against the harassment I experienced from Officer Warren.

This is the message I am sending out to the Superintendent, PA DOC Central Office, Senators, Deputy Sheriff and any and everybody of relevance to the situation. I wanted to share this message with Change.org. Because through forums and social networking, I have discovered that these incidents happen more than people would think. This must be stopped! Department of Corrections highlights acts of prison rehabilitation but their staff contradict their own policies and practices when it comes to incorporating their families and friends to ensure successful efforts. 

Not only that but as citizens, taxpayers and people who are not incarcerated we should not be deemed to this level of inhumanity. 

I am requesting from SCI Chester and PA DOC as a step stone because ultimately this should be the gateway for all correctional institutions:

 1. A formal review of Officer Kareem Warren’s conduct in the visitation area.

2. Additional training for visitation staff on professionalism, communication, and

de-escalation when interacting with visitors.

 3. Clarification and enforcement of appropriate procedures when searching women and deciding whether attire is deemed appropriate, including the presence of female officers whenever possible.

4. Assurance that I will not face continued retaliation or unfair treatment during future visits. Also, the reinstatement of my visitation rights and privileges.

Non-Retaliation Notice:

I am submitting this complaint in good faith and in accordance with Pennsylvania Department of Corrections policy and applicable state and federal law. I respectfully request written assurance that neither I nor the incarcerated individual connected to this complaint will be subjected to retaliation, adverse treatment, or restricted access to visitation as a result of raising these concerns. Any form of retaliation, whether direct or indirect, would be inconsistent with DOC policy and could constitute a violation of protected rights. I respectfully request a formal review of this matter, appropriate corrective action, and confirmation that my visitation rights will not be unfairly restricted in the future.

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