My fiance Kenyatta Brown is an inmate at Menard Correctional Center. He was transferred to Menard in January 2020 after being set up by Internal Affairs at Stateville Correctional Center. Menard tried forcing him to cut his dred locks by denying him visits, showers, yard time, mail both legal and personal held amongst other things. He has been called racial names, had threats made by staff, and a continuous cycle of harassment. His family as well as himself does not feel he is safe at Menard. We live in fear of receiving a calling stating something seriously has happened to him. We live in fear of items being placed in our car upon searches.  He needs to be transferred to a facility where he is not bring targeted by Internal Affairs.

He currently has a lawsuit filed in the Southern District Court in regards to the harassment for not cutting his hair. Since the filing of his lawsuit he was placed under investigation for 30 days starting July 9, 2021 for allegations of him being involved in a fight in another house, when that was unfounded they kept him in seg stating they found a note in regards to some money. He explained to them they could listen to our call and show he asked me did someone send me some money for magazines. These magazines were bought through a company Menard issue the checked and allowed them in the facility. They found the magazines in his cell. They continue to keep him in seg. His release was Aug 9, IA once again tried another tactic. Stating on Aug 5 they received photos that tested positive for synthetic cannabis. The photos had a post mark date July 12. They held onto these photos for several weeks. The photos did not have anything on them. The photos had emojis printed on them. They were placed over people's hands due to the fact Menard constantly sends pics back stating hand gestures for gangs. Why wasn't these photos sent out to an outside lab for testing? Who conducted the testing and who was the witness? The same officer that wrote this ticket giving him 90 days in seg with 6 months no contact is included in the lawsuit. There was 3 different attempts during this investigation to try to frame him.  He was released from seg Oct 9.

On Dec 22 he was placed back in Seg for another investigation for conspiracy to commit staff assault, being labeled as a leader in a gang. Another inmate was trying to check himself into PC because he took some food.. He lied stating Kenyatta was trying to make him assault another officer. The c/o in the unit stated they knew it was a lie . Yet Internal Affairs never interviewed him. He received another 90 days without a hearing. In a 6 month time frame he has been given 180 days Seg time..He never had an issue with this officer. He has been incarcerated since 2007 and never been in seg more then 30 days, never had a staff assault and never labeled as a gang member until now. How can you be found guilty of something you never had a hearing on? How can you be found guilty by word of mouth without evidence? Why wasn't a poly graph given to both inmates? Why didn't Internal Affairs interview Kenyatta? I have called up to the prison and staff has made comments to me about another visitor, date and time. How can they give out that information and why? When calling to check on why he was in Seg. A Counselor stated he is under investigation for mailing in drugs, yet the ticket issued says something different. His mail is coming in with post dates torn off so he can't prove they are holding his mail.

We are aware of the lies, manipulations, false imprisonment, planting false evidence and we will not allow this to continue to happen. We have supportive documentation to verify the abuse and harassment taking place. We want policies changed. No inmate should be able to lie on another inmate without solid evidence. Poly graphs should be given to both inmates. Outside lab testing at the expense of the inmate should be allowed to verify allegations of drugs. There needs to be video recordings of the testing performed with an outside witness of Internal Affairs present. A full investigation on Internal Affairs from an outside source needs to be conducted on these issues.. These officers that continue to harass, set up, and abuse their authority needs to be held accountable for their actions. Their jobs need to be removed.

Please stop the brutal harassment and abuse of power in motion only Menard Correctional Center but in IDOC as well.