"These are men and women suffering in jail, prisons, camps and cages around our country. Please sign this petition to show support and demand change for these loved ones behind the wall." -- Justice Warriors
"The eighth amendment provides prisoners with limited rights of protection against cruel and unusual punishment during the course of confinement. These rights extend to the existence of humane living conditions, adequate medical care, and protection from violence by other inmates." -- ofp.gov/prison-overcrowding-eighth-amendments
Humans should NOT have to BEG JAIL STAFF, JAILERS AND DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS to treat them HUMANELY. The following story highlights what one person at Warren County Jail, in Bowling Green, Kentucky has had to endure. Thank you for reading!
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SUMMARY:
The following case will be a 3 PART SERIES. There is just too much information to include it all in one post. This is a case of a man that fell sick 2022, while being held at the Warren County Regional Jail in Bowling Green, KY. His complaints for needing medical attention were continually ignored. His condition worsened over a period of about 2 months, and he was FINALLY taken to an outside health facility but not until he was found nearly unresponsive. At the health facility he CODED BLUE for 30 seconds, and was revived.
***Prior to this happening, he and his family had contacted the Warren County Jail and the Kentucky Department of Corrections, in an attempt to obtain proper medical treatment and to expedite his transferral from WCRJ to another jail.
He filed a LAWSUIT against the Jailer Steve Harmon, Southern Health Partners and the City. It was DENIED once and he APPEALED the courts decision. This appeal was also denied for LEGAL TECHNICALITIES. This appears to be the norm, as MOST inmates are forced to REPRESENT THEMSELVES and do not always present their cases properly.
As far as I know, this man was transferred eventually and still has 1 year to serve.
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***The following quotes are from emails and phone calls from the family of this inmate, and between Jailer Steve Harmon, employees of DOC & the Attorney Generals office.
No. 1 -- FROM: Tamra McMichael (Tami) TO: Harley Allen, KY-DOC
June 28, 2022 10:33 am
*** "If she doesn't answer, please leave a message. She is very concerned about her brother. She has received word that he is in the hospital and she is worried. Thank you, Tamra"
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No. 2 -- FROM: Harley Allen TO: Stephen Harmon (Jailer)
June 28, 2022 12:44 pm
*** "Good afternoon, Can you advise before I call this person back? Thanks."
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No. 3 -- FROM: Stephen Harmon TO: Harley Allen
June 28, 2022 1:48 pm
*** "He is ONE OF THE INMATES in the HOSPITAL. I sent the hospitalization notification as directed. He is still admitted."
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No. 4 -- FROM: Harley Allen TO: Tamra McMichael
June 28, 2022 4:14 pm
Subject: Response Call - FINAL
"Return call made today at 4:07 PM EDT.
Advised the sister that *** is in the hospital but that . . .
- I DO NOT KNOW WHERE
- and IF I DID I would not release due to security issues
- and that I DO NOT KNOW THE REASONS for being in the hospital
- and IF I DID I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ADVISE without a ROI signed by the inmate.
The sister was upset because she stated the jail wouldn't tell her whether he was in jail or not. I advised her that her option is to call the jail and inquire about *** signing a ROI so they can communicate medical info with her."
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No. 5 -- FROM: Melinda Brewer (Governor Beshear's Office) TO: Jeri Hines (DOC)
Subject: Medical
Importance: High
June 29, 2022 1:47 pm
*Good afternoon Jeri, Got a medical issue: ***********************
Warren County Jail complaint. Her brother has been hospitalized and the jail won't give any updates. Mr. Allen at DOC confirmed he was hospitalized. Wants to know if there is a way they can get a medical release to him to be signed so they can find out more information about his health."
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No. 6 -- FROM: Jeri Hines TO: Kirstie Willard
June 29, 2022 4:05 pm
Subject: Medical
Importance: High
*** (There was no message in this email, so I am assuming that Jeri Hines simply forwarded the previous message to the Director of the Department of Corrections.) - ST (change..org petitioner)
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No. 7 -- FROM: Kirstie Willard (Director of KY-DOC) TO: Harley Allen (DOC)
Cc: Tamra McMichael
Subject: FW: Medical
Importance: High
June 30, 2022 9:19 am
*** "Can you call her and let her know that she will need to reach out to the jail directly regarding a medical release."
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No. 8 -- FROM: Harley Allen TO: Kirstie Willard (Director of DOC)
Cc: Tamra McMichael
Subject: Medical
JUNE 30, 2022 9:27 am
*** "That was articulated to her in my conversation with her on 6/29 @ 4:07 pm EDT. Apparently she then contacted the jail and spoke to Jailer Harmon after the conversation.
***JAILER HARMON CALLED ME approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour later TO MAKE SURE THAT IS WHAT I TOLD HER and to ensure it was OK with the KDOC allow an ROI.
He also reported confirming with her that he is in the hospital and that it is not critical stating that if it was he would have already contacted her to allow for visitation at the hospital.
Just let me know if you want me to call her back to re-articulate this but it appears she has the info that she needs."
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*** (Nearly 2 months later this particular male inmate wrote yet ANOTHER letter to Commissioner Cookie Crews.) -- (The letter had KW [assuming KW is initials for DOC DIRECTOR KIRSTIE WILLARD] Warren Co. written on the top of it and stamped with "CLASSIFICATION AUG 25, 2022 - RECEIVED) . . .
AUGUST 16, 2022
Dear Honorable Commissioner Cookie Crews;
I'm writing you in regards to my medical condition and my transfer to a state facility. I got a letter from Harley Allen stating that the JAILER HARMON here at Warren Co Reg. jail request has been approved for my medical transport.
I'm waiting on Frankfort to do it.
I'm in fear for my life here,
- I have already been hospitalized 4 times
- because of this medical Dept.
- and this Jails negligence,
- I also have a Federal Civil lawsuit against this facility and the medical Dept.
The head nurse from Southern Health Partners has already been fired from here due to medical neglect . . .
- and I feel that they are letting my health get worse because of this and once again. . .
*** I AM IN FEAR FOR MY LIFE,
I need the help to get away from here ASAP. I'm already approved. JUST NEED FOR FRANKFORT TO SEND PAPERWORK TO TRANSFER.
Mrs. Crews THESE PEOPLE DON'T CARE IF I DIE HERE, I'm BEGGING you for HELP, I greatly appreciate you.
Thanks for your time & Consideration
Sincerely,
******
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1st RESPONSE:
From:( Alan Long/ for Kylor Wilson, Justice Program Administrator @ Justice & Public Safety Cabinet at KY-DOC)
AUGUST 30, 2022
I am in receipt of your recent correspondence regarding concerns about the medical care you are receiving in the county jail.
This office has no jurisdiction over jail medical care. Your correspondence has been forwarded to: Director of Local Facilities, Kentucky DOC, PO BOX 2400, Frankfort, KY 40602 . . . I hope this information is helpful. Sincerely, Alan Long
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2nd RESPONSE:
(From: Harley Allen, Division of Local Facilities)
SEPTEMBER 7, 2022
Your letter regarding your concern about medical at the Warren County Regional Jail was forwarded to this office for review and response.
The Warren County Regional Jail has. . .
- CONTRACTED with Southern Health Partners to provide medical services at the jail.
- The licensed medical professionals employed by SOUTHERN HEALTH PARTNERS are responsible for making all medical decisions at the jail.
- NEITHER this office . . . NOR jail staff . . . can dictate the medical treatment you receive.
A check with the jail indicates that, as of the date of my last letter to you, August 4, 2022, YOU HAVE NOT FILED ANY GRIEVANCES AT THE JAIL regarding medical.
*That is that appropriate avenue to address said complaints.
Also, the go back over what was in my last letter to you,. . .
- the Division of Local Facilities DOES NOT oversee the medical request process.
- This office has NO ESTIMATION on WHEN BED SPACE will be available
- and has NO further RESOLUTION to offer you REGARDING THIS ISSUE.
Sincerely,
Harley Allen, Jail Services Specialist @ Division of Local Facilities, KY-DOC
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CONCLUSION:
After reviewing this CIRCUS SHOW of how the Kentucky Department of Corrections and the Warren County Regional Jail has:
- mishandled this mans DIRE HEALTH situation,
- mishandled his SISTERS REQUESTS for ROI on his health status,
- mishandled his TRANSFERENCE to another facility . . .
The following sentence really stuck in my brain as I reviewed all of these documents. It's simply AMAZING how this man was BEGGING for HELP and didn't realize the entire time that he was asking for assistance that the JAILER was in frequent communication with Division of Local Facilities, and the Governors office was also in close communication with them and YET this man didn't receive proper medical treatment or transferred promptly.
What is MORE ASTONISHING is the fact that Jailer Steve Harmon called Harley Allen in order to make sure they were all on the same page of what they were telling this man's sister. Harmon ALSO asked Allen if it was OK with KDOC if he allowed the ROI (Request of Information).
Without it, they had already advised the inmates sister that that was the ONLY way she could find out how her brother was doing in the hospital. Remember, at this point, he had already coded blue once and had been in and out of the hospital multiple times. When he had asked for proper medicine for his illness, he was allegedly denied. Imagine the frustration!
(*** "JAILER HARMON CALLED ME approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour later TO MAKE SURE THAT IS WHAT I TOLD HER and to ensure it was OK with the KDOC allow an ROI." - H. Allen, DOC)
I am in UTTER DISMAY at the AVALANCHE of INCOMPETENCE in this case. The lack of action here and the passing of the buck never ended! As a direct result, I have ZERO FAITH in our "JUSTICE" system.
- Why does the DOC stick people in jail and then ignore their needs?
- Why do they put the blame on the contracted medical provider?
- The answer is simple.
- To ESCAPE ACCOUNTABILITY & LIABILITY.
- Period.
All they do is message each other back and forth, covering for each other and figuring out the best response in order to do the least amount of work and to escape liability. Sadly, they are actually making MORE WORK for themselves! If everyone involved would just DO THEIR JOBS ASSIGNED, we wouldn't have all of these problems.
In Part 3 of this blog series, we will review how the lawsuit went that this inmate filed against those responsible for his lack of medical care. We wonder WHY so many men and women come out of JAIL/PRISON worse than when they went in? Warren County Jail boasts about "REENTRY PROGRAMS" and such . . . but in reality a stay at this shit hole is not one I would wish on my worst enemy!
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"American Prisoners & Jail Inmates MEDICAL NEGLECT. Run around -- Run around. Out of Sight -- Out of Mind. These are the FORGOTTEN people of America." -- ST