Rare survey gives Death Row inmates voice
Ohio’s Death Row inmates dislike having bad food, bird droppings and no hot water, and they approve of contact visits with family, opening windows in their cells and a “laid back” prison atmosphere.
In a rare glimpse behind the walls of Death Row, 94 of 131 inmates at the Chillicothe Correctional Institution responded to a recent survey from the Correctional Institution Inspection Committee, a statelegislative watchdog agency. The surveys were done anonymously.
Inmates were asked about conditions at the prison: food, assaults, gang activity and the availability of drugs and alcohol, which are banned along with tobacco products.
Several inmates said tobacco, alcohol and drugs, including cocaine and heroin, are available at the prison in Ross County. About one-third of the inmates said no drugs were available. Just 17 of the 94 said they felt unsafe; none reported having sexual contact with a fellow inmate, although two declined to answer the question.
About two-thirds of respondents said they had not been “harassed, threatened, or abused” by the prison staff.
Surveys of inmates, particularly condemned killers, are rare. Inspection-committee Director Joanna Saul said her agency is one of the few in the country to do it. The survey was done with the cooperation of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
When offered the chance to voice opinions, inmates objected to having no hot water in cells; being handcuffed in showers; the poor quality of food provided by the private vendor, Aramark Correctional Services; and droppings from birds that enter the prison through open windows with no screens, creating a health threat. Some inmate complaints: “Less being handcuffed and chained like animals.”
“This place is old and falling apart. It’s nasty and gets everyone sick.”
“This is the worst prison that we’ve been in, no hot water, you can’t drink the sink water, the plumbing system is terrible, birds living here with us and leaving droppings.”
Prisons spokeswoman JoEllen Smith said screens to keep out the birds have been bought and should be in place by July 1.
Although the small-opening windows in inmate cells let in the birds, they also let in sunshine and air, making them the most frequently cited positive thing about Death Row. Other comments: “The warden and staff have always treated me with respect.” “It’s laid back.” “I will see Jesus Christ when they kill me.”
Most Death Row prisoners moved to Chillicothe from the Ohio State Penitentiary at Youngstown in late 2011. The section of the institution housing Death Row originally opened in 1926 as a federal prison.
Although Chillicothe is far older than most other state prisons, it has a gymnasium with a basketball court, a small outdoor recreation area and an indoor area where contact visits with family members are allowed. All were firsts for condemned prisoners in Ohio.
The full report including the survey is at www.ciic.state. oh.us/docs/Chillicothe%20 Correctional%20Institution %202014.pdf.