Prison Cover-Up

Online readers comment on "Prison Cover-Up," by Chris Vogel, March 6.

Injustice: As I read this today, it takes me back to that awful day. My husband was there. He told me of the horrible conditions he, as well as other inmates, endured. I think justice needs to be served. The inmates might be criminals, but they are human, were treated poorly and had no choice but to take what was given to them. All of their lives were put in jeopardy, and meanwhile, we were being told everything was fine. But it was not, and it's a shame that no one wants to take the blame for it. My husband was one who joined the lawsuit, and we are hoping everything turns out well for him and the other inmates. It really amazed me that this story would be on the cover. No one really talks about it, and I'm glad that you guys are giving the inmates a voice and a chance to have their bad experience discussed. The government is hush-hush, and someone needs to speak out against this injustice. My husband will be as pleased as me when he gets to read this article. Thanks, Houston Press!

Comment by NANCY LOPEZ

Avoid jail: If there were ever an incentive not to get involved with the prison industrial complex, this is it. This particular incident shows that you have absolutely no control over your life, that those who govern you care nothing about you or your family members.

As the great Henry Kissinger once stated, and I quote, "These people are just useless eaters."

Comment by Rodney

A few among thousands: Were conditions bad at USP Beaumont after Hurricane Rita? You bet. However, the inmates housed at the United States Penitentiary were nothing more than a few hundred out of thousands of individuals in Southeast Texas whose lives were disrupted by this natural disaster. My immediate family was affected greatly by Rita. The difference is that nobody was rushing tractor-trailer loads of generators, food, bottled water and clean laundry to them. These things were provided to the inmates at the Federal Correctional Complex. Anyone who is going to go on the record and say otherwise either wasn't there, is outright being dishonest or has another agenda to push.

Comment by In The Know

Offensive: I am not sure exactly what the prison officials did wrong. I stayed through Rita and was here for the chaos in the following months. Why should murderers, drug dealers, rapists and all other criminals receive priority over lawful citizens? I actually find the premise of this article quite offensive. I had no power or running water for 18 days, and some others went a full month. The men and women behind bars are there for a reason and deserve any treatment they get. Every day those men are fighting, stabbing and raping each other, but to go a couple days with peanut butter and bread is inhumane?

Comment by
Bcooper

Inhumane: Most of you people are idiots. I was an inmate at the prison camp when this happened, and it was inhumane. I've paid my debt to society, and I'm working and doing well now. Not everybody in prison is a rapist or murderer, and that's beside the point. There was a mandatory evacuation for this area, and we were the only ones "forced" to be left behind in harm's way. Sure, there were other non-inmates in the area who suffered, but they were not caged up like animals and forced to stay. Their dumb asses should have found a way out.

Comment by J. A. F.

Really? A "no comment" from the Bureau of Prisons, and that's it? Couldn't find anything else to balance your story? Did you try to find just one inmate or guard or relative that didn't think it was quite as bad? If you did try, you should have included it.

Or how about this. Wait until discovery gets started in the lawsuit to publish your story. If you had wanted to present a more balanced account, that would have been an easy way to do it.

Briefs, filings and other documents from all involved parties would then be available on the Internet to any yahoo with a computer. If the hurricane was so long ago and you could wait until the original complaint was filed, why not wait until you get another perspective in the court filings?

For all I know, conditions in the prison were as bad as your story says. But your story would be more compelling if you had handled the reporting better.

Comment by Robert

They're inmates: They should have moved the prisoners before Rita. That's it — the rest of it is bullshit. You compare your families and yourselves with the inmates. No way. Y'all had a choice and stayed, but they didn't. They are inmates; look up the meaning of the word. The feds are liable for them and their survival.

Comment by Dennis