Background

(It has been a couple of months since I last sat down to write. I have been in and out of depression and being content. For a while, the quiet was a way to cope, to simply get through each day. But silence has become a luxury we can no longer afford. I’m writing today because the situation where my husband, Michael, is incarcerated has escalated into a full-blown crisis, and the stories I’m hearing cannot go untold.)

The core of the problem is a catastrophic failure in medical care. Michael’s medication, which was carefully established by his endocrinologist, doctors, and many years of trial and error, is being changed constantly by the prison’s staff. This isn't a minor adjustment; it's a dangerous disregard for the specialist's orders, and his health is suffering for it. This is not an isolated incident. The facility has reportedly lost its medical license and is no longer accepting Level 3 or 4 care inmates—those with the most serious health needs.

Compounding this issue is a severe staffing shortage, apparently driven by recent governmental changes. The consequences are devastating and ripple through every aspect of life inside.

The conditions have deteriorated to a point that is difficult to comprehend. Basic human dignity is being stripped away.

• Widespread Neglect: Elderly men are reportedly left unattended, soiling themselves because no one is available to help. General hygiene has become a forgotten concept for many. The level of medical malpractice is staggering; my husband has described situations where basic first aid knowledge is absent among the very people responsible for inmate health.
• Loss of Hope: The human toll of this neglect is immense. Michael shared a story about another inmate, an elderly man who can no longer use the bathroom by himself. He told someone he would rather die now than endure a few more months in these conditions. When a human being loses the will to live because of a lack of basic care, the system has failed in its most fundamental duty.
• Infrastructure Collapse: Last week, the crisis reached a new low. Over 75% of the prison was without water for more than four hours. Toilets became clogged and overflowed. Men were left without drinking water. They were trapped in their units with no guards available to hear their concerns or provide assistance. The fear of retaliation is so strong that Michael asked me not to report it on social media or local stations, terrified that the staff would take it out on him and others.

This is not just a series of unfortunate events; it is a violation of fundamental rights. Federal law, specifically through the Eighth Amendment, guarantees inmates the right to adequate medical care. What is happening is a clear and systemic failure to uphold that law. These are not just inmates; they are fathers, sons, and husbands. They are human beings who deserve access to water, sanitation, and medical treatment.

Michael only has a few months left, and we are holding on to that hope with everything we have. But this is bigger than just our story. This is about a broken system where human lives are treated as disposable. It is a crisis of humanity, and it is happening right now, behind walls we cannot see. We must bring awareness to this and demand change.