Guide for Families of Inmates at Federal Correctional Institution - Elkton Low, Ohio

It was like being sequestered in an adult daycare center. The younger inmates are loud, disrespectful, stupid, selfish, and constantly trying to game the system. Theft is everywhere except in the units where prisoners are expected to police themselves. Drug use is rampant, especially K2 and suboxine strips. Chewports (cigarettes made from leftover tobacco chew and ciggy butts) are both accepted and smoking regulations rarely enforced by lazy COs who do not want to do the paperwork involved. Theft and corruption among staff is also rampant. The inmate trust fund is regularly raided by staff to pay for other items not specified in the governing rules. The kitchen is robbed every day by inmates and staff alike. The food stolen is then SOLD to inmates in the units, taken home by staff, and 'stores' of all kinds exist. You can buy shoes, clothing, food, toiletries, tape, etc. Gambling and tattoo guys are common through the compound. Guards do NOT police this activity EVER. Safety regulations/inspections are routinely signed-off on without completion, inmates safety ignored without proper precautions taken, etc. And I GUARANTEE you that a detailed, forensic audit of the institutional books would reveal an abundance of fraud and corruption. Inmate healthcare is based upon emergency and crisis response, not need. Inmates wait for months, even years, to receive proper medical care. (EX: it often takes 6 months or longer to receive prescription eyeglasses). Inmates routinely see necessary medical care delayed or blocked until after they are released. I myself was diagnosed by Dr. Dunlop in April 2019 with possible prostate cancer yet 5 months later was still waiting for a tissue biopsy (ultimately released with no follow-up). Psychological care is at the level of a 15-year-old and entirely inadequate. Individual therapy is non-existent. The educational programming is mostly inmate-led courses without realistic supervision or oversight from staff. And the internal SIS lieutenants who are supposed to root-out corruption and inmate violence/conflict are sadly useless. I have been told by more than one LT that my concerns regarding a threat from a fellow inmate to hurt me and my family were both known and discounted by staff. Verbatim - "his bark is worse than his bite." I have kept detailed records of all this, including emails I have with medical staff. Sadly, the warden has never responded to my emails. Lastly, staff is often verbally hostile and overly-aggressive in their daily interactions with inmates. We are more often treated like animals and/or packages on a shelf than we are as human beings. It is an extraordinarily callous and abusive environment which engenders hopelessness and anger within the inmate population. Oh my God, I could go on but you get the idea. I can make the same arguments for the care I received while incarcerated at MCC Chicago.

My son has been at this facility 11 days now and I havent heard anything from him. I am very worried. Someone please help! May 1, 2021