Inmates Protest Racist Treatment, Unsanitary Conditions at Erie County Holding Center

Dear Editor:

We are writing because we need your help with getting the word out in regards to what we are going through here at the Erie County Holding Center.

For starters, they have us stuck in the old part of the jail and when it 's 90 degrees outside like today it is 120 to 130 degrees inside and they're not doing nothing about it! This is not right for any of us inmates to have to deal and live like this.

Secondly they don't follow any rules – not their own made up rules or any rules by New York State (minimum standards-Albany). On July 5th 2023 an officer called us Nigger to our face and no action was taken with that officer. Me and a few other inmates have written grievances and they didn't do anything. The bad part is they did not even answer our grievances back which is our right as inmates. The only thing that did take place about this officer was the removal of the Black officer that was working our unit . My brother died in a car crash and I wrote, as well as my family called and left messages, for (permission for me) to go to my brother’s funeral. I was denied my right to go pay my last respects to my brother and that's something that will always weigh heavy on my heart and soul. This jail has no respect for Black inmates or their families. The reason why I was told I couldn't go to my brother’s funeral was because Lackawanna is not a safe place for inmates to go. Lackawanna is a Black community and they are biased!

I have good reason for saying and believing this because a few other inmates and myself over heard two maintenance workers talking about how they had to set up tables for the Tops shooter to have dinner with his family for Thanksgiving! A man who killed ten Black people! Now if I did that to 10 White people would I get treated the same way? No!

Something really needs to be done about this place and the way that they treat inmates - and not just Black but all of us.

Nothing good has came out of this place since the new guy (Garcia) took over the jails. He is not making anything better, except perhaps, his pockets! The jail is still dirty so the pictures that they keep showing on the NEWS of this jail being clean, well let them show where that part of the jail is and I will show you that same place and everywhere that this jail is dirty.

They don't change our clothes, sheets or towels. I have had the same towel for over 30 days and how am I supposed to be clean after a shower!

So as I said, we need your help and everyone’s help that reads this letter. Someone reading it may have a family member here with me now that is living under these harsh conditions!

Signed,

Carvis McCutcheron & Five Other Inmates