Campaign in Defense of Jose Luis, Now Demands Healthcare

Barrio Defense Committee

P.O. Box 1523 * San Jose, CalifAztlan 95109 * (408) 885-9785

Build a barrio defense committee in your barrio!

July 18, 2005

SENT VIA FAX AND U.S. MAIL

FAX: 559-992-4636

Albert K. Scribner, Warden

Corcoran State Prison

P.O. Box 8800

Corcoran, CA 93212



SENT VIA FAX AND U.S. MAIL

FAX: 916-324-1477

Jeanne Woodford, Director

California Department of Corrections

P.O. Box 942883

Sacramento, CA 94283


Re: Jose Luis’ Eye Sight Deteriorating due to the SHU Isolation

Jose Avina #J86625 – Corcoran State Prison

Warden Scribner and Director Woodford:

I am the mother of Jose Avina #J86625 who is held hostage in the Corcoran SHU Prison. I recently came back from seeing my son Jose Luis. My son tells me that he has been asking for eyeglasses for over 2 months now and has not had any response from neither the “doctor” nor your administration. The glasses that the State provided him are no longer helping his deteriorating eyesight and they are extremely heavy and are causing other effects due to the weight.

This is the concern:

My son was kidnapped upon the orders of Governor Gray Davis (by retaliating against my son) and transported to the Security Housing Unit (SHU) on December 17, 1999 for speaking out on behalf of 67 hunger strikers in New Folsom Prison. As a result of this retaliation the Dept. of Corrections has punished my son by stuffing him in the control units that deny the 5 human senses that you call the SHU.

Since 1999, my son has suffered the loss of his right eyesight. Note that none of my children wear glasses except for my son Jose Luis who is in the SHU. This is the result of the SHU.

This is what I demand immediately:

1.
2. I want to know who the eye doctor is (if any), his name and address;
3. I want to know when my son was examined and how often (if at all);
4. I want to know if he will be examined and how often;
I want to know that you will provide for the glasses he needs that they are not heavy as the ones he has now are causing pain due to the thickness of the weight. Otherwise, I will provide for them. If that is the case, then I need to get his eye prescription by the “eye doctor” and the necessary documentation needed. I want this done immediately.



My son has been stuffed in this Abu Gharaib cell since December 17, 1999 unnecessarily. He must be taken out of the SHU now. (See Sept. 1, 2004 documentation). I demand a detailed explanation why he hasn’t. I need a response within 10 days from the date of this letter in writing and by phone (408) 885-9785. This letter will also go to the Honorable Judge Henderson and to people who believe that prisons are not the answer to the disastrous social problems this government has created.



Quetza (Maria Ortiz)