Urgent support needed for INS detainee

Immediate support is needed for woman being held at INS contract detention facility in Florence, Arizona.

For the last 9 months or so I have doing support for Ann Marie Morris. Originally she was incarcerated at the women's prison in Chowchilla. Her sentence was up at the end of December, 2000. Since she was in the US as a permanent legal alien, the INS came and took her away for deportation proceedings on her release date. Even though she was a legal resident she is being deported as an "aggravated felon" (Her conviction was for child endangerment. Charges were not filed until 5 years after the alleged incident) under the draconian INS reform laws passed as part of the terrorism legislative hysteria in 1996.

At this time she is being held in administrative segregation and medicines she needs are being withheld despite the facilities medical staff prescribing them. It is pretty clear that this is in retaliation for her filing a sexual harassment grievance against two male guards who were watching female detainees take showers from an observation area above the pod. The CCA Florence staff are claiming she has been very aggressive toward them and other detainees. In her words "they do not like the fact that I speak up for myself." The Corrections Corporation of America, which has a rather bad reputation, manages the Florence facility under contract to the INS.

Unfortunately there is little that can be done about the deportation order at this time, I have already made housing and support arrangements for her in Trinidad, her country of origin. I would urge everyone to call some of the numbers that follow and demand humane treatment for Ann Marie (her INS processing number is 36003151) and all other INS detainees. Tell the warden and other concerned individuals that you want an end to the administrative segregation and for her to receive the medicines and medical care she requires. Also, any letters of support to Ann Marie Morris would be greatly appreciated. She feels pretty alone in there. Her address is: Ann Marie Morris, A36-003-151, CCA Florence Correctional Center, LD 105-B, PO Box 6900, Florence, AZ 85232.

Thank you,

Stephen Dunifer
510-549-0732/510-666-9903
xmtrman [at] pacbell.net
2547 8th Street, Unit 24
Berkeley, CA
94710

Florence Arizona Facilities

Correction Corporation of America
P.O. Box 1048
Florence, AZ 85232
(520) 868-3668

Florence Correctional Center (CCA)
1100 Bowling Rd
P.O. Box 2667
Florence, AZ 85232
(520) 868-9095
Fax: (520) 868-9565

Warden for CCA Florence - Pablo Sedillo
Programs Manager CCA Florence - Gary Churich

INS

INS Case Officers: Kelly Stats 1-520-868-5862 extension 178

CCA Information

Corrections Corporation of America
Investor Relations Hotline
(800) 624-2931 - ext. 3990

Contact:

Kevin Ashburn, Director
kevinashburn [at] correctionscorp.com


CCA Corporate Offices
10 Burton Hills Boulevard
Suite 100
Nashville, Tennessee 37215
(615) 263-3000 or 1-800-624-2931
Phone: 615-263-0200
Fax: 615-263-0212
Toll Free: 888-350-7348
http://www.correctionscorp.com/

Corrections Corporation of America -West Coast
David L. Myers, President
West Coast Region
1121 L Street, Suite 500A
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 554-0130

PR Firm for CCA

Edward Howard and Co
216-781-2400 .
Fax - 216-781-0025 .
1360 E 9th Street, 7th Floor
Cleveland Ohio, OH .