Sunday, December 21, 2025

John Berard

 7/29/25 to Peg Swan

Today during showers a corrections officer, in an attempt to subdue inmates who were fighting, did kick one of the inmates in the head repeatedly. This was witnessed by at least 10+ inmates. Further after the fight was stopped, one inmate in hand cuffs, one of the involved inmates was unsecured and allowed to attack the secured inmate. This happened with 6+ corrections officers present.

Secondly this is the 2nd week in a row that we have gone 5 or more days without a shower in very high heat and humidity. This leads to very unhygienic conditions. This also means our clothing,, underwear, shirts, pants and socks are very soiled with sweat and body oils as well as nasty smells as we exchange them at showers. This is very disgusting and tantamount to torture as well as being inhumane.

All inmates at WCI are being shown by staff, our front line example of how to act, is to treat people, especially those in our care as badly as we can.

How does any sane person in the community expect people releasing from this community creates environment to reintegrate in to society after any period of time surviving in an environment like I am currently in. All the current prison environment does is turn out hatred towards society and those that condone this type of treatment for people who have made mistakes and or are actually innocent of their crimes such as myself.

I ask staff regularly what they are teaching us and how this is making any of us better people for society reintegration. I never receive any type of answer from those tasked with having the answer by law. Yet we, being held at the many Wisconsin torture concentration camps are considered an offender and criminal.Shame on those that support the Wisconsin Mega Prison Money generation machine concentration camps. Hitler and those like him would be proud of the system in Wisconsin. Whats next, urbanization gas in the showers.

John Berard state slave #455358


Saturday, December 20, 2025

First look

 
Below are some of the prisoners posted here; look at the side bar to this blog and you will see prisoners listed by last name. Under that is  a listing by issues. Each prisoner gets a link to his or her particular post and is asked to send it to family and friends. We  hope this helps start a movement for real change.
This blog is in its infancy and we ask for you patience.

Main issue I am starting with - conditions in RHUs ( restrictive housing units)in our maximum prisons. 
link to gathering post on that issue: 

Corleon Thomas, TIS prisoner
with too much time
this case is a good example of the wrongheadedness
 of truth  in sentencing




Sean Forester -Hoare: he and his family believe he has Mrsa, is also trying to prove his innocence. FFUP's attempts to get confirmation of diagnosis and treatment unsuccessful- picking this up again
Terrance Grissom- mentally ill . in for disrupting, here still 20 years later/ needs to go home to colorado where his mother resides



Bryant Johnson, on 24 hr oxygen ,
 need compassionate release
another pld friend to FFUP- old law prisoner ,eligible for parole for decades 


Bill Brocket too long in prison



Raymond Woods
first post describes being "inmate"


Nate Lindell, another story of transformation: from Bigot to a caring and effective litigator/many good ideas to share

Jimmy Johnson 328433  FLCI
always claimed innocence, now has proof, given the absurd amount of time- 113 years
working with FFUP prisoner litigator guides. 
;

 

Kendrick Sellers 
first blogpost tells of lessons about racism he learned from his father. 


Luis Nieves has stage 4 cancer. We worked with him in 22 and 23 after he had  all  his meds and palliative care taken away when new doctor came in- This is a good example of WIDOC health care and the "special needs committee" which can override any recommendations and orders made by off site, independent doctors


Friday, December 19, 2025

Introduction

 

This blog tries to do many things and is under construction but the skeleton is here

1)Anyone who want to post here can have their own post and add to it regularly, sending their writings to me. The viewer can find  any specific prisoners' posts by typing in the name on the search box on the upper left of every web page or by scrolling down on the right where names are giving in alphabetical order. The search box (upper left)works the best.

2) Our campaign outline is here. We will be lawyer hunting in earnest starting November first for several class actions. We have been advised to break up our cases into small groups, that presenting a broth instead of a stew to lawyers will be more successful. We will be going to legislators and the public with with these cases and with stories for families in an effort to educate the public on who they are incarcerating and to expose the incredible corruption lying at the heart of WIsconsin's prisoner systme. Everyone who touches it is traumatized.

I have posted the cases by main issues:

prisoners receiving:

1)no effective health care-physical

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2025/10/cases-no-health-care-physical.html

2)no effective health care-mental

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2025/10/cases-on-mental-health.html

3) no care all issues

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2025/10/cases-prisoners-with-no-care-all-issues.html

4)PREA violations unaddressed 

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2025/10/cases-prea-violations-unaddressed.html

5)criminal cases , justice denied

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2025/10/criminal-cases-where-justice-is-needed.html

6) waivers for commutation of sentence. We will present to EVERS requesting commutation  of sentence . Every governor, upon leaving office, can order the release of prisoners thru  pardon or commutation of sentence. 

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2025/10/cases-to-present-to-evers-for-release.html

7)no treatment for drug or alcohol abuse, Sex offender treatment a scam

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2025/10/cases-no-treatment-alchohol-and-drug.html

8)rampant retaliation

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2025/10/cases-retaliation-for-advocacy.html

9)policy and law changes needed

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2025/10/cases-policy-change-ideas.html

10)campaign tools

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2025/01/campaign-tools-links.html


Coming: links to tools for families

Friday, October 17, 2025

prelude

This blog is under construction but the basic structure is here.

on the RIGHT are two main lists:  one that lists prisoners by last name and one that collects prisoners documents and writing by issues .The issue listing is very incomplete. 

Also on the top left of each post is a white box swhere you can type the name of the prisoner whose post you want to see. 

The main reason for this blog is that FFUP's advocacy is stuck. The WIDOC is in "defense mode" and is unresponsive to our concerns and too afraid of the public's ire against prisoners and too scared of losing more staff to do anything but give soothing platitudes. We must reach beyond out inner circles and build a power base that pushes for compassion and wisdom instead of unending revenge.

A major focus now is getting real relief for prisoners in our RHUs ( solitary confinement- "Restrictive hosing units") where conditions defy description. 

"animal in a Cage" by DarRen Morris


In "Summer 2024 Report On Solitary Torture" I gather documents and writings from prisoners representing the ongoing abuse . Most of these men  have family members who will step up and bear witness, so I am contacting investigative journalists to try to raise pubic awareness. At the same time FFUP is working on effective legislative and legal action with  litigators newly released and still entombed. We have tried all this before but now more people are listening thanks to the reports of courageous prisoners, the work of many activists, and the wonderful reporting of journalists.  

Now is the time to be real teachers- the easy solutions bandied about everywhere are not going to help. We cannot just close down prisons without a big time reduction of prisoner population and we cannot close solitary units without real mental health treatment. There is none in the state for those without money- the mentally ill too often end in prison because of the public's refusal to address difficult issues. Our "Out of sight out of mind" public mindset is no longer helping and we must begin the panful discussions and investigations needed.

This blog's basic structure is about done . Prisoners are invited to have their own posts where they submit their writings and documents and I  quickly post and link them to posts and reports on same and similar issues. A  trouble is writing prisoners is now very difficult as my letters take 3 weeks and the new email getting out is not available to me. So letter prisoners know about their posts and giving them the links is slow. I am looking for a volunteer who could send emails for me to prisoners- wokr the Getting out app for FFUP.

FFUP gathers and learns and makes reports- and we all push for more accountability in every way possible. The solutions are available- the will to change needs to be strengthened. with this blog I hope to be able to gather the infinity that comes into mu mailbox, phone and corrlinks app.. The treasures I am given to safe keep and spread. I hope it will be a  major organizing tool for me

note: Feel free to contact me, and you can submit writings if you have personal experience with the DOC or want to comment on an inmate's post. WE will tolerate no hate speech and you must give full contact information in order to be posted. I will not post that info unless given permission but I need it in order to post, There are comment features on this blog and they will be monitored-

I believe prisoners are not their crime and that people change. Prisoners share with me what they are convicted of and tell that story if the choose but I do not ask nor am concerned with it except as it is needed in our work together. I believe that the confinement and loss of community of prison is the punishment. The mental and physical torture these men and women endure and we tolerate is a soul loss for all and a real crime perpetrated by our willful ignorance, We too can change.  

Peg Swan

Founder,Co-director FFUP

Forum for Understanding Prisons,  501c3 non profit

pgswan3@aol.com, 608-536-3993

29631 Wild Rose Drive; Blue River, WI 53518


Campaign news

These are new tines, scary and exciting times. Time to be bold. For me, it means reaching out beyond our "comfort zone". Prison activist and advocates alike tend to share their views on our prison system with people who already know prisons- who know the dark side of our culture. In order to change anything significantly- we need to go beyond that , to the folks that believe all the rhetoric about rapists and murderers and define the prisoners as their crime. We have to help these folks see the whole person. .And that is what our campaign is about. With public support, all is possible. Without it, prison legislation aimed at healing a broken system, cannot even get a hearing. 

here is a link to our latest newsletter- finally got in  after being disappeared. Been since Textbehind was launched since we did a full- out one. 

Latest Bridge of VOICES newsletter

or here is the URL if the above does not work:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QJ0i3jnVF9fbJy5J5c2Oo-gh_Y4th0y_/view?usp=sharing

Our newsletters are always stuffed . Prisoners have the time and focus and need this information. The thing is widely shared and loved but hard to read for us on -the -move outsiders. It outlines our many pronged campaign and makes it clear to prisoners that we need their help and their families help. We need to go beyond our comfort zones where we speak and write only people who know the truth and the changes needed. about our most corrupted prisoner system. We need to reach the public, for our leaders are afraid to do what is right.

We will be going to the courts, legislature and governor and need public support be successful in making the changes needed. Her are some of our efforts. 

We are starting with 2 efforts 

1) getting Drug testing at entry of the prisons for all staff and visitors , The money made in the thriving drug business in there is one of the main reason why reform is so difficult- Secretary HOy has said he would back this provided the legislature backs him. So we start theri- at the correcstions committees. And we will make sure the scanners are non  toxic. 

      coming: more on drugs in the WIDOC ; prisoner testimonies, bogus conduct reports surrounding the trade, parents' letters etc.  

2) Petition letter campaign: here a prisoner's loved one writes a letter supportiing release or other actions and an FFUP er adds a letter . Then we send it by email oto r come form of social media toslature back s h the gneral public. We hoep not only to hep the prisoner sbut also to educate the genral public with thiese petition letters. gradually theywill be joned by issue. the re    quest for release will go to GOvernor Evers when he leaves office. WEhoepthese letters will give him the courage to do the right thing.


Lawsuits: gathering of plaintiffs 

 In the background is always my gathering and accurately summing the cases of plaintiffs for our lawsuits- there will be many issues and we need lawyers for each of the class   actions. So by November I will have each case summed and ready to go to lawyers. I will use the blogs to organizes. 

here are some of- here FFUP would be the plaintiff of the issues: each will need to be a separate suit we are told. Our goal is to do what Colorado did- after massive reform, they have no solitary longer than 15 days and no staff shortages. The guards are trained for two years and know how to deal with difficult prisoners .

There at least a hundred cases here and we will be  using them wherever there is any glimpse of a chance to help these men and women:NOTICE_ these cases are on draft right now-

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

 https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2025/10/cases-no-health-care-physical.html

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2025/10/cases-on-mental-health.html

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2025/10/cases-prisoners-with-no-care-all-issues.html

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2025/10/cases-prea-violations-unaddressed.html

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2025/10/criminal-cases-where-justice-is-needed.html

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2025/10/cases-to-present-to-evers-for-release.html

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2025/10/cases-policy-change-ideas.html

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2025/10/cases-no-treatment-alchohol-and-drug.html

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2025/10/cases-retaliation-for-advocacy.html

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2025/01/campaign-tools-links.html


Textbehind- as in getting rid of > here FFUP would be the plaintiff and would not be subjected to the PLRN and FFU would represent prisoners and their families.


legislative actions: Some ideas for issues to present to the legislators on DOC committees:

staff

 1)DRUG  TESTING OF STAFF and visitors on entering prison( discussed page 1 above)d 

  2 Excessive tazing by inexperienced guards. The staff shortages, we think caused mainly  by poor working conditions and forced overtime, cause the DOC to hire just baout anyone and put them uonduty with littel training. Taazing is supposed to be the last option but in most mazes , it is often the only tool used.

  3. misuse of the new point system to use for retaliation.

4)Property regularly stolen by other prisoners as prisoner is transferred to Seg or to another prison. NO attempt by staff to secure propoerty and they often assign cellmates to pack up property and leave it at that. Packing up needs to be an assigned job for staff and prisoners and they need to be held accountable

  conditions

 2)Bad food and too little

 3) long list of unhealthy conditions

4) lack of adequate clothing for those without money to buy exorbitantly priced vendor  offerings

6)THE HEAT. With climate change it will only get worse- many people need to gather on this one.

TCI , WCI and RGCI have units where no windows open, most prisoners have no fans and staff shortages mean no nothing during heat waves.Noone wants to talk about this big issue- we need to be first.

Structure

7)Getting rid of TIS and installing a fair parole for all- there are good state examples- this needs a research group and lots of public pushing- money and misinformation,again, rules

8)TEXTBEHIND , tablets and all the newfangles seem to me designed to make serious document exchange and in depth discussions more and more difficult and to hamper prisoner’s contact with the outside. This is always among the top issues on my agenda- Textbehind has crippled FFUP. We have tried unsuccessfully to get representation for a case with me/FFUP as plaintiff. Then no exhaustion is required and we can represent families and prisoners. If you want to help with this-you and  your families write me on how Textbehind as effected them and  you.

The Governor

     Waiver campaign 


Saturday, October 11, 2025

Cases : no health care physical


 Matthew Stechauner broken nose, broken finger, Breathing problems unaddress. Fine litigator , helps many. also settling on a deliberate indifference prea case

complaint here :https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2025/10/matthew-stechauner.html

Benjamin Biese

Robert Brown  two letters: 1 ) seriously mentally ill, loves to draw, requests art supplies, had had stroke at 35, found religion 2) overdosed/ negligence claimed

CHRISTOPHER  BLASZCZYK, lost his program unfairly, has cancer

https://ourprisocasenersspeak.blogspot.com/2024/11/christopher-blaszczyk.html

 is old law prisoner and we will be asking him if he wants to go for a pardon from Evers


Bernard Kretlow tells of programming problems and efforts to keep low bunk

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2024/08/bernard-kretlaw.html

 

Alphonso Lamont Willis has severe fish allergies, WIDOC has no solution

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2024/10/alphonso-lamont-willis.html

 

Todd Thorud, astute observer, now in need of "Sedation Dentistry";

He was also assaulted by his cellmate and the prison has covered u the issue, giving him no health care and not investigating. Todd is looking for legal representation. 

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2024/08/todd-thorud.html

 

Timothy Durley needing health care and working hard on his criminal case. here is his description of segregation

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2024/09/timothy-durley.html

 

Luis Nieves has stage 4 cancer and had meds taken away 2023

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2024/08/luis-nieves.html

 

Dean Hermosillo survived staff infection, now in another critical situation

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2024/08/dean-hermosillo.html

 untreated Mrysa case/retaliation

Sean  forester Hoare GBCI

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2024/07/sean-forester-hfoare.html

links:https://docs.google.com/document/d/11tb5wpWndMSIV0XovTRaFaS6UqAnSZxC/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=110165518202991476262&rtpof=true&sd=true

 Sean forester Hoare-FFUP report on HSU call https://docs.google.com/document/d/19V2E2gsu0DywZ_K_u0r3bssQy0KybeX8/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=110165518202991476262&rtpof=true&sd=true


Kenneth Hess--denied treatment till his appendix burhels many while battling 

Jeff macmillan main plaintiff/suit writer

 



Type 2 diabetic,,, medication is 20 mg..Prozac... . Was going to HSU once, in morning, took long lasting insulin

and regular insulin and medication... Have not taken anything in 1 1/2 weeks... In the world clinics have lots of

patients and know records,, here not many inmates and they act like we have to do a file review and pay for

copies to show them our medical issues.. I got locked up April 10,1997.. I have pinched nerve in left arm from

C6/C7 in neck, arm goes numb can't use it to support body weight to go up/down top bunk,,neuropathy in both

feet, wear diabetic shoes,, chronic knee pain,..was asked if I was able to shower, go to dinning hall..made it sound (nurse) like I am OK.. Thank you.. Joel

 

John Taylor =drug addict no treatment

 

Robert Christophel 374244 OSCI::Laura Dannenger 414-241-8354/lauradann63@gmail.com

John TAYLOR  366565 JBCC  aunt-586-531-1217 not doing well, spores on feet not healing/wants me to call her  

 

Nathan Bergeron Davilla GBCI/denied pump, born wth asthma/

Family  mijafaya@gmail.com/262-752-8148/dad nathaniel jameson 731-752-8148

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2025/10/charlie-allen-hainer.html

 DONELY R MCINTOSH,363080 OSCI

pinched nerves

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nA1fqmV9wUMOmUtDPrWCpIYpMoVTWu5T/view?usp=sharing

 

Cases: PREA violations unaddressed

 Kuan Barnett enduring LGBT harrassment

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2024/09/kuan-barnett.html

 

Matthew stechauner prea/deliberate indifference case

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2024/08/matthew-stechauner.html

  Walter L Coleman 567004 GBCI

Postmarked 22625/ not dated, written in light unscannable rubber pencil

Hey, 

 I'm writing you to try to get some help because I'm in a real bad situation right now and need legal help if you can please and thank you. I've been in the DLC going on 11 years. I just got sent to gbci from WCI last year and since I've been in gbci I've been getting not only mistreated but sexually harassed, humiliated and sexually assaulted. On body cam the other day by a captain named j a y  V a n l a n e n.  It happened on 2-6-25 at approximately 208 to 3:00 p.m. in seg outside seg strip cage. I preserved the body Cam and everything. This madman handcuffed me to a strip cage door and he pulled my pants down in the hallway in front of everybody and it was a lieutenant by the name of King standing there just letting him do it.Then when I was naked he made me get down on my knees. I'm trying to see if you can please help me anyway to not only get gbci investigated but I'm also trying to learn the law myself. I don't know too much about litigation but it's a brother here who gave me your information and say you got some books that you sent him and I was trying to see if you can help me same way because not going to lie to you, I really don't feel safe  anymore here at cbci. I'm petrified, afraid and fear for my life. shouldn't know man nor woman ever should have to go through what I just went through then by someone who's supposed to help and protect us. don't make things no better. I feel like my manhood has been taken away from me and I don't feel right having to explain some like this to my family, kids nor loved ones. they was so unprofessional and they really should be in jail behind what they did and how they did me. even if you can just help me with any of these books so I can try to learn the law and both get homee

2. battling the administration

3. protecting your health and safety

4. flipping your conviction 

 PS. can you send a receipt or invoice  for this jail won't let us get books without it for some reason.

MarkAnthony Harris 657780/frostbite deliberate  indifference then no treatment

Derrick Smith, long sufferer, prison rape survivor, now fighting severe depression

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2024/08/derrick-smith.html

 

Jacob Kent needs a lawyer for his PREA case

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2024/08/jacob-kent.htm

Cases to present to Evers for release

 BRYANT JOHNSON 

Dedicated to Bryant Johnson

09/20/2025 

Death

Dodge Correctional Institution 

BD 1965

terminal lung cancer caused by job in WCI and haf to wait two years for medicine

BRYANT JOHNSON on 7/2/2024 10:13:35 AM wrote
Hi peg, I should let you know that because of my medical condition, I am now housed in Dodge Infirmary, I need
24hr oxygen. A couple years back I was diagnosed with interstitial lung disease which is irreversible, I got infected
by inhaling pigeon dropping, when I was at Waupun I worked on the sanitation crew for 2years and we cleaned
pigeon dropping constantly; at no time was i warned of the health risk when it came to pigeon dropping.
Once I speak with the lung specialist this month, I would finally be given medication, and why it took 2 years to
give me medication is beyond my comprehension !! That delay caused my condition to worsen, and someone
must be held accountable, that's why I am in search of an civil attorney.
Peg, yes I am a old law prisoner, I've been incarcerated 33 years; I am now 58. Since being incarcerated, I've
completed all required program's and volunteered for many more. My institution behavior has been good, the last
conduct report I've received was 2008, and I've always had

Ron Schilling absurdly held/fine writing and musician- https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2024/08/ron-schilling.html

William Brocket, as "old law prisoner" has long been eligible for parole: https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2024/08/william-brockett.html

Corleon Thomas, TIS prisoner, a youngster with sentence too long: https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2024/08/corleon-thomas.html

Roger Cose , old law prisoner, long eligible for  parole also write here on the disastrous  new table project: https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2024/08/roger-cose.html

details coming:

Raynell Morgan

DarRen Morris

George Jansenneeds programming before release/ needs Compassionate release/all hippas sign

Called health with short health list- they said george is not complaining.

        2 2724  from his HSU: pre diabetic/glycoma bletheriteis; both sides/hypertension; sinus headaches; brace in back and electric brace

,anemia/depressive disorder/ dizzy spells when rises; Hearing aid right ear; pinched, charlie horse thighs; numbness Rt foot;cateracts removed;  both legs swollen, uses support stockings ,Anemic, kidney  disease, blood pressure .loss  of  memory;falls,wheelchair otherwise walker; needs programming before release/all hippas sign


        

Dennis Hohol ELder abuse

lene Cespdes- torres

Mark Humphry

William Weso

Terrance Grissom

Charlie Hainer

Cases: no addiction treatment

 William Steele desperately needs treatment before release

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2024/08/william-steele.html

 

William La Salle, another addict getting no help from WI DOC

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2024/11/william-la-salle.html

 

John Taylor,  revocated many times, begged for years for  addiction  treatment

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2024/11/john-taylor.html

 

Jordan Hansen addict, system failed to treat or support upon release

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2024/11/jordan-hansen.html

cases : retaliation for advocacy

 Bryant Howze, always under stress, is now experiencing severe retaliation

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2024/09/bryant-howze.html

 

Bill Ledford litigator, victim of incredible malfeasance and retaliation

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2024/11/bill-ledford.html

 

Charlie Bliesner writes of incredible retaliation

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2024/08/charlie-bliesner.html

 

Jeff Poff observes much : issues are innocence, lack of health care and right now- retaliation

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2024/08/jeff-poff.html


Brian Michael McGrath 728326  RCI: got don

Conduct report for posting sign in library aksing prisoners to write Madison about RCI conditions

https://ourprisonersspeak.blogspot.com/2025/10/brian-michael-mcgrath.html

Brian Ml

John Berard

 7/29/25 to Peg Swan Today during showers a corrections officer, in an attempt to subdue inmates who were fighting, did kick one of the inma...