FW: THE DEATH OF MENARD PRISONER WILLIAM L. BUHRMESTER B67426

[baby girl]

I was wondering why they would embalm him before an autopsy too.  When my brother died the hospital told us that if we wanted an autopsy they would have to do that before they could release the body to the funeral home because once the body is embalmed an autopsy is pretty much useless.

Please let me know who to call, write, fax, email or whatever as I am very much on board with this!

My prayers are with the family and friends.

[kah2006]

So, what exactly are we going to do about this? I'm on board with whatever needs done.

[humbird37]

I am so shocked to read about this horrible travesty!  My heart is breaking for William and his family.  My son has had some health problems, that I was concerned about, but I always thought if it became serious he would get the help he needed....this is our first experience in the prison system, and we are learning!  Please....if  I can help in some way, write a  letter, make a phone call, let me know!  Humbird 

[lvanrs2]

I have a list of names and addresses of all illinois gerneral assembly.  i also have the names and addresses for the prison reform committee if anyone would like them.  I am in the process of typing a letter and making copies of the original post to attach.  I will show the letter and ask for opinions and help when i am done with it.  when it is done i making copies and sending one to all 118 people on the general assembly and prison reform committee.

[Dazzler]

I'm sorry but I had some important errands to run this morning so I will be sending out an email to the membership shortly about slamming the Governor's office with phonecalls.  However, after re-thinking our strategy, Tuesday might be a better day to make phone calls than Monday, due to Easter on Sunday.  We want the governor in his office.

[HisGirl]

I have just saved the Governor's Springfield number 217-782-0244 to my phone along with his office in Chicago 312-814-2121. I will be calling both on Tuesday.

I will also be waiting for the letter to be posted and send those as well. This is something we can not let go. This could happen to any of our loved ones. How they can get away with murder I do not know. As one of my friends just pointed out, "If you withheld medication from your son, you would be charged with murder."

I hope and pray that everyone reading this calls both numbers at least twice.

[Dazzler]

Thanks for posting the Chicago office number of the Governor also.  It wouldn't hurt to call both offices if you each have the time....Now where is Schrader....she'll call fifty times and enjoy doing it....LOL

[ernie694]

Got the email,  Tuesday it is  Belive me ill be calling.  Now who do we contact to get this in the Media?   I really think we need to get this out there.  I for one want to see this one my morning national news show.   where do we start?

[pennib]

This situation sickens and saddens me. Where do they get these people that work for the prison system? It seems to me that they have committed a horrendous crime, murder. By not getting William the treatment he needed, they killed him. There is no excuse for this and they should be punished for what they have done. Will they be? Probably not. They are allowed to commit a terrible crime, yet walk out the gates and go home to their families every night. These people need to live on the other side of that prison wall. Be treated the same way they treat the inmates, inhuman. For some reason these idiots working in the prisons feel the need to punish the inmates. They do not understand that "PRISON" is their punishment and no further punishment is needed.  My heart goes out to the family of William and my prayers are with them. I will definetly be making that phone call to our representative.

[humbird37]

I am wondering if when we make these calls or anything else we do about this....is it okay to use our names?  I was wondering if there would be any repercussions on our inmate?  Humbird

[Dazzler]

In the past the Governor's office only asked for a name and no particulars.  You don't have to provide a name.  I doubt his office would retaliate against concerned citizens, even if you have a loved one in the IDOC.  Hopefully his secretaries will take down our messages and not just count us.  In the past we have literally shut down the switchboard.  Other offices had to start fielding some of the calls. 

[HisGirl]

No Problem Dazz. Here they are again because this thread is going to be a long one, and I am including a more direct number to the Governors Office in Chicago. I will modify my earlier post as well. Sorry for any confusion. Governor Pat Quinn Springfield 217-782-0244--Chicago 312-814-2121.

And I don't know about 50 times LOL, but I think I will call once or twice a day to each office each day next week, to find out what and when something will be done.

[lvanrs2]

Here is a rough draft of the letter I intend to send out to every member of the general assembly and all members on the prison reform committee along with a copy of the original post of the story.  Any feedback or comments would be appreciated as I am not a professional writer.  Thank You


RE:  Death of William L. Burhmester
           
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing this letter in regards to a senseless situation that involved an inmate’s death at Menard Correctional Facility on April 2nd, 2009.  I have attached a copy of the family’s concerns about the treatment regarding their loved one.  The substandard care received from the medical staff at Menard should outrage officials of authority and therefore institute some serious and deserved changes in the medical care received by inmates in the State’s custody.  This is not an isolated incident for our prisons.  There are many medical tragedy’s in our prison system that go unnoticed and people seem to have the attitude that  they are inmates and should not be treated in a humane manner.  Doctors and nurses who are contracted out for medical services should not be working for our prison system if they do not have the proper qualifications and an inhumane attitude towards our inmates.  There are serious problems within the Illinois Department of Corrections that include many areas and not just medical care.  Corrections officers are also a problem in these facilities as well because they are not properly trained in certain areas.  There is a law on the Illinois Statute ( 730 ILCS 5 Article 8A. Electronic Home Detention ) that allows the Illinois Department of Corrections to allow low security level, non-violent offenders to be on home electronic monitoring.  Illinois Department of Corrections breaks the law by not allowing this system to be in place stating they can’t afford the cost.  However the cost of food, clothing and medical care would be the responsibility of the family and not the Illinois Department of Corrections.  I clearly do not understand why IDOC is allowed to break the law without consequences.  I am asking you to please look into the death of William L. Burhmester and institute the necessary changes to ensure that proper medical care is given to our Illinois inmates and that the corrections officers are trained properly to ensure the humane treatment.
Thank You

[HisGirl]

Ivanrs2:

This is an excellent letter. My only suggestion would be to add paragraphs, which would accentuate the points you are making, and add easier readability.

I would like to use this letter, adding to it to give it individuality. I hope others will as well. Thanks for your efforts and for sharing.

Does anyone know the website offhand or where we can get the contact information to send our letters to? I do not want to miss anyone.

[lvanrs2]

If you go to the Illinois General Assembly you will find the addresses for all the members and if you click on committees and go down to prison reform you will find the names and addresses of the people who sit on the committee

[HisGirl]

Ivanrs2:

Thanks.

I will do that. I will send these letters next week. And I have also forwarded the IPT email to a Friend who started a prison reform group and she has forwarded it to some prominent people who believe in prison reform. So I pray that they help us as well.

Thanks again for your hard work in writing that letter.

[Dazzler]

I've gotten word that some of our members from organizations have forwarded the email to their list serves, including some state reps, IDOC officials, attorneys, law schools, prison review board members and many, many more....you know some of the people who are members here and they can pull some weight...also many prison ministries have been contacted...they always support our endeavors here....I envision that office being in chaos Tuesday.  If that's what it takes....

[Dazzler]

Another member whose a criminal defense attorney that works closely with the PRB and Springfield has asked that we submit William's and other inmate death stories to her to take to the Governor.  She will deliver them personally...

[Dazzler]

According to the family regarding the embalming issue...supposedly a blood sample was taken before embalming.  The Jewish faith doesn't permit embalming...interesting that the prison would take this upon themselves....when they don't do much else there...I wonder where the blood sample came from?  There's nothing I wouldn't put past the IDOC in regards to a coverup. 

[mamacita1]

I read, with tears in my eyes, the horrendous death of William, and can only imagine the pain the family and loved ones are feeling today.  I admire the family for reaching out, trying to make sense of this very caustic experience. 

Rest assured your words and pain have not gone unnoticed.  You can count on me Tuesday, when I make my phone call to the governors office.

To the family, please accept my deepest condolences.