Dazzler
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Retired News Reporter ~ Prison Reform Advocate
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« on: September 21, 2007, 06:56:19 AM » |
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Montell Johnson is suffering in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections. Johnson, an inmate at Dixon Correctional Center is stricken with multiple sclerosis. His condition is deteriorating and his family wants to accept the responsibility for his care, something the IDOC is not capable of, not willing to do or is not compassionate enough to provide the medical treatment and comfort that he requires.
Montell's mother, Gloria Johnson-Ester, is taking her plea to Governor Rod Blagojevich. She is asking the governor to allow her to care for him in the final stages of his disease.
There is something drastically amiss in the administration of the corrections department and the governor himself needs to step in and allow this man to go home to his family. Montell can no longer swallow and will be having a feeding tube inserted just to sustain his life. His mother has been refused a recent attempt to visit.
The Dixon medical staff's inability to properly care for him is evident by the bedsores he endures. If this isn't cruel and unusual punishment maybe the IDOC can explain their definition of inhumane treatment.
Montell's further incarceration serves no purpose. He should be allowed to return home to the loving care of his mother.
His alledged victim's mother is supporting this effort. She truly believes in his innocence and wants to help end his suffering within the IDOC. The department has stone-walled all attempts to view medical records or address the seriousness of his condition, citing lame legal ramifications as their justification. Spokesmen for the IDOC say his treatment and care have been within its standards of quality medical care.
Recently a federal court judge has ordered Montell's medical records to be turned over for review. The tireless effort to obtain his release and improved medical treatment has been led by our member Ted Pearson of the NAARPR.
The following two letters will be delivered to Blagojevich. One from his mother and the other from his brother, a serviceman serving in Iraq.
If you'd like to have your signature added to his mother's letter please leave your name in a post in this thread or for confidentiality send Administrator a private message. Unregistered guests may send an email to admins@illinoisprisontalk.com
Illinois Prison Talk urges our guests/members to sign this plea and we implore Gov. Blagojevich to grant Montell an executive medical clemency based on the seriousness of his condition. ~ IPT AdministrationThe following letter is from Master Gunnery Sergeant Eldridge L. Johnson, Jr., brother of Montell Johnson, who is serving with the United States Marine Corps in Iraq:
Mr. Pearson, I want to personally thank you for all that you are doing for My Beloved Brother, Montell Johnson. Montell's life is in extreme danger because of the lack of proper care and concern by the medical staff of Dixon and the general incessant recklessness of the departments of correction in the United States. For the most part, the men and women who are incarcerated have been "throw-aways" from society. The average American doesn't care about the men and women that have to "survive" their experience in and through the penal system.
Just as likely, the average American doesn't care about the men and women that are defending their very freedoms; for instance, their freedom of speech; which should be used more constructively, and positively, in support of those that give their life to the service of the United States of America. Many men and women have given their very lives, over the centuries of America's existence, to defend their country. Both of these contrasts have compassionate citizens when someone they love is involved. That seems to make the difference, or connection, if you will in one's thinking.
All of you addressed herein, are obviously not the average American. You all are the better of what society needs to effect the changes to make both, America and the world, a better place in which to live. Please, never stop the fight on issues like this, regardless of the consequences, we can make it better for those that come after us. It is reminiscent of the Civil Rights Movement, many suffered and endured the struggle to effect change in their local neighborhoods, cities, states and eventually on a national level. Such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was only 42 years ago [http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting/intro/intro.htm]. Remember that this is just an "act" and has to be extended. Why hasn't it become a law on record that wouldn't require the President to authorize it (?) Rhetorical question -- Will the Voting Rights Act of 1965 someday be rescinded?
I personally thank you all for your support in this endeavor.
In parting on the level, I pray that Almighty God Bless You All. He certainly has blessed me. And I will remain faithful in my commitments; to my family, to my country and to my GOD!
Respectfully Submitted,
Eldridge L. Johnson, Jr.
September, 2007
Governor Rod R. Blagojevich
100 W. Randolph Street, Ste. 16-100
Chicago, IL 60601
Dear Governor Blagojevich:
I am writing you about my concerns about the health care provided to the inmates in the Department of Corrections System and in particular my son Montell Johnson, B-61337, who is presently housed at Dixon Correctional Center. Montell was diagnosed with Chronic Progressive Multiple Sclerosis in January 2001 at that time he was at Menard Correctional Center. In February 2006, while at Pontiac Correctional Center he was diagnosed as being in the Advanced Stages of Dementia at the age of 40. I have been asking for physical and occupational therapy for him to no avail since 2001.
I was told while he was at Menard that they didn’t have the facility to provide therapy and now I am told that they don’t have a therapist at Dixon. Montell didn’t see a neurologist from January 2001 until sometime in 2005 and he had been told that he was supposed to see a neurologist every year. The next time he saw a neurologist was in February 2006. Because of the lack of follow-up and therapy Montell is partially paralyzed on the left side of his body and fully from his waist down.
I have had his medical records looked at by Dr. Peter Orris and it has been found that the care he is getting is not sufficient and that at this point he is gravely ill and requires continuing specialty care to avoid potentially life threatening complications. Montell’s records confirm the paralysis he suffers and his inability to care for his activities of daily living including personal hygiene and feeding himself. They documented the development of decubitus ulcers (bed sores) indicating an inability of the staff to turn him frequently enough, or perhaps the lack of specialized bed facilities, to avoid these dangerous effects of his paralysis.
There is also an order to keep Montell in segregation until 2010. When I visited him on June 8th with his brother who has been deployed to Iraq and sister he told us that he was told by the doctor that he had "maggots" in the bedsores. There have been numerous times that I observed "pressure sores" on his heels. Most of the time Montell is unable to communicate verbally. In order to know what has happened to him on a week to week basis I have to say the "ABCs" and write down letter by letter as he holds up his thumb on the right hand or moves his head up and down in order to communicate with him. There are times when it is hard to keep him focused on what we are doing. He also loses his vision from time to time.
On August 9th Mr. Ryan Dougherty from your office called and stated that a small delegation of ten people could meet on Tuesday, August 14th in Springfield at 11 a.m. with the following people:
Roger E. Walker, Director of Illinois Department of Corrections
Louanne Peters, Deputy Governor
Jill Morganthaler, Deputy Chief of Public Safety
We told Mr. Dougherty that the purpose of the meeting would be two issues: Montell’s immediate medical care and a process for addressing what is widely perceived as a crisis in medical care Illinois prisons. We were coming prepared with several proposals.
On August 10th he informed us that we could meet with him but that Walker, Peters and Morgenthaler couldn’t discuss Montell’s case because it is Northern Illinois District Court. Originally this is what I asked to meet with you about in the first place. Even though we had other inmates’ issues to discuss, the main purpose of this meeting was about Montell. It would have been a waste of our time to meet on any other issue. Montell’s is the most crucial at this point since his medical records shows that he is gravely ill.
I have also attached a letter from Mrs. Terry Hoyt , who is the mother of the victim, Dorianne Warnsley.
I and the undersign demand that you act immediately to guarantee that Montell gets the care he needs and that you respond positively to the petition for Executive Medical Clemency that we will be filing this week.
Respectfully yours,
Ms. Gloria J. Johnson-Ester
We support Mrs. Gloria Johnson-Ester in her request above.
(organization names for identification purposes only),
Signed:
Russell Ainsworth, Loevy & Loevy
Julien Ball, Campaign to End the Death Penalty
Mary Banks, Family friend
Denise Bartik, Citizens for Earned Release
Elizabeth Benson, NAARPR-Chicago
Jennifer Bishop-Jenkins, IllinoisVictims.org
Bridget Brodwick, ISO
Daryle Brown, Positive Anti-Crime Thrust, Inc
Shaneha Brown
Cat Carr, CaB
Virginia Clements, mother of Mark Clements, wrongfully convicted
Rev. A. Donald Coleman, University Church
William J. Daniels, Montell Johnson’s cousin
Barbara J. Davis, Montell Johnson’s aunt
Rev. Martin Deppe
Tynauna Dixon, Montell Johnson’s cousin
Davina Dixon, Cousin of Montell Johnson
Doug Dobmeyer, Dobmeyer Communications
Clarice Durham, NAARPR-Chicago
Rev. Paul R. Ford, Associate Pastor, Covenant United Church of Christ
Jacki L. Gansch, Illinois Prison Talk
Christy Garcia
Annette Gavin, Campaign to End the Death Penalty
Sharon Gavin, Campaign to End the Death Penalty
Nate Goldbaum, International Socialist Organization
Linda Goodman, wife of an inmate, Illinois Prison Talk
Rev. Doris Green, Men & Women in Prison Ministries, AIDS Foundation of Chicago
Raymond J. Griffin, Montell Johnson’s cousin
Kathleen J. Hamill, Assistant Defender, Office of the State Appellate Defender, Elgin IL
Ashley Harris, Cousin of Montell Johnson
Earl Lee Harris, Uncle of Montell Johnson
Ida Lee Harris, Montell Johnson’s grandmother
Johnny Harris, brother of James Harris
Kristi Hedger, Paris, IL
Charles Hoffman, Illinois Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
Patricia Hopkins
Terry Hoyt, mother of Dorianne Warnsley, victim of the murder for which Montell Johnson was wrongfully convicted
Dametra M. Jackson, Sister of Montell Johnson
Jonathan Jackson, Spokesperson, Rainbow-PUSH
Latrice R. Jackson, Montell Johnson’s niece
Lyndon R. Jackson, Montell Johnson’s brother-in-law
Stephen L. Jackson, Montell Johnson’s nephew
Bobbie Johnson
Eldridge Johnson, Montell Johnson's brother, Master Gunnery Sergeant (MGySgt), U. S. Marine Corps, Camp Fallujah, Iraq
Eldridge L. Johnson, Brother of Montell Johnson
Gloria Johnson-Ester, mother of Montell Johnson
Charles E. Johnson, Montell Johnson’s uncle
Patricia Jones, Family friend
Robin Kaufman, Black People Against Police Torture
Cynthia Kobel, Director, Tamms Committee
Rev. Jennifer Kottler, Deputy Director, Protestants for the Common Good
Alice Kim, Campaign To End the Death Penalty
Louise Kaegi, Campaign to End the Death Penalty
Mandy Kokani, Prison Advocate
Mary Langley, Campaign to End the Death Penalty
Wilma Lewis, sister of James Harris
Kevin Lindemann, NAARPR-Chicago
Allen J. Lindrup, First Unitarian Church, Racial Justice Task Force
Sarah Macaraeg, Campaign to End the Death Penalty
Sarah Macaraty
Michelle Martin, Campaign to End the Death Penalty
Inga Matulis
Br. Brian McLauchlin, SVD, Society of the Divine Word
Adam D. McMillan, Montell Johnson’s uncle
Catherine McMillan, Campaign to End the Death Penalty
Ron Monette, Campaign to End the Death Penalty / ISO
Nancy Mikelsons, Board Member, Chicago Committee to Defend the Bill of Rights
Lori J.Mitchell, Village Clerk, Village of Machesney Park Illinois
Jorge Montes
Rev. Dr. Calvin Morris, Executive Director, Community Renewal Society
Rev. Otis Moss III, Pastor, Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago
Paula Mueller
Regina Neal, Johnson family friend
Dorothy O'Reilly
Ted Pearson, NAARPR-Chicago
Dian Phelix, friend of a prisoner
Renee Powell, Johnson family friend
John H. Pride, Jr., Johnson family friend
Charlene Ringo, Johnson family friend
Doris Robinson
Norman Roth, NAARPR-Chicago, past president, UAW Local 6
Bill Ryan, Citizens for Earned Release
Johanna Ryan, Illinois Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
Sherry Shannon
Haydee Schrader
Elliot Slosar, DePaul Students Against the Death Penalty
Judith Stuart, Prison Advocate, Illinois Prison Talk
Willie Mae Sykes, Family friend
Rev. Tricia L. Teater, Immediate Past President, Illinois Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
Marilyn Thompkins, wife of an inmate
Darby Tillis, former Death Row Inmate and Johnson family friend
Karen Todd, friend of an inmate
Tanya Trowell, Campaign to End the Death Penalty
Rev. Larry Turpin, United Church of Hyde Park.
Toni Vaughn, Cousin of Montell Johnson
Gindi Weiss, Justice Coalition of Greater Chicago
Gayle Willard, Administrator, Illinois Prison Talk
Rev. Reginald Williams, Jr., Associate Pastor for Justice, Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago
Mildred Williamson, PhD, Director, Programs & Research for Ambulatory & Community Health Network (ACHN); Cook County Bureau of Health Services
Standish E. Willis, Chairman, National Conference of Black Lawyers, Chicago Chapter.
Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., Senior Pastor, Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago
Josephine Wyatt, NAARPR-Chicago [/b]
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