Winter 1991 1 Contents VOL. 2, NO. 1 n WINTER 1991 3 The Log Special Report 30 Working the Morning Watch Correctional notes and comments 10 Inside Soviet Prisons John A. Mattsen Meeting Death in Prison A report by the U.S. delegation “Quality sleep” is all too often an elusive A unique portrait of a correctional The First Offenders’ Program goal for both inmates and staff. Here are system-and a nation-in transition. at FCI La Tuna some practical guidelines for achieving it-especially for shift workers. Innovations in Satellite Feeding Wartime Precautions 24 Involuntary Treatment Bill Burlington The courts are increasingly involved in some of the most difficult treatment issues prison administrators have to make. 38 Ethics and Prison Administrators J. David Newell A philosopher offers a framework for ethical decisionmaking in corrections. Federal Prisons Journal Federal Prisons Published quarterly by the Doug Green Federal Bureau of Prisons Editor From the editor J. Michael Quinlan Kristen Mosbæk Design Studio We are sorry that, due to the Design and Art Direction Director recent budget imbroglio on Dan Dove Judy G. Gordon Capitol Hill, this issue will be in Chief, Office of Public Affairs Associate Editor your hands in 1991 rather than Richard Phillips 1990. Chief of Communications Editor’s Advisory Group: Despite our lateness, we are Joe Holt Anderson pleased to bring you this issue’s Senior Editor, National Criminal Justice special report on Soviet prisons. Reference Service The cover illustration depicts John J. DiIulio, Jr. some images from Mozhaisk 5 Associate Professor of Politics and prison (the Cyrillic title translates Public Affairs and Director, Center of as “official visit”). The U.S. Domestic and Comparative Policy delegation, which toured five Studies, Princeton University institutions, found particularly supportive interaction between Dennis Luther Warden, Federal Correctional Institution, the staff and female inmates, and The Attorney General has determined an impressive prison industry, at that the publication of this periodical is McKean, Pennsylvania this prison. In future issues we necessary in the transaction of the public Patricia L. Poupore hope to continue to provide business required by law of the Depart- Director of Communications and information on aspects of ment of Justice. Publications, American Correctional international corrections work. Opinions expressed in this periodical are Association not necessarily those of the Federal Dr. Vicki Verdeyen As the Soviet Union has been Bureau of Prisons or of the U.S. Depart- Chief, Psychology Services, Mid- much in the news, so too has ment of Justice. Atlantic Regional Office, Federal Bureau Germany. Our next issue will of Prisons feature an interview with former Printed by Federal Prison Industries, Inc. Bureau of Prisons Director Myrl Contributing artists: Michael Hill, E. Alexander, who served as Rebecca Leer, Mark Stutzman, Sam head of the German corrections Ward, Anthony Woolridge. system in the American zone of occupation in the first year after Cover by Mark Stutzman. World War II. Finally, additional copies of the The Federal Prisons Journal welcomes your contributions and letters. 60th anniversary issue of the Letters may be edited for reasons of Journal are now available. Please space. Please contact the editor at: contact the Office of Public Federal Bureau of Prisons Affairs at 202-307-3 198. Office of Public Affairs 320 First Street NW Washingten, DC 20534 202-307-3198 Meeting Death in Prison Henry A. Pedersen “This is why I weep and my eyes overflow with tears. No one is near to comfort me, no one to restore my spirit.” —Lamentations 1:16 [NIV] “9-3 officer to Chaplain Pedersen, 9-3 officer to Chaplain Pedersen,” my small radio was blaring. I grimaced as I answered, “Chaplain Pedersen to 9-3.” “Please call 360, 360,” the radio blurted again. I knew before I even dialed the number what the person on the other end of the phone was going to say: “Chaplain, Mr. Tomaso wants to see you.” I was right. This was the third time today that Mr. Tomaso wanted to see me. I walk up to his bed and clasp his hand. can at least die in a more homelike He opens his eyes and looks at me. I environment. Those who die with us, Louis Tomaso* was dying. He had acknowledge what is obvious on his unless it is sudden and unexpected, already lived 24 hours longer than the face—he is in pain. We sit quietly for a have committed too serious a crime to medical staff thought he would. He had few minutes holding each other’s hand. be released, have been declared too already received the last rites of his The medical staff leave us alone. I lean much a risk to be returned to their church—twice, as a matter of fact. over the bed so that our faces are about community even though terminal, or 6 inches apart. have absolutely no resources or family Once again I stopped what I was doing to assist them. and went over to 9-3 as fast as I could. “Shall we talk to God again, Louis?” I I thought about not going, but several ask. Louis whispers, “Please.” I pray. I I feel there should be several guidelines things compelled me to go—one more end with the “Lord’s Prayer.” Louis for ministering effectively to the time. Louis was dying alone. I was one prays with me, each phrase slowly and inmate who is dying in prison. The first of the few people he had related to in deliberately. He says “Amen” after is to be nonjudgmental. I am not saying these last days—no family, no friends, praying “forgive us our trespasses as that God does not judge—I am saying dying in prison. We all need a friend. we forgive those who trespass against that we ought to let God do the The other reason became obvious on us.” As I add my Amen, Louis judging. I don’t pretend to understand the faces of the medical staff as I squeezes my hand and requests that I many of these situations myself. We walked on to the floor. Medical people leave him now so I won’t see him die. currently have an inmate who will die are oriented toward healing. To face An hour or so later, Louis dies. with us. I know that he is a murderer, a death is in some ways to face failure. tale bearer, a thief, and a snitch, yet There is a sense of relief when I arrive For me there is something cold about somehow all of that does not interfere at times like these. the thought of dying in prison. In the Federal system every effort is made to *A pseudonym. release a dying inmate so that he or she Federal Prisons Journal with our relationship. We communicate patient’s emotions, appreciate the makes death what it can be, a death well, we share deep feelings, we help therapeutic worth of tears. freely and voluntarily accepted.” each other, we laugh together, we cry —Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and together, we allow ourselves to be At the Federal Medical Center in Papers from Prison. human together. Rochester we try to find a volunteer to visit the inmate if the inmate wishes it. Reverend Henry A. Pedersen recently A second guideline is to be in touch We are presently working on a pro- retired as Chaplain at the Federal with one’s own feelings about death gram of training inmates to minister to Medical Center, Rochester, Minnesota. and life. That is not to say that we have other inmates in these circumstances. A different version of this article was to have all the answers or even an We also spend time with staff, inviting published in NM Dialogue, a newslet- answer, but I do believe that we have to them to express their feelings. ter for Baptist chaplains and work out a faith relationship with our counselors. God that allows us to trust him to take When the time comes, we conduct a care of the future for us. memorial service in the day room on the hospital floor for each inmate who A third guideline is to be in touch with dies. Not only does this allow any The First Offenders’ one’s feelings about sexual orientation. inmates who were the deceased’s This is necessary because some of friends to work through their grief; it Program at FCI La Tuna those who are dying have one of the also allows staff members who have Rudy Franco several diseases that are the common invested a great deal of their efforts and manifestations of Acquired Immune emotions to grieve. Furthermore, it The First Offenders’ Program at the Deficiency Syndrome. Some of them assures each inmate who has been Federal Correctional Institution, La have acquired AIDS from contact with diagnosed as being terminally ill that Tuna, Texas, was born from an effort another male. he or she will not be forgotten. Finally, to help the community in combating it also declares our faith and trust in drug abuse among the A fourth guideline is to be in touch God and allows us as chaplains to deal with touch. There is a common with our own grief. meetings with the Chief deprivation of touch in prison. This is State Juvenile Probation especially true of the inmate who “It is not the external circumstances, Officer, Southern District receives no visits. I had to work but the spirit in which we face it, that of New Mexico through the process of gowning up in protective garments to visit some of these patients.