Urgent Phone/Email Zap! Retaliation Against Hunger Striker at Westville Control Unit!

Abu Faheem Shabazz (aka Jerry Smith) has now been on hunger strike at Westville Control Unit (WCU) for 3 days, trying to get staff and administration there to comply with IDOC Policy and Procedure and the US Constitution.

Faheem has been held in the control unit for over a month, but all he has been convicted of is a Class C conduct report for vulgarity, a violation that does not merit time in the WCU, and he did not receive a Restricted Status Housing Report, which is required if one is to be held in WCU prior to a hearing. He didn’t receive a Disciplinary Hearing until a month after being transferred to the WCU, when IDOC Policy and Procedure states that hearings should be held within 7 days.

Moreover, the property officer at WCU, Officer Davis, is refusing to return property that Faheem is entitled to, and which never should have been taken from him in the first place, according to IDOC Policy and Procedure. Officer Davis has confiscated Faheem’s Koran and other religious items, in violation of Faheem’s 1st Amendment right to religious freedom. Ofc. Davis has also confiscated Faheem’s body wash and other soaps. Ofc. Davis has not provided Faheem a Notice of Confiscated Property for any of these items, which is required under IDOC Policy. You can read more about the situation here.

Faheem went on hunger strike to demand that he be given access to his basic rights under IDOC Policy and the law. In response, we learned yesterday, guards at WCU retaliated against Faheem on Dec. 21, by placing him on strip cell, where he has no access to a phone, tablet or any other property, and he is almost naked, without a blanket or any other clothes. The guards told Faheem that they were doing this because he “wanted attention,” and that he wouldn’t be let off strip cell until he starts eating. This is not how staff are supposed to respond to hunger strikes - after 9 missed meals, staff are required to meet with the person on hunger strike to find out why they’re not eating, and then inform IDOC Central Office of the situation.

Faheem is also taking medications for seizures, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol. These medications are supposed to be taken with food but he’s taking them without food while on hunger strike, which is dangerous for his health.

Please call WCU and email IDOC Chief Counsel Robert Bugher demand that staff immediately cease retaliation against Faheem and meet his demands!

Westville CF: 2197852511, ext. 0, then ask to be transferred to the WCU, or Control Unit. Once transferred to WCU, ask to leave a message for Mr. Salyer or leave a message for him with whoever you speak to.

IDOC Chief Counsel Robert Bugher: rbugher@idoc.in.gov

Script: “Hello, I’m [calling/emailing] to register a complaint about retaliation against Mr. Jerry Smith, #129911, who is on hunger strike in the Westville Control Unit. Guards have placed him on strip cell in retaliation for his hunger strike. I’m [calling/emailing] to demand that staff let Mr. Smith off strip cell, and that an official met with him to discuss his concerns. This situation involves serious violations of Mr. Smith’s rights under IDOC Policy and the US Constitution and needs to be remedied immediately.”

You can support Faheem by making an account and emailing or sending him money through web.connectnetwork.com, by looking him up with his state name and DOC number. Or you can write to him at Jerry Smith #129911, Westville Control Unit, 5501 S 1100 W, Westville, IN 46391.

A pic of Faheem from when he was out on parole in 2018