Branchville inmates speak up about COVID-19 impact on Perry County prison

On the inside

Over the past several months, inmates within the prison have contacted the Perry County News and interviews have been conducted using several different means. In some cases, questions were provided to their families and the inmates’ responses were then provided back to the newspaper by the family. In other cases, inmates were interviewed using handwritten letters sent via postal mail. Several inmates have since responded and some of their statements can be read below.

William Burton – Interviewed by postal mail, confirmed positive for COVID-19

According to Burton, A Dorm at the prison had all inmates moved out overnight and positive/presumed positive offenders were transferred into this dorm. Burton said for any inmates who have been quarantined or isolated but aren’t sick, social distancing isn’t possible.

“If they weren’t [sick], they are within a few days,” Burton wrote. “We can’t get more than 4 feet from each other [due to being] packed in this space.”

Cleaning supplies have also been sparse, Burton said, noting that only one quart of bleach spray was available for both sides of A Dorm (one side is for quarantine of possible cases and the other is for isolation of confirmed positives).

“They tell us they don’t have rags to clean or anyone to clean. Nothing gets cleaned. After a positive gets moved [to isolation] they just move someone in their bed so the spread can’t stop.”

Burton added that some inmates are concealing possible symptoms so they don’t get moved.

“There are a lot that are sick but keep quiet in case they’re not sick because they move you right to sick A Dorm. Then you are sick for sure. A lot are catching it in quarantine because no cleaning or disinfection of anything.”

Kevin Pierce – Interviewed by postal mail, confirmed positive for COVID-19

Pierce confirmed Burton’s statement that inmates have been trying to hide possible symptoms of COVID-19.

“Most try to hide their symptoms in an effort to avoid being moved to quarantine units. Tests are only being administered to those who self-proclaim symptoms.”

Pierce also called staff actions related to the use of A Dorm for quarantine “completely negligent.”

“On 11-2-20 everyone in A-Unit (about 240 people) were moved to all the other housing units in order to make A-Unit the COVID-19 quarantine unit. No medical staff screened anyone before they moved over 200 inmates all over the prison. Most of us were sick when they moved us to every other unit. I went to C-Unit for 24 hours before I was able to catch a nurse in the unit while my fever was up and I was moved back to A-Unit. I was tested for COVID-19 on 11-3-20 and was told my test came back positive on 11-7-20.”

Pierce said while he was sick, he received very little medical care.

“I ran a fever for six days straight. Body aches, fatigue, trouble breathing, and the ONLY [this emphasis was originally included in the writing] care I received is two times a day a nurse took my temperature and if I had a fever they would give me two 325 mg Tylenol twice daily. That’s it.”

Pierce also said cleaning is not being done in the A Dorm.

“Every single person on the north side of A-Unit has tested positive for COVID-19 and the prison has nobody to help clean and disinfect the living areas or bathrooms/showers,” Pierce said.

Pierce added that he wrote Warden Kathy Alvey twice about cleaning issues and he included those communications slips with his letter to the Perry County News.

Pierce’s first request to Alvey, written on Oct. 26, reads in its entirety:

“I noticed your post concerning newest COVID cases and the need for us to clean, clean, clean. I agree. Would it be possible to “create” maybe 5-10-20 additional cleaning positions per unit to get extra people cleaning during this health crisis? I would like to have a cleaning position. I completed the housekeeping DOL at CIC before being transferred here.”

*Editor’s note: The meaning of these abbreviations is unclear but seem to indicate previous training at IDOC’s Correctional Industrial Facility.

The written response to Pierce’s first slip reads:

“At this time there isn’t a count sheet but you can talk to the officer and let them know you would like to clean and they will get supplies for you.” The signature line of the form is blank but in the message field containing the previous quote, a signature appeared to be written but it is unclear to whom the signature belongs.

In his second writing to the warden, dated Nov. 4, Pierce wrote:

“I’m in A-Unit and there is nobody over here to clean and disinfect this unit because we are all sick. This unit needs cleaning the most.”

The response section of the slip reads, “Lt. Allen sent out an email concerning the dorms being cleaned.” The signature line of the response reads, “CS”.

Pierce said he doesn’t understand the lack of created cleaning positions, even from among the inmates.

“The prison makes the count sheets! Why couldn’t they create cleaning positions.”

Pierce said he also believes he became sick after multiple searches of his dorm, where many inmates were crowded into a gym for an extended period of time. The searches took place on Oct. 19, Oct. 26 and Oct. 27.

“My unit, A-Unit, was sent to the gym so they could perform a “shakedown” of A-Unit. We spent six to 10 hours each time laying or sitting on the floor of the gym. It needs to be noted that the upstairs section of the gym was being used as a quarantine unit. Same ventilation system, no special filters. Quarantined people used the gym showers at nighttime to shower. I was stripped and searched in this same shower less than 12 hours later. A few days later, my symptoms appeared and I tested positive for COVID-19. Basically, Warden Alvey hosted super-spreader events by forcing over 200 inmates into a group in the gym and holding us there for six to 10 hours at a time.”

Pierce said he and other inmates don’t understand why this has unfolded in this way.

“Here we feel frustrated and angry over the lack of care, concern or diligence showed by the administration here. I am appalled by the negligence shown, and now I feel like a victim.

Darian Gibbons – Messages shared by his mother, Anna Gibbons

Darian Gibbons wrote to his mother on Nov. 17 that he was moved several times after he contracted the virus.

“Since I have had the virus this facility has move me and the other inmates all around this camp. First it was the rentry (sic) building, then the gym, then A-dorm, then education, then back to rentry. Now as of today I’m back in education. Within the past week they have not even checked our temperatures even though all of us tested positive for the virus previous weeks ago. So now we are expected to go back to our original dorms without being tested again. It does not make sense because people are still having symptoms. They just assume that [after] weeks of quarantine we all are fine and day now.”

Gibbons also wrote that hygiene issues are a major concern.

“We are only allowed to shower every three days. In order to take showers we as inmates have to walk outside about a block in the freezing cold to shower in the gym or shower trailer. I for one have been taking bird baths because I had caught a horrible col the first day we went for showers. Due to the facility being short staff we haven’t had our clothing washed in almost over a week. The staff here is terrible. It’s like I’m being punished for catching the virus.”

Gibbons added that while he expected to be released by February 2021, the shutdown of programs at the prison means he can’t complete his GED as expected and his release will likely be pushed back until July.

Gibbons placed blame on Alvey.

“The warden likes to give people from the outside this illusion that he has everything in control with this COVID-19 outbreak but she does not.”

Official response

When preparing for this story, the Perry County News asked Bursten several questions related to the accounts provided by the inmates. Bursten was asked specifically to provide evidence that could either confirm or refute what the inmates were saying.

In an email response, Bursten wrote the following:

“Staff and the incarcerated population alike have access to cleaning supplies as part of the continuous cleaning process to minimize the spread of the virus. Posters are in place throughout the facility as constant reminders to staff and offenders about the signs and symptoms of the virus and anyone not feeling well can be seen by a member of the nursing staff, in person, or by telehealth with a medical provider. For any health concerns that can’t be addressed in the facility, offenders are taken to local hospitals for needed care.

“Specific to any of the offender population found to have symptoms or exposure to a known COVID-19 person, be it self-reported or observed by other incarcerated persons or staff members, they are tested and screened by medical staff. If found to be COVID-19 positive and/or symptomatic they are separated as necessary. We also continue to work closely with the Perry County Health Department and the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) to ensure staff and offenders have appropriate personal protection equipment.”

Bursten’s response did not provide any evidence confirming his statements. IDOC has also said it will not make Warden Alvey available for comment.