FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Whistleblowers Detail to Senate Abuses at the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary
Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Hears Testimony from Two Whistleblowers Retaliated Against After Reporting Shocking Conditions
WASHINGTON—At today’s hearing on Corruption, Abuse, and Misconduct at U.S. Penitentiary Atlanta held by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, two former USP-Atlanta managers provided detailed testimony about appalling conditions endangering the health and safety of staff, inmates, their families, and surrounding communities. Dr. Erika Ramirez and Terri Whitehead testified that their reporting contributed to federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) management’s decision to remove them through involuntarily transfers to “fix” what they reported.
Until the end of 2021, Dr. Ramirez was USP-Atlanta’s Chief Psychologist; Ms. Whitehead the institution’s Jail Administrator. Between them, they have more than 40 years’ experience.
Dr. Ramirez repeatedly reported ongoing and uncorrected gross mismanagement of suicide prevention practices which were allowing needless inmate suicides to happen. She testified about management post-mortem assessments on why suicide prevention efforts had again failed. Here is an example:
Once again this [assessment] revealed complacency, indifference, inattentiveness and lack of compliance with BOP policies and procedures. These lapses contribute to a dangerous and chaotic environment of hopelessness and helplessness.
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