FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AMERICAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION
A TEXAS NON-PROFIT CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES ORGANIZATION
HOUSTON POLICE HIDE EVIDENCE OF FALSE FELONY CHARGES AGAINST TWO PROTESTING ILLEGAL CHILDREN'S DETENTION CONDITIONS AT CORRECTIONS CORPORATION OF AMERICA INS FACILITIES
Two protesters, Ashley Turner, 18, and Benjamin Browning, 24, are being maliciously prosecuted by the Houston Police Department on felony charges for protesting against for-profit Corrections Corporation of America's INS detention facilities. A federal judge has recently found substantial problems with many types of care provided to children at Correction Corporation of America's facility in Hutto, Texas including children's medical care, nutrition, and privacy. According a federal court order, "The living conditions at Hutto seem questionable in general." Judge Sparks found evidence that children were threatened with separation from their parents as a disciplinary tool "most troubling" and likely in violation of legal requirements that children not be subjected to humiliation, mental abuse, or punitive interference with daily living.
When Turner and Browning protested the conditions at Corrections Corporation of America's detention facilities in Houston by locking themselves to a gate the Houston Police Department falsely claimed ordinary bike locks were felony "criminal instruments" subjecting the protestors to up to two years in prison. Many Houston police officers are paid by Corrections Corporation of America to do private security.
The Judge presiding over the felonies has ordered Police Chief Hurtt or his agents to bring the alleged "criminal instrument" bike locks for inspection to the 182nd District Court, Monday, June 18, 2007 at 10:00 am. The court further ordered the Houston Police Department to preserve the evidence.
The police have indicated they may not bring the alleged criminal instruments to the courtroom despite the court order and a subpoena.
The Houston Police Department is punishing Turner and Browning for speaking out against the treatment of children by a for-profit company which employs many HPD officers--a shameful new low for the Houston Police Department.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Randall Kallinen President, American Rights Association 713/320-3785; attorneykallinen@aol.com